Spontaneous Education: a fictional short story
My father always told me you learn more from the mistakes you make and answers you miss than from all the studying in the world. As a life long academic, surgeon and leader of the community I always too take those words too heart although felt they were pointless and meaningless. As an emergency physician and master of the seas it was my job to either know everything or handle everything regardless of the chaos being thrown my way. I went about my life hearing the same clich? statement from college professors, physician instructors, and throughout thousands of classes teaching young boat captains. I even caught myself saying it on several occasions. My oldest brother is 7 years my senior …show more content…
Myakka is 60 square miles of Florida state park. More importantly it is a forest with camping, no cell service or amenities. It is also the place where my daughters of 8, 10, 14, and 16 asked too go camping for three nights. Too be included in this event was our Maltese, Shih Tzu, grandson of 9 and my wife who?s version of camping is the Ritz-Carlton. I figured, sure this will be fun. What could possibly go wrong? I went too bass pro shop and obtained the standard camping equipment while my wife took care of the food, beverages and packing of the family. Yes we are a bit traditional on the gender rolls. It was a beautiful sunny Florida morning and we were all packed and headed too Myakka. It was an uneventful two hours too the park with about an hour brief by the park rangers reviewing the rules, regulations, and park safety guidelines. It was about 20 minutes into the forest when I first had too navigate some developing problems. The children finding out there was no Wi-Fi or cell service, my wife not understanding why there was no plug for the keurig coffee machine, and that the tent had no button too inflate it. These were small problems for what the night planned on teaching. It was after dinner when my spontaneous education …show more content…
My wife as usual prepared a gourmet meal from what seemed too be a can of beans and we started a campfire for the evening. S?mores, ghost stories, and being reminded how beautiful the night sky can be. It all seemed so peaceful. Then came the scream. As if she had been shot, my wife?s face went pale, she became speechless and began pointing into the woods. The raccoons had come for desert. As we all started taking pictures and throwing them food her panic attacked continued. She grabbed the puppies, went inside the tent never too be see again. She quickly educated me on the stupidity of camping and how we need too leave in the morning. As I watched her pour a glass of scotch I realized at that moment I was alone. I was alone in the woods. I was alone in the woods with 4 girls. I was alone in the woods with 4 girls who will need something. And then like a tornado on a calm day it happened. My oldest daughter began crying. Literally sitting by the campfire in a hysterical, uncontrollable outburst. She proceeded to tell me she couldn?t be without her phone because she and her boyfriend have been having problems. I respond with: you have a boyfriend? What do you mean by boyfriend? AS she is crying my 9 year old tells me she began her menstrual periods. I asked here when and of course she replies, NOW. My grandson can?t sleep without talking too his mother and finally my oldest doesn?t think she wants too attend college. So,
My father always told me you learn more from the mistakes you make and answers you miss than from all the studying in the world. As a life long academic, surgeon and leader of the community I always too take those words too heart although felt they were pointless and meaningless. As an emergency physician and master of the seas it was my job to either know everything or handle everything regardless of the chaos being thrown my way. I went about my life hearing the same clich? statement from college professors, physician instructors, and throughout thousands of classes teaching young boat captains. I even caught myself saying it on several occasions. My oldest brother is 7 years my senior …show more content…
Myakka is 60 square miles of Florida state park. More importantly it is a forest with camping, no cell service or amenities. It is also the place where my daughters of 8, 10, 14, and 16 asked too go camping for three nights. Too be included in this event was our Maltese, Shih Tzu, grandson of 9 and my wife who?s version of camping is the Ritz-Carlton. I figured, sure this will be fun. What could possibly go wrong? I went too bass pro shop and obtained the standard camping equipment while my wife took care of the food, beverages and packing of the family. Yes we are a bit traditional on the gender rolls. It was a beautiful sunny Florida morning and we were all packed and headed too Myakka. It was an uneventful two hours too the park with about an hour brief by the park rangers reviewing the rules, regulations, and park safety guidelines. It was about 20 minutes into the forest when I first had too navigate some developing problems. The children finding out there was no Wi-Fi or cell service, my wife not understanding why there was no plug for the keurig coffee machine, and that the tent had no button too inflate it. These were small problems for what the night planned on teaching. It was after dinner when my spontaneous education …show more content…
My wife as usual prepared a gourmet meal from what seemed too be a can of beans and we started a campfire for the evening. S?mores, ghost stories, and being reminded how beautiful the night sky can be. It all seemed so peaceful. Then came the scream. As if she had been shot, my wife?s face went pale, she became speechless and began pointing into the woods. The raccoons had come for desert. As we all started taking pictures and throwing them food her panic attacked continued. She grabbed the puppies, went inside the tent never too be see again. She quickly educated me on the stupidity of camping and how we need too leave in the morning. As I watched her pour a glass of scotch I realized at that moment I was alone. I was alone in the woods. I was alone in the woods with 4 girls. I was alone in the woods with 4 girls who will need something. And then like a tornado on a calm day it happened. My oldest daughter began crying. Literally sitting by the campfire in a hysterical, uncontrollable outburst. She proceeded to tell me she couldn?t be without her phone because she and her boyfriend have been having problems. I respond with: you have a boyfriend? What do you mean by boyfriend? AS she is crying my 9 year old tells me she began her menstrual periods. I asked here when and of course she replies, NOW. My grandson can?t sleep without talking too his mother and finally my oldest doesn?t think she wants too attend college. So,