Backseat Dialogue #1

It all began... with a lot of snow.

What do you do when you're snowed in? Play in it (the snow), bake cookies, play dutch blitz, and burn pancakes. (Kelsey: That still taste AWSOME.)

After all of these thrilling activities, the backseat buddies piled into Shaniqua (A friendly name for our van with a big butt), and OFF WE WENT on an even more thrilling drive to New Orleans.

Just like every seasoned road tripper, the backseat buddies never slept. Instead, we sang loud songs, taught Tree euchre, read children's books, and talked... a LOT.

Alabama was especially exciting.
Kelsey: "Look guys! It's Alabama. The COOLEST people are from Alabama! There are trees in Alabama!!! Let's take pictures!!!" (And she did take pictures of trees and meaningless roads.) In all reality, Alabama was not all that intriguing.

A backseat favorite was in Louisiana. A rickety bridge going across "some lake" was our only route to Camp Hope. From that backseat, this bridge was magically transformed into a stomach churning amusement park ride. The slightest bump threw us up for a padded head knock on the top of Shaniqua. Over and over and over again we bopped up and down. And yes, it is true, up to this point the rickety bridge was the highlight.

After getting slightly lost, we eventually made it to Camp Hope. First impressions are not always the best. Outlined with barbed wire fencing, gaured with two security gaurds (ok- so they were a 60 year old man and a middle aged woman...), people seeming to walk around aimlessly, and a soft dreary looking light, we feared our time would be spent in a prison. (Don't worry- it isn't. It's just a school. But that's close enough anyway.)

Thanks to the sly working or our "wheelchair" bound friend (Kelsey) the ladies got a room all to ourselves! (Very special treatment, which is slightly humorous because Kelsey no longer even uses crutches.)

Day Number 1:
The day began with us piling back into Shaniqua on our way to our assigned destination. We pulled out of the parking lot, excitement for the day building, headed down the driveway, and promptly pulled into a parking spot right in front of one of Camp Hope's side doors. Yes... we traveled a whole 20 ft. (or so...) We got out, went back into the building, and began a day full of wonderous labor.

Some of these enriching jobs included installing drop ceilings, drywalling, sanding drywalling, carrying cots, and painting... a LOT.

After this wonderful first day, we began adventure number two. The shower. Upon entering the shower room you are greeted with a nice big room, nice showers with seperate changing areas, and nice long tables to set your things on. Unfortunately, the appearance of the room sets you up in a decieving way for the experience that will soon take place. The actual shower... cold. Very very cold. Lip biting, done in three minutes, ice cold. Fortunately, we all survived and are better people because of it.

Now here we sit, writing you our lovely memoirs. We wait with eager anticipation the fun adventures to come.

With best regards,
The Backseat Buddies:
Kelsey, Shannon, and Teresa