Tricia Went Camping

[Cita]

Pat was very good at smiling and since she worked in an orthodontist's office, she did it all day long with a smile that same orthodontist gave her years ago, and her nametag said "Pat" but she wished it said something more special... like Tricia, or Trish, or even Patty.

Pat got cheated out of motherhood when the sonogram showed twins, a boy and a girl, no need to try again, and they came out perfect, staring at her through intelligent eyes, and never really needed her at all, just grew up through those 18 years as if they knew exactly where they were headed... the girl baby to Houston and the boy baby to Chicago.

When Pat's husband gently told her he was leaving her for another woman, she smiled.

In her relief she did the opposite of declutter... she simply took the things she wanted (very few), ordered the things she wanted out of a catalog, bought a red jeep, a tent, a camp stove with a cunning included kitchen, a box of used books, and package of bandanas to tie around her hair, dropped the keys to the house off at her husband's office and the nametag that said Pat on her desk at work.

Tricia went camping... north, south, east, west, dry, wet, hot, cold, gorgeous, crowded, lonely, lazy, strenuous, exciting, boring... for weeks and weeks... until she came full circle and drove back down her own street, her hair cut short and tucked up into a banada, a leather thong with beads and charms jangling around her neck, a hummingbird tattooed on her ankle, her legs roped with new muscles, her brain full of running water and granite rock, and her needs pared down to few.

The red jeep did not turn in the driveway but just kept on going; Tricia went camping, again.

[Gaylon W. Stamps]

From Pat ---> Tricia... and the " ---> " is a great story!

[Irene Sieders]

Great! Very good story. I was amused all the way through.

[lifeisbeautiful03]

splendid;amazing; beautiful; and perfect.

[Sandra Davies]

Fifth sentence is wonderful - as is the whole of the happy tale.

[Michael Brown]

All right, Tricia! It's the dream of many of us, to pick up after disappointment, and just go. So many never do, and we love reading about those who DO. This piece was great, Cita. It can serve as inspiration (or just a fun read).

[Teresa]

A girl after my own heart. Good to see you back, Cita. Loved this, especially "brain full of running water and granite rock..." Yes ma'am!

[Joe Gensle]

(in a very good way: ) This is so 60s-- "Tune-in, turn on, drop out." lol I sure liked it!