Pastimes

Why do we need something to help us pass the time?  Or what is it about time that scares some people so much?  And why do others consider sitting around doing nothing wasteful?  In our opinion, meditating and contemplating life is not though... however, they both seem to some outsiders a waste of valuable time.  There's the classic saying, "time is money", which may be true to many people.  Being in this moment just as it is with no distractions is a rarity in these modern times. Finding the time to do this is imperative.  The excuses are varied and comical why one cannot sit still in peace and quiet.

For one, where do you find peace and quiet?  At times surely not at a campground with neighbors less than ten feet away.  Today we witnessed two pastimes that clashed.  One camper wanted to hear the NASCAR race and cranked up his truck radio in order to hear it better.  Unfortunately, his neighbor wanted to hear the baseball game and blared his radio in retaliation in order to hear the announcer better. Needless to say, if you don't like sports this type of competition added to one's disdain. For those of you who are wondering who won the battle of the volume - unsure. We think it was the NASCAR camper, because his event lasted longer. Do we care?

What is there to do at a campground?  That depends on the location. We have seen a large checker board set up and chess too, but no takers lately.  There was a baseball game over the weekend when the children
were here and the parents cheered them on.  There is dog walking, book reading, boating, fishing, biking, swinging on the swings, pot holder making on a loom, watching TV, surfing the Internet, going to a golf tournament and doing laundry - although the last item doesn't sound very appealing on a sunny day.

Dave and I like to take walks and photographs.  We like hot rods from the 30's through the early 70's and happen to see a 1967 Pontiac Tempest on site.  It's from the era when two vertical headlights on both sides were the rage along with a wide track grill.  This car is in very good condition and the guy drives it daily. No salt from the beach or winter northern roads to concern himself with.

One way to get to know a person better is to get in tune with what they listen to on the radio or on their computer.  What do these bands have in common  (besides strange names)? The B-52's, the Plain White T's, Archie Bell and the Drells, 311, The Gin Blossoms, The Black Crows, The Fray, Harry Connick, Jr., Blind Melon, The Flaming Groovies, The Funloving Criminals, Afghan Whigs, Dido, Bare Naked Ladies, Hootie and the Blow Fish , Bon Jovi and The English Beat.

Most of the songs I've heard before and can appreciate the various beats, tempos and linguistic combinations.  Most of David's favorite bands are considered to be Alternative Rock. I, being the psychologist major, like to examine why people like what they like.  How does one choose the music they like?  What does the beat have to do with our own heart rhythms?  Dave read that the more driving the beat, the more it can put you tired.  I suppose it would get exhausting to listen to loud sounds after a while because it would fire up one's ingrain fight or flight mechanism and insight a burn out effect.

 Within Dave's repertoire is quite a variety.  He likes change?  Definitely. He likes all sorts of cultures? Most definitely. His heart's not made of stone.  He turns to you to get to know where you are coming from.  Dave has "...a lot to do with the first time he meets a person. He puts his arms around me.  He just wants to fly." He wants to "...live a life extraordinary", one that is less "ordinary". "...If you had just one question, what would you ask Him?"  "What if God was one of us?"  Dave loves conscious raising questions like I do.  When songs do the same then what's not to like?  "...I don't like being a stranger in my own life.  Every day is a winding road. My life's insane.  Watching the faded signs go past, trying to make his way home. Some of these lyrics have been played over again in the past twenty-four hours. My favorite- "If I had a million dollars".   It invokes the imagination.  What would you do with a million dollars?

 There are love songs like "Hey There Delilah" by The Plain White T's and Harry Connick, Jr.'s "We Go Together Like A Wink And A Smile". Dave is a romantic.  He says that modern music has evolved from the 50's, but not all of it is considered Alternative. In a real nutshell, in Dave's Alternative music blog, alternative rock began in 1963 with the Kingsmen's huge hit "Louie Louie".  It ushered in the music of garage rock.  It is simple, basic and distorted, sounding almost sub-standard (horrible in some critics opinion). The garage band persona along with the rhythm and blues sound triggered another whole movement out of the mainstream... an alternative to the mainstream at that time -- The Beatles, The Beach Boys and other pop music.  Everything became unhitched by the mid-60's and rock music was no exception. In some cases, it was blown right out of the water by the late 60's. (Similar to the art movement with Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock with his abstracts).   Why do we do what we do?  Why did they do what they did?

Why do people live on the road? Is it only for the thrill of the adventure?  Is it to meet someone new? Or to learn more about the one you're with?  Is it the danger? Or the fun of it? Possibly to have no responsibilities? Maybe to have a personal challenge? Or to better myself in some way?

Did I mention the pastime of camp decorating?  I forgot it because as I'm writing this some rain showers are brewing and I had to take mine inside to keep them safe.  One camper had a "doggie addition" to their camper to keep their two rescue dogs from barking at other dogs and people.  He said it still didn't work that great. We can agree with him - the dogs couldn't see what was making a noise, but they could still hear it. Oh well - the owners tried. They ended up leaving yesterday.

On our daily constitutional, we observed a train coming over the mile-and-a-half river bridge.  It carried 20 cars with molten sulfur inside. We researched what it was and what it's used for:  primarily in sulfuric acid and then turned into a fertilizer.  Also used in a variety of chemical processes to make detergent, glass, animal feed, car batteries, as well as in paper mills and the mining industries.

We also observed more Jumping Mullets.  Why do they jump? One child said, "It jumps so that it can see where it's going."  Sounds pretty logical to me!  There are a couple of theories - first, a single one is trying to knock a parasite off itself, and two, if there's a school of them jumping, it's to avoid a predator. An older gentleman replied, "Fires burn, the sky is blue and mullets jump."   The truth is that no one really knows why the mullets jump.  It's just one of the mysteries of life. (Some fishermen have even seen the mullets do back-flips).  I guess this is right up there with why does the Humpback Whale jump out of the water in Maine.

So why does Dave like music? Why does Jill like art?  We guess it's just this - it is what it is. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Until next time,
The Happy "Pastime" Campers,
Jill & Dave