Joel's First Portrait

Joel Glenn Germeroth

We've decided. That's our boy's name!

Germeroth Camping: June 20-23

Both the Germeroth's and the Bridges' took family camping vacations. My family (Bridges) would go to various State parks around SC and NC and we always slept in tents near our car, or at least within walking distance. We didn't always stay where bathrooms/outhouses were and if we did, we didn't use them because I remember how "cool" it was to dig a hole in the ground like our cats at home. Then I went to Girl Scouts and went backpack camping and carried on that desired style of camping into college. John, as I understand it, grew up camping in tents near a car as well, but also had a pop-up camper. Now that was ultimate camping luxury in my child's eye. (emphasis on "camping" as an adjective there; my idea of luxury was always changing) Although it sounds like John and I had similar family camping experiences, it was actually quite different: Germeroth camping was strictly organized and Bridges camping was more, um, hodge-podge...comparatively, anyway. All Germeroth camping equipment was neatly folded, strung together and tied the same way when unpacked from Rubbermaid storage bins. All Bridges equipment was packed in a cardboard box from a section (or two) of the garage and unpacked at the campsite as necessary. So when we picked up the mini-van we also stopped by the Germeroth's storage unit and gathered equipment... all neatly packed and ready to go!
John chose to cook 90% of our meals... he is so good to me!
We spent each day reading, cooking, talking and relaxing. It truly was a vacation. And the weather was absolutely perfect... I got chilly at night and John was just fine!