KOA Newburgh - Day 4

As the dark and dismal afternoon gave way to evening, the sounds of this very crowded and active campground continued.  Loud music from the cabin group and of course, screaming kids running loose everywhere. From 4-5 pm. there was the occasional clang of the KOA/Walden fire engine's bell. As part of the campground's amenities, a ride around the campground for young and old are provided. As I sat cozy in the warmth of my coach, the temperature outside was 67 and will drop a bit more as the expected heavy rains drench the area, I glanced up at a piece of my history taped to one of the storage doors.  Except for the Sunday Best we wore (Easter Sunday) and the fact that they're in cabins while we were in pop-up campers, the large group behind me was enjoying their time together as we did some 30 years ago.  Their fire was big, kids were roasting marshmallows, dads were holding beers, the Alpha male grilled, the women carried dishes, containers, and platters, as usual tying the dinner together for those who just served themselves and ate...the teenagers.

Easter Sunday, April 11, 1982

Although, these teenagers were very good and well behaved, our brats were better.  But didn't we all enjoy the complete abandon that camping and summer provided us?  Even back home, times spent outdoors in the summer with our friends were the best ever even though they had to end when the street lights came on.

Last night I reflected on those never-to-be-forgotten times as I listened to the noises of summer outside. There's a little girl out there somewhere whose scream could shatter crystal. The scream is of the 'I just saw a snake' variety and perfect for the thriller movies we enjoyed as youngsters. I've never heard such a high pitched squeal.  I'm surprised dogs in the area didn't begin to howl as I'm sure the pitch approached the range of sound that humans cannot hear. That scream differed from another tot who, for the past two nights around 6 or 7 pm, just screamed...or was it crying?  No, it would fall into the "dysfunctional screech" of a tantrum. Loud and never ending, it made you wonder if the child would go hoarse due to the strain.  Next up, there's the little gang of about six 5-8 year olds with cap pistols whose mission seemed to be ridding the campsite of varmints, crooks, and bad guys.  They ran helter skelter everywhere; through campsites, behind trees warning each other of where to go and not go.  It was really quite comical.  Next, there was the 18± month screamer next door who, the minute his world was deprived of something, he'd let you know with yes, another ear-splitting scream/cry--otherwise you'd never be aware of his presence.  It will come as no surprise what kind of kid this will be once he reaches school age.  The family seem very tolerant of the little guy.  Yes, I looked forward to those "camp sounds" giving way to the soothing pattern of a constant rain that arrived about midnight and greeted me in the morning.

The blue dot, north of Newburgh, is my location.

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