Back From Camping

So Benen and I have returned, still happy and loving each other. The camping trip was very relaxing and extremely easy. Benen had a great time from the time we unloaded the car to packing everything up. While I set up camp he unloaded all of his trucks and toys and organized them for play.

He also helped unpack all of our clothes and "helped" to put up the tent. Help as in, run and bounce of the sides of the tent as Dad tried to pitch it up. Once we were established in our site Benen made his way to visit a favorite memorial near the site. We have been to this campsite before and he remembers his favorite things about it.

The plaque may be hard to read but to paraphrase it is a memorial to a seven year old boy who was killed in Italy by thieves. His family donated his organs to save the lives of seven Italians. The villages donated these brass bells to the family as thanks and the memorial was erected back in the states. The large bell in the center of the memorial has been blessed by the Pope.

This is called the children's bell tower. At the memorial people place toys. Benen always has to visit this place and appreciate what has been left behind. He actually comes and takes me by the hand and walks to this place on his own on each visit. He sits and examines each toy left and when he is ready, gets up and walks back to camp. It is almost as if he is in touch with the spirit of this spot.

The following day we went to the beach and played in the sand, did some site-seeing and went out to dinner for fish and chips. Yeah, we were really "roughing it." We had a great time, had some father and son bonding time and learned that we could enjoy extended time alone together just wonderfully. I think we are both looking forward to doing this more often through the years.