Episode XXXI: Shoots & Leaves

Last weekend I went with some brothers (say 10 or 15) to The Middle of Nowhere, MO for some camping on a friend’s sprawling property, which included a forest, cornfield, pasture, pond and stable (oh, and a house). In one sense we were roughing it, as there was no running water, fire pit, electricity, etc. On the other hand, we were a quick five minute drive from our hosts’ house, where they fed us a full (and I mean full) three meals a day, consisting almost exclusively of homegrown and homemade delights. Here are some highlights of the trip:

- We arrived at around 11pm. I stayed around the campfire until 4am, when it began to rain. It did not cease to rain, sprinkle, drizzle or at least threaten to precipitate for the remainder of the trip.

- For the first time ever, I went four-wheel-driving in the mud. I was sitting in the bed of the truck, and let me tell you, my t-shirt has some mud stains that may never come out.

- I shot my first firearm! That’s right; it took me just over a year of living in the Midwest before I started shootin’ stuff. We were shooting clay pigeons, and I got one on only my second try!


- I played the only game of pool (as far as I can recall) in which I won without even having to make a single shot.

- During a game of tackle football, one of the guys got his nose broken in half. Not that it came off or anything, it just got seriously broken. He returned from the hospital the next day in good spirits and health.

- On Sunday we took a side-trip to see the house of WWI General John J. Pershing.

- On the way back home we passed through the “home of sliced bread”, and stopped by Maxie, the World’s Largest Goose



Oh the things you will see (and do) in The Middle of Nowhere, MO!