I must be reminded to sit around a campfire.
These reminders often originate from a solar event, such as the winter solstice or, more recently, the fall equinox. The campfire is a great place to release things you no longer want in your life, such as worry and stress.
We don’t have a fire all summer because the days are too long, and I am usually in bed before dark. Sad but true. Additionally, we endured temperatures of 100+ degrees for many weeks.
Who wants to sit around a campfire when you are already sweating?
About four weeks ago, we bought some pre-packaged firewood for convenience. However, we hauled it around to three more spots before setting it ablaze – on the fall equinox.
We had to because while in Keystone, SD, we drove past an epic wood carver who had a bin outside that said, “Free Fire Starter.” We loaded up our foldable box and then carried it around to the next stop.
I refused to haul both the bundle and the box to another location!
It’s all gone now, and we probably won’t have another fire until the Winter Solstice.
Last year, while in Texas, I started a new tradition of lighting luminaria around the woods while we sat by the campfire.
On December 21, the sun goes down before dinner time, which fits into our schedules just fine. The luminaria grew brighter as the sky darkened.
It was magical.
But around our recent campfire, I started to wonder why people like this tradition. It is obviously not convenient most of the time, especially for full-timers.
But there is something embedded in our DNA that draws us to fire. For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors depended on fire for survival – for warmth, protection from predators, and for cooking food.
The flames hypnotize us. The crackling sounds soothe our souls. The warmth makes us feel safe.
And as Wayne says, the smoke smell is my favorite aftershave on him.
So, you can say we have a primal connection with fire.
It is also a social equalizer.
When you sit with friends, and sometimes strangers, around a campfire, social hierarchies tend to dissolve. Strangers become friends and stories are shared without pretense.
Those stories are much more dramatic as flickering light casts shadows on the storyteller’s face. That light brings a serene feeling that light from a screen could never replace.
While working in Yosemite last summer, we invited campers to sit around a long, propane fireplace and sip wine. We would have 20 – 30 people each week sharing their crazy RV stories.
Just the two of us sat around our last campfire. It was a time to unwind and take in the night sky.
That’s okay too.
What are some memories you have of sitting around a campfire?
