Backpacking with Bugs

In our decade Before Children, my husband and I did some backpacking -- in nearby forests, on Isle Royale in Lake Superior, in Glacier National Park.  We always thought that we would share those experiences with our children, but they went the organized sports route from elementary school on.  Years and years and years of week-ends sucked away by soccer games and tournaments.  I loved watching them play and grow, but I was always aware that we were giving up on some special times with them. 

We did go backpacking as a family once, in western Pennsylvania when the kids were all in middle school.  It was a perfect fall week-end, with the gently rolling hills all mellow yellow in color and a layer of leaves crunching under our boots.  And when we made our way back to the parking lot after two days of hiking, the place was dizzy with ladybugs.  Ladybugs on the trees, in the air, parked all over the cars. 

The same event took place a couple of weeks ago along the Lake Erie shoreline.  Thousands of ladybugs made their stand on the beach, nestling against one another in patterns of color on driftwood and rocks as they huddled against the wind.  They reminded me of a really good week-end when children still lived here.