Camping trip holds less than fond memories

In 1968 my extended family planned a camping trip to Ice House here west of northern Nevada. What I remember as a 7 year old, was I was out fishing by the river. While I was there a bear came by and I ran back to the campground.

In the middle of the night a car had crashed around the bend and a lady driving a motorcycle had come to our campsite looking for medical help. She said the driver had torn his ear off in the accident and was screaming for a guy named Pete who was the passenger in the car with him.

All of my family, who were camping at Ice House, went out and searched for the man named Pete. They couldn't find him. They looked everywhere. "Pete, where are you?" they shouted.

For hours the search went on for Pete. My mom patched up the man's torn up ear with an old fashion Kotex pad during the search. They finally figured out that Pete was left at the bar and was never in the car with the guy, and he didn't remember because he was too drunk.

That night it began to rain, and rain and rain. You know how sometimes here in Northern Nevada when the weatherman gets it wrong? Well, that was one of the times. My Uncle Billy had the only waterproof tent in the campground. So we all, 19 of us cousins, aunts and uncles, piled into his tent. "Don't touch the edges," he'd say. He thought it would let the rain in. Can you imagine in 1968, having 20 people, adults and kids crammed into a 100-square-foot tent?

Then the bear came and pooped on the porch of our tent. So it scared the what out of us. I have not been back to Ice House as an adult, but, I don't have very fond memories of that camping trip, I can tell you that. I hope you have a better tale to tell. Call me and let me know about it.

Piñon Hills Elementary School

March 25 is the next PTO Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Also the family movie night is on April 18 and I'll give you the time as soon as I hear about it. Last year it was so much fun. Thank you so much for the PTO and all you do for the school.

-- Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.