Roughing It for the Weekend

Despite the constant threat of rain, the bulk of Derailed ventured to Hueston Woods State Park this weekend for our first group camping adventure. Of course, the trip also served as the perfect excuse for us to spend time in our old stomping grounds, Oxford.

We spent most of Friday night catching up, setting up shop, and sitting around the bonfire. For the first time in ages, I had absolutely no cell service or access to a computer and it was just what I needed. Quality time with some of my best friends was an amazing source of comfort for my battered heart. The s'mores might have helped a little, too.

The next afternoon, we spent a little time around the site before venturing to Oxford for lunch. First, we stopped at the new, gorgeous Armstrong Student Center. We took pictures, scoped out the dining options and meditation room, and felt insanely proud of our alma mater.

Next, we made a pitstop at Upham Arch for some kissing pictures. Sorry I'm not sorry.

We had lunch at my favorite food spot in Oxford, Mac & Joe's. For once, I actually skipped the mac & cheese bites, but the chicken tacos made up for it. Also, Eric and CJ let me have one, so win-win.

After lunch, we went back to the campsite to relax for a bit. Wheat left to cover the last home regular-season game for the Fever and Paul showed up with their adorable dog, Mattie. Then, it started to rain. Although Eric got pretty creative with the placement of some umbrellas in the trees, CJ, TJ, Tasha, and I decided to escape the rain by checking out the lodge. With its indoor and outdoor pools, downstairs bar, arcade, and activities for guests, the lodge made us really second-guess our choice to camp this year.

While playing some games at the arcade, I got a call that my awesome parents had shown up at the site to surprise me. They met us at the lodge to get my mom out of the rain, but when it stopped, we all headed back to talk and hunt for acorns. It meant the world to me that they wanted to make the drive to see me for a couple hours and it did wonders for my heart to see them, however briefly.

For dinner, we went to Krishna for my first real Indian food experience. After Tasha graciously explained the menu to me, I ordered the chicken tikka masala and a side of naan. Amazing.

We spent a couple more hours uptown, split between the outdoor patio of Skipper's and the sticky floors of Brick Street. It was a rude awakening for us when we realized we were ready to head home before the DJ even arrived. Yikes.

The next morning was spent packing up wet camping gear, eating brunch at Patterson's, and hugging each other goodbye. Fortunately, I have plans in the near future to see them all again and I'm already counting down the minutes.

Before heading back to Indy, I wanted to show Wheat the lodge the basketball arcade game. We spent more money than I care to admit on the games, then went to the Nature Center to see the amazing animals and birds indigenous to the area, including a cougar, a rattlesnake, a couple owls, and a bald eagle. My favorite animal, however, was the box turtle we moved off the road on the way to the center.

I wish so much that weekends like this would last forever. Days of kiddie pools, the perfect combination of purple and yellow flowers, jaywalking on familiar brick streets. Nights of bonfire smoke, distant music, clear star constellations, and the kind of connection that you probably won't find again. Moments like these propel me forward, no matter how rough it gets, and remind me that more happiness is to come.