Murphy's Law

Murphy's Law (according to Wikipedia): is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

 
Every now and again, Murphy's Law works in one's favor. Sixty percent of the time it works all the time in your favor. This past week was one of those times. It's impossible to rate anything perfect because one can only chase perfection as its elusive as capturing a unicorn or Cinderella at midnight. Thompson Lake in Oxford, Maine isn't just beautiful and quiet, Thompson Lake is wonderful.

As a teacher, I frequently use words such as terrific, excellent, perfect, wonderful, etc. all the time. To give complements I use "awesome" thirty percent of the time, I say "fantastic" about 30 times a day and I use "amazing, terrific, and great" equally (Jamie, I hope you enjoy all the random math in this post). The words basically mean the same thing but to me there is hierarchy to the words. Here's my hierarchy of the words from the top down:

1. Perfect
2. Wonderful
3. Breath Taking
4. Excellent
5. Incredible
6. Spectacular
7. Stupendous
8. Fantastic
9. Amazing
10. Terrific
11. Awesome
12. Great
13. Good

Kim, Jack, MJ and I spent time at the Murphy's Camp in Oxford, Maine. We got the last minute invite when Jamie had a golf tournament to play in and his wife, Christy a.k.a. PD (Package Deal), mom's best friend, invited us to spend some time together.

Minor Reservations

I have to admit I had a couple of reservations about going up to the Murphy Camp. Some of concerns on my mind: access to running water, electricity, is there an infestation of mosquitoes, and how are thin walls. Currently we have an 1800 sq. ft. house and we use 3/4ths of the space. How would we realistically fit comfortably inside a tent with a newborn and a toddler? 

It's hard for me to shake the summer I spent in Jamaica as a child. Yes, great memories were created walking to and from summer school. That's right, I said I spent time at summer school, in a foreign country. My mother's childhood home had a 10 by 8 foot circular well full of rain water that was used for everything. Cooking, bathing and whatever else you needed. But there was no hot water. I'll never forget how my mother heated up water in a giant cook pot in the red clay front yard over a fire so that her soft American children could have a warm bath. Once I got home, I never again took for granted having hot water. In fact, my showers are usually scalding hot in the event I never have the ability to take a warm shower again. Why did I tell the tale of Jamaica you ask? Because I spent too much time thinking I was going to be hanging out by the beach in Jamaica to only realize I would be in the "bush" country and expiernce all it had to offer me. So if I am going to be "camping," I need to know what I am getting myself into. In fact, I plan to return to those circumstances, um...never if I can help it!

Internal Bet

So when Kim asked me if I wanted to go camping I needed to know more about the type of camping we'd be doing. After being assured that the place we'd be camping at would have even more than I was expecting I began to look forward to camping. We knew that we'd be joining Jamie, Christy and Olivia Murphy. Kim told me that we'd be on a lake in New Hampshire but we'd have access to internet and cable tv.

Driving 68 miles into Maine, I began to get nervous. Inside my head I began to have major doubts because there was no way we'd be crossing into New Hampshire anytime soon. I bet we don't have modern conveniences. If Kim didn't know where we were going, what were the odds she knew what we are getting into? 
Odds: 2:1 is what I gave her.

Getting off the exit ramp and listening to many of the directions almost had me turning and driving back home. "Pass the Hannaford." Like there aren't a bunch of those in Maine. One should know when you get off the highway in Grey, Maine, there really aren't too many places to stop for groceries. Hannaford isn't just a grocery store, it's a landmark and meeting place. 
Updated odds: 3:1.

"Take the left at the gas station." Once again, how many gas stations are we going to see? If there is only one gas station, should I fill up when I drive by? My gas tank takes 14.5 gallons and I average 31 mpg but I've driven 114 miles already. Will I really make it home? 
Updated odds: 4:1.

"Look for the country store." Isn't every hovel with a sign we pass a country store? There weren't really any hovels but I couldn't help myself from feeling like the walls were closing in from all sides.
Updated odds: 5:2 (I don't have much confidence).

Screenshot of the directions.

To alleviate the panic attack that was beginning to set in, I had the following conversation with Kim. Chris will be able to feel comfortable by the end of the conversation about the decision to go camping.

Where To

A screen play adapted for MJ's Blog.

