CAMPING -- Parents love getting notes from their kids indicating they're capable of dealing with adversity -- especially when they maintain their smile while making lemonade from lemons, and inflict comfort and happiness on people around them.

Here's a recent email message from my youngest daughter, Hillary, who works with the Outdoor Program at Western Washington University.

"I just got back from a wonderrrful kayak trip to Lummi Island, and I was an official leader so I even got paid 90 bucks! We saw  4 river otters