To Pee or Not to Pee, Or Rather Where?

I never knew a Cub Scout Campout could be like an episode of Press Your Luck. This weekend I learned how similar the two indeed are.

We went to our Boy Scout district's annual Cuboree campout. We had a lovely campsite named Sherwood Forest. The site itself was gorgeous and as magical as any imagined Sherwood Forest could be. From the long tree lined walk into the campsite to the tall trees that held the fog like a misty veil and shielded us from the sun, tthe morning mist veiled the trees in a magical way - tbefitting any young squire.

THe Sherwood Forest had two small blemishes that kept it from being a completely magical place. A hot dry summer and wet fall allowed for a proliferation of posion ivy. The hot summer also limited camping trips in our area and the latrine at our remote site needed a massive clean up. A snake had taken up resience in one of the latrines. This fact, my sons delighted in informing me of every ten or twenty minutes - lest I forget.

During the day, this was not an issue. I just hiked myself up to the good bthroom where the toilets flushed and there was hot running water. At night however, this was another story. Saturday night, a cold front blew in earlier than expected. The wind blew and howled and the temprature dropped. I found myself in a quandry.

I had to pee. The cold weather made that need worse. Did I chance a tree and risk posion ivy in the nether regions? Or, did I risk a snake bite on the butt? I debated with myslef for twenty minutes. The need became unbearable and I knew I had to decide - poison ivy or the snake. The snake was only in one stall. The poison ivy may not be on my selected tree. The wind picked up in intensity and I picked the latrine.

I figured I wouldn't have to SIT on the seat, hovering was good. The latrine was protected from the wind by a wall. I did wake my husband and make him go with me - to stand guard and for protection from the viper in the next stall. every Sherwood Forest needs a knight in shining armour right?

In the end, it all came out okay. I made it back to our tent with an empty bladder and snake bite free.