The Place I’ll Always Call “Home”

Jodie Crutchley

09/21/14

English 1100 Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Young

                           

                                                                    The Place I’ll Always Call “Home”

There’s something about the smell of a campfire that makes me feel at peace. The wood crackles slowly as it starts to catch fire, while the wind blows the trees leaves off one after another. The subtle sound of the squirrels rustling from tree to tree like small, quiet, monkeys searching for food. I had taken it for granted for the 14 years I had gone religiously, but now I know the mountains will always be my home. When I was just 4 years-old my parents began to take me and my 3 older sisters camping. Going camping was like going on vacation, every weekend. 

It took until I was 10 for my mom let me leave the site by myself. Up until then I wasn’t allowed to walk around by myself. But now I was 10! The only catch was after every 2 hours past I would have to check in back at the campsite. If I was even a minute late my mom would take my leaving privileges away. It was like being grounded for not cleaning your room, and mom never once let me off grounding. 

I made a ton of friends there. The people who camped across from us had two sons my sisters age, Kenny and John. They became my older brothers. If anyone else would pick on me they’d step in and scare them away. To this day John and Kenny come to our family events and invite us to theirs. Once a year Dana and her brothers would come for a week with their family. Me and Dana became really good friends throughout the years even though I’d only see her once every year. She lives about 2 hours away in PA. 

What made camping amazing was how peaceful it was is that you could always go off and be alone. There was never a time I felt trapped while I there. If I was arguing with my siblings and just needed to get away I could. If I wanted to go somewhere quiet to read a book I could. My favorite get away was a place called big rock. There was a small trail through the woods that led you to this huge rock. I was about 12 when I figured out how to climb it. After that big rock became my oasis. I’d bring a book there and sit and read for hours. I even carved my name on that rock. 

Camping was my home away from home. There I had friends and made new ones, and I was free. I was free to rome without worry of fast passing cars. All there was to worry about there is the occasional squirrel dropping its nuts on your head. My favorite place is that camp ground in the mountains, the place i’ll always call “home”.