I filled in for TM this weekend and went camping with my son and his boy scout pack. I was very apprehensive going into it. I'd say it's been close to 20 years since the last time I camped.

We left early Saturday morning, armed with questionalbe diretions and warnings from more than one person that two crucial turns to the camping grounds are not well marked and are quite easy to miss. I was also told by these same, well-meaning individuals that I couldn't trust the boy scout pack in charge of checking people in and providing diretions to the proper camp site.

In addition to not feeling secure about the directions, I was certain I'd left some necessity behind. The entire drive into the wilds I alternated between thinking "we've brought to much crap" and "we don't have enough food and water to survive." My child sat quietly in the back seat and read whichever "Narnia" book he is presently consumed with. Any questions posed to my experienced nine-year-old camper, were met with "huh" or "shh."

We actually located and made both turns to the campground without any drama. When we checked in, we were told to go to a camp ground that was not located where our pack's "normal" camp was located. Armed with the knowledge of not being able to trust the boy scout in charge, I questioned a scout leader to make sure we were being given the correct information. I was told the scout was correct, so the nine-year-old and I drive to the "not-normal" camp site.

The camp site is at the bottom of a U-shaped drive. In other words, we're about as far away from the roads to civilization as it is possible to get. Also, no one else is here. The nine-year-old and I recheck the map, campsite numbers on the map, and the make-shift signage for the camp. This has to be the place.

I find it odd that no other families are here yet. I call our den leader, they haven't even left town yet. It is going to be at least another hour and a half before they get to the camp grounds. I describe where we have been told to set up camp and I am told we are in the right place.

So, my little Webelo and I stake out some prime real-estate and set up our tent. The tent goes up without a hitch, so we start unloading and move in. Something in the back of my mind tells me I probably shouldn't have unloaded everything from our vehicle. My inner-voice is convinced we're in the wrong place.

About fifteen minutes after we're all set up, another family from our pack shows up. Relief floods over me. The Dad is also a first time camper. He pitches his tent next to me. I'm thinking, we're like an established community now...squatters rights and all that. There's no way we're moving. By the time our neighbors are all settled in, two more families arrive. Waves of relief flow over me.

We did it! We made it two the campground and actually set up camp with no drama, no screaming, no crying. Perhaps this weekend won't be so bad after all!