When I was a teenager?

When I was a teenager I belonged to an incredible group of kids. We weren't a gang or a club. We were a family! A group of church kids who liked to plan special events, hikes, and beach trips.

There were a dozen of us ranging from ages13-20 that got together 2-3 times a week. Sometimes we would play football in the rain. Our parents literally locked us out until we had the mud all hosed off. Our Families knew we were mischievous but not harmful.

We liked to kidnap each other at 3 a.m. for birthday breakfast. Oh, we knew it was coming?we just did not know which mornings. Of course our parents were in on the occasion. Just the birthday person was in the dark?

One of the most interesting trips we planned was the weekend we rented Cleowox Girl Scout Camp. Being the most gullible and the most nieve, I was usually the target. This was the weekend I went snipe hunting for the first time. I believe I was 14. After the "hunt" everyone was good and wound up.

The darkness brought a thunderstorm as we settled in for the night.. This was a perfect setting for telling ghost stories. Now that they had my attention I couldn't sleep. I was scared to death.

The building was 30 years old and still had that rusty tin roof on it; the echoing noise seemed 10 times worse from the rain hitting it. I was not only horrified by the pranks and stories; I couldn't sleep because I was afraid a big tree would fall over, hit the building, and squish us. Daylight finally arrives. I don't know when I drifted off, but I know I only got a couple of hours of sleep. I didn't dare mention it to anyone, as I am already the weekend target.

We cleaned up all our gear and loaded it back into the vehicles after breakfast. Finally, cleaning the lodge, now we are ready for a huge day of play! Yes, you guessed it. I was indeed the brunt of all trials for the day.

We took a nature hike. Myself being close to the end but not the end. As we traveled up and down and through the brush there was no way one could see the beginning to the end of the line.

The night before the radio news stated bear sightings in the area. So?you guessed it. Two of the guys dropped out of the front of the line and hid in the bushes until I got up to them. Then they jumped out at me GROWLING! They scared me so bad; I fell to the ground in tears. They decided they had had enough fun with me. They backed off and started working on Joni. I felt bad for Joni, but relieved to get a break.

On the way home we stopped at the Gingerbread house for dinner. Full and tired the rest of the trip was pretty quiet. I'm not sure but I think the adults would have rather we be singing or telling jokes opposed to so quiet. They were just as tired as we were, but they had to stay awake to drive.