Setting: Car ride through Androscoggin County Maine.

Chris: What's the address so I can put it into the gps?
Kim: Hmm, I don't know. Christy didn't give me one.
Chris: Stares at Kim and waits for a reasonable reply.
Kim: I'll text Christy again.
Chris: Okay.
Kim: She said it doesn't have an address.
Chris: What town is it in?
Kim: I don't know.
Chris: Thoughts of horror movies begin playing through his imagination.
Kim: Wow, lots of these houses have metal roofs.
Chris: Wonderful (100% sarcasm)! I should let my parents know that I love them in case I never see them again.
Updated odds: 20:1.

Uping the Ante

As we drove deeper and deeper into Maine I thought, "In the past Christy has proven herself to be a fantastic navigator. I hope we show up to the right place."  
Updated odds: 18:1.

We crest Megquier Hill in Poland (still in Maine, we didn't country hop even though Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Paris are close) and my feelings about "camping" changed. The view from the top of the hill was breath taking. Tripp Pond looked like the place I'd like to spend getting some R&R.  
Updated odds: 16:1.

Expecting to take a right turn before losing sight of the water I was distressed when Kim told me we would be taking a left off of Megquier Hill Road. Clearly there would be no tunnel or bridge to make our way back to the lake on the right.
Updated odds: 20:1.

Fast forward 10,560 feet and I drive by the left turn. I couldn't help but think the Murphy's should trim the tree so others could see the sign. Oh wait, people hunt here so I'm sure they'd probably pull out a rifle if they saw someone cutting trees on their land. Executing a K-Turn in some driveway (because there are no streets to bust a u-ey), I couldn't help peeling out and hoping for the safety of Jamie's excellent hospitality.

Driving down the dirt road and passing a bunch of animals I knew I was in the country. I didn't feel that way because animals out number Mainers. I grew up in Bloomfield, CT and that is a few miles outside of downtown Hartford. My Aunt Hazel has chickens in her backyard and a corn field in her front yard so it really doesn't take too long before you end up in the country. 

Growing up my dad always told me, "Every country road in America is better than the country roads in Jamaica." He didn't see the pot hole pocked road that looked like mortar shell exploded every 5 feet. More reservations about our time that would be spent at Murphy Camp crept to the fore front of my mind. In fact, I began to listen for honking as someone made their way around a blind curve in the road.
Updated odds: 25:1.

Wow

Pressing the brake the entire way down the hill I had a chance to see the tranquility of the wildlife and get lost in the woods. Suddenly, a golf cart sped across the path and I thought, well, looks like we won't be alone. As the car skidded to a stop at the bottom of the hill I was finally able to see the lake. What a view. To quote Jackie's favorite TV show, Thomas & Friends, "Cinders and ashes! What a view."

Charles Woodson's Heisman Pose

Needless to say, I parked the car, said hello to Christy since she had just showed up and pretty much gave Jamie the Charles Woodson Heisman stiff arm pose (see the picture on the right). It was hard to believe we were still in Maine, the lake doesn't border New Hampshire. Walking through the house I saw it was nicer than mine in Reading, there was electricity, wifi, and running water! We weren't camping, we were glamping (glamorized camping)!
Final bet: I lost, big time. 

Some how I managed to unload all the bags from the car and I made my way to the water side and eventually found out that we would be spending the next few days at Thompson Lake. I am actually very surprised I could even have a meaningful conversation with my mouth hanging open like a star struck 15 year old who stumbled across 1 Direction in the mall. I was able to find out the house we would be staying in is in Maine. In fact, the New Hampshire border is over 50 miles away to the west.

The lake was wonderful. MJ sleep horribly (teething problems), Jackie didn't nap at all, I didn't finish reading the book I brought with me, Jamie went the wrong way with his golf handicap and Christy didn't have to cook anything. All in all, it was by far the best 2 days I've had this summer. It's not to explain how all the trepidation leading up to the arrival at Thompson Lake ended up turning into such an enjoyable time. It's not about what you need while you are somewhere. 

Good Company Matters

What matters is who you spend your time with. And we spent 2 days with wonderful company. If that doesn't speak volumes to you, I'll let the video speak for me instead. Be sure you have the volume turned up, it's time to rock out!