I like to camp, but I don’t get the opportunity to camp now days. So I sometimes set the tent up in the back yard and camp out at home. I know. It’s weird. Trust me, it’s fun. And look at all the gas I save by not going up north! So last fall I bought a new tent, and this week I put it up for the first time. It’s a lot more complicated than my old tent, and it took me about 45 minutes to figure out that maybe I should just follow the directions. Then it went up just fine.

I decided I’d see if Katie (the dog) wanted to camp out with me. So a couple of nights ago we both went out to the tent about 10:30. I was tired, I hoped she was too. She settled in pretty easily, a quick sniff all around the perimeter of the inside of the tent, and she curled up on a pillow, let out a big sigh, and I figured that was it. I went to sleep myself. Shortly a dog barked, very far away. Of course Katie started barking herself. Then more sniffing, pacing, flopping down on the pillow only to get up and pace some more. After what seemed like at least half the night I turned on the flashlight to check my watch. It had been 40 minutes. So inside the house Katie the dog went, and I went back outside to enjoy my tent by myself.

The second night she watched me suspiciously as I got stuff together for another night of camping. When I grabbed the flashlight she trotted down the hall to our bedroom. I decided to watch the 11:00 news just in case there was rain coming. After the news, at 11:30 Katie had still not reappeared. I checked on her and she was curled up asleep in her crate in the bedroom. She wasn’t the least bit interested in camping out with me. So once again I spent a wonderful relaxing night in my very own tent.

Today I had to mow the lawn, so the tent is packed back up. But I promised Katie we’d try it again sometime this summer. Maybe I can turn her into a camper yet. After 18 years of marriage I haven’t converted my husband, but Katie might be easier. You never know.