The Hazard Chronicles

There are two lines from the musical The Newsies that come to mind this week. Both are spoken by the character of Joseph Pulitzer, a newspaper tycoon, and both seem relevant to the project that The Hazard Chronicles has become.

The quotes:

"If it wasn't written in the newspapers, it didn't happen"

"Now when I created the world..."

Among other things, the show is about the power of the press- not just to report or record reality, but to actually determine what it is. In the future, history will not be remembered as it actually was; rather, it will become what was recorded- a series of events given meaning by those in power. In doing this, events can be colored sometimes beyond recognition to those who actually experienced them. They can be whatever one wants them to be. And it can take an astute historian to actually sort things out in the end- if that is even possible.

This is the same with the Hazard  Chronicles.

For example, I could record here the wonderful camping trip we had with our kids this last weekend. About how we all sang songs together in the car the whole time. Nobody ever complained, or fought, or whined or anything. Just pure, unadulterated fun. My kids often looked at me with adoration in their eyes and said things like "Gee dad, we sure are having a swell time out here in nature!" And when bedtime came along, they stretched out their little arms, rubbed their little eyes, and then fell right to sleep with wistful smiles on their faces. It couldn't have been any better. 

And that is how it was. 

Really. 

Because that's how I say it was. And if it wasn't for the preamble of this post to tip the reader off, they would have no choice but to believe me. 

Isn't that power amazing? I can create memories of events that didn't even happen.

But that would be wrong.

So let me tell the real story of our weekend.

*****

We actually started off by having a genuinely pleasant time at a little put-put mini-golf course. Not much to tell about here- just good, wholesome family recreation. I promise.

From there though, things started getting a little bit rocky. They shouldn't have. We had a really good plan. But kids sometimes don't appreciate what they have, and this is really frustrating.

We started our trip by driving up to Kootenai falls- a neat little waterfall in Western Montana that also happens to be around the half-way point for the race that Rachel is training for. It's about a two hour drive, and at least half of that time was spent dealing with kids who couldn't figure out how to keep their hands and feet to themselves.

When we got there, we started hiking to the waterfall. Lindsey and Maren were pretty enthusiastic. The others weren't. It was "boring." Why do we always make them go on hikes anyway?

Tears. Whining. Complaining. "Can't we just go hooooome?" "There's nothing to dooooo."

"Fine. Stay here by yourselves."

We started walking. Soon, we were met with screams. "You would just leave us in the middle of the forest?!!!"

"Yep"

"Seriously?! But we could get lost! A bear might eat us!"

"Yep. Your choice, not mine."

"Uuuughhh. Fine we're coming."

As it turns out, everyone had fun. In fact, it was hard to get them to turn around when it was time to go back to the car.

The swinging bridge of doom

After seeing the falls, we drove to the cabin we had rented for the night.

More complaining. "We just want to go home. There isn't anything to do here!"

Let me just say- it is difficult as a parent when you go out of your way to try and make fun plans and then everyone just complains about them. It was really frustrating. I sincerely hope that someday my kids read this when they are dealing with the same thing from the other end of things."

"Nothing to do?! Let's go and explore."

And we did. And guess what? Everyone had fun.

When we got back to the cabin we made dinner, then sat around the fire and roasted marshmallows. Jackson was very proud to have made the fire by himself with only one match (and no lighter fluid).

But then it was time for bed. Rach and I had plans to sit out on the front porch and talk into the night.

Yeah right.

We battled kids trying to get them to stay in bed until we were too tired ourselves and we just went to sleep.

The next morning we got up and ate breakfast and then packed the car. A few hours later we were home.

And kids...

You're welcome.

Uggh. Sometimes I wonder why we try.

*****

Here's a few other pictures from the week, in no particular order. Honestly, we live a pretty idealized life in a beautiful corner of the world, even if kids get cranky at times. I really can't complain.

The kids decorated themselves with paint. The beach is more fun than the bathtub. So...yeah. That what this was.

Rach and I went to see Bye Bye Birdie at the Lake City Playhouse. I'm pretty sure that when I was very young this was the first theatrical performance I ever saw. I guess it sparked something though, because I still had a great time watching this classic play. Oh, and this picture was taken the day after when we found the playbill in the car on our way to Montana.

Lindsey (far left) went to the fire station with her class. I think she was terrified of the hats though. She wouldn't let it anywhere near her.

We went fishing for family night. It was a little cold for swimming, but we caught eleven of these little guys in about twenty minutes.

Have a good week!