HOME AWAY FROM HOME, Pt. 1 (STILL THE SAME)
My parents first took my brother and I camping in 1981. The preparation involved for our family camping trips was a sight to see. Dad had a 1976 Subaru, in which he and my mom seemingly packed half of our household belongings. On those first camping trips, my mom and dad really made sure that our campsite would literally be a "home away from home." On the Coleman grill (while listening to her Neil Diamond tapes), my mom made pancakes for breakfast and dinners that consisted of meals such as spaghetti and beef stew. It was like we were at home...but in some ways better. It was on these trips, at the age of 7, that I was introduced to campfire food...hot dogs roasted over the fire, smores, and my all-time favorite, mountain pies. My mother, Kathy Raymond, preparing dinner for us at Rocky Gap State Park. -- 1981 Left to right: My father, Dave Raymond, me (age 7), and my younger brother, Jacob at Rocky Gap State Park. -- 1981 Our family...