Teri Vance: Of trash mobs and camels

Muscle Powered is teaming up with local Boy Scouts for a special Trash Mob in Kings Canyon on Oct. 1.

After the Waterfall fire of 2004, plastic tree protectors were put in place to help the seedlings that were planted as part of the recovery process.

Since that time, the plastic tree protectors have long outlived their usefulness and are now an eyesore.

Those interested should meet at Long Ranch Park on the corner of Bristol and Longview between 7:45 and 8 a.m.

Long pants, long-sleeved shirts, closed-toe shoes, helmet and gloves are required. Snips for clipping plastic connectors would be useful.

Water and light snacks for the work site will be provided. Bring your own sack lunch, beverages will be provided. There will be a raffle with local merchant prizes during lunch.

Go to musclepowered.org for details.

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I sat out the camel races this year. After 14 years, I figured it was time to let others experience the joy of the camel for themselves. However, it seems there hasn’t been much joy for the new reporters at the Nevada Appeal.

Let me just say right off the bat, I think it’s awesome they were willing to even get on a camel.

I love to see women (and men for that matter) being brave and fun and spontaneous.

Last year, I wrote a column about the lessons I’d learned from riding camels. They included, trusting your instincts, finding your balance, being OK with not winning and enjoying the ride.

They’re all valid lessons. And I stand by them.

But I wanted to add another one this year. About failure. It happens, and it’s often just as valuable.

I grew up on a ranch where we raised cattle and trained horses.

Anyone who’s been through the process of breaking a horse knows it isn’t an easy process. You’ll probably get bucked off. Once, I got bucked off twice in a row from a horse named Pony Boy. The story is still legend in my family.

With my dad, it wasn’t an option.

You had to dust yourself off and get back on. It’s a cliche we don’t really think about, but the truth is, once you’ve been bucked off, you’re hurt and a little scared. The horse, on the other hand, just got what it wanted.

And now it knows what to do to win next time.

So when you get back on, you have to be stronger and braver than before. The odds are against you.

It’s the same in life, each failure makes us evaluate what we did wrong and forces us to go back with more resolve and determination than before.

It’s how we learn and grow.

Plus, it always makes for a good story — especially when it involves camels.

Teri Vance is a journalist, freelance writer and native Nevadan. Contact her with column ideas at terivance@rocketmail.com.