Boo! What is really scary?

Two days ago, my 3rd year tribe toured what could be considered a spooky place. A place haunted with ghosts of past transgressions and poor decisions. A place full of a frightening reality. Yet this place also hosts a spirit of bright futures and endless possibilities. This place was Raleigh Rescue Mission.

The Wild Wolf Warriors planned to RRM some time back without thinking of how close it was to Halloween, yet during the tour I could not help but consider the scary possibilities of living a life of homelessness. A lot of us are living only a few paychecks away from this lifestyle and with the current state of the economy, it's a potential world for more folks than ever before.

When I was at The N&O I photographed lots of stories about the plight of the homeless and those trying to help them. I have spent nights in shelters, searched railroad tracks for homeless on below freezing nights, fed the hungry and comforted the sick. But during this tour of RRM I saw everything in a new light, with the view of a child by my side.

Seeing from a kids perspective is eye-opening. The questions they ask and comments they make all skew your view a little. Their common sense approach and non-analytical minds simplify the situation and show a clarity that otherwise gets clouded by adult years and aged experience. Why are people homeless? What can I do to help? Simple and pure and straight to the point.

We dropped off some clothes and food before our tour, but walking out the door I realized that what all we had taken was but a small drop in the bucket of need. As Thanksgiving approaches, let's all be aware of how blessed we are and give a little bit more to those less fortunate than us - and maybe the world will be a little less scary place for a few in need.

How-How!

I Love Camping...

Spent the weekend doing one of my favorite tribal things - camping.

We earned half the wings of our third year totem this weekend up at Key Haven on Kerr Lake during our tribe's annual tent-fest. As we do every year, it was a weekend of awesome grub and some special male bonding. Between the food, fishing, football and tall campfire tales, there was plenty of testosterone flying around those woods.

Howling Wolf put it best when he borrowed an old adult golden beverage commercial tag line: "It doesn't get any better than this." Truer words were never spoken by a man full of steamed shrimp and babyback ribs and kielbasa and s'mores, sitting around a blazing campfire.

The fish were scarce, but the Little Braves cared not. They enjoyed the quiet time by the lake as much as the Big Braves. If one kid caught a fish, they all reviled in the victory as if they'd caught it themselves. That's one of our tribe's many finer points: the awesomeness (is that a word?) of the boys and dads that make up the mighty Wild Wolf Warriors. They are some of the best kids you'd ever want in your tribe, and I'm proud to call them my own.

With the sun setting over a pristine Kerr Lake, we had a tribal meeting as we usually do while camping. Sitting around the campfire for a meeting is just so much better then sitting in someone's living room. Listening to the Little Braves tell how they earned their wampum as their eyes reflected the fire's flames makes a meeting so special. White Bull entertained the boys with a couple of rounds of Halloween Bingo as the dads prepared dessert: Atomic (and regular) s'mores.

As with every camping trip, the Big Braves stayed up late after the Little Braves crashed in their tents and laughed the night way, telling stories of long ago and retelling of tales too "rich" to share in this forum (tawdry enough to make Moose blush I'd say).

Breakfast was a total team effort. As the Little Braves hunted for arrowheads, the Dads all pitched in for a massive morning meal consisting of coffee, eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, hashbrowns and chicken cheese grits. One thing we Wild Wolf Warriors do not do on our trips is go hungry. We eat well and we show it.

After another round of fishing, everyone packed up camp and headed back to Raleigh. As the last car pulled out, Dylan and I had a moment alone to reflect upon the weekend. I could not help but remember our first time to Key Haven as a tribe back in 2006 and think how much these young men had grown in size and how we Dads had grown as friends. A lot has happened in the two years we've been together and there's a lot left to happen yet. And I can't wait...

How-How!

A Special Night

The stretch limos were stacked up like Hollywood on Oscar night. The cameras were flashing and video cameras whirring as the stars of the evening stepped from their elongated horseless carriages. They smiled. They waved. They blew kisses. They knew they were Princesses and were being treated as such.

Every Dad beamed. Every daughter glowed. There was something magical in the air and a special spell was cast upon everyone at the Crabtree Marriott for four Sundays in a row. And the night I stopped by for a visit, I witnessed hotel patrons stopping to watch the show. Women cooed how cute it was for these little ladies to have such a special night with their Dad. And they were right. It was special.

As a Dad with two boys, I'll never know how special this night is between father and daughter. This evening of dinner and dancing is only the beginning of a ritual between these pairs that will possibly culminate with a Daddy/Daughter dance at the girl's wedding in the distant future. The girls will hang on as they are twirled on the dance floor and the fathers hang on as well, holding on for as long as possible - anything to keep them their Little Princesses for just that much longer...

How-How!

My Favorite Time of Year!

It's Fall! Feels like Fall. Smells like Fall. Soon, it'll look like Fall. I love Fall!!! Fall. Fall. Fall.

First, I love Fall for Rockmont. Everyone knows Rockmont rocks and there's nothing better than those warm Indian summer days and crisp cool nights of Black Mountain.

Second, I love Fall for camping. This is my time to pack up the Pilot and head to the hills for a weekend of living the wild life. Fishing, grilling, hiking, campfire, s'mores, sleeping bag, the tent, etc. - all a part of that outdoor experience. Snakes are asleep. Mosquitoes have bitten the dust. No pollen allergy. Warm days, cool nights.

Third, it's football season. Duh. 'Nuff said.

Fourth, is the Camp Kanata experience. There's something so special about Sunday at Kanata for Fall Outing. From grilling ribs to watching the kids and dads tossing the football to the great, big, bad BOOM of the bonfire. It's like tailgating at the game.

And lastly, Fall means Thanksgiving and then Christmas!

How-How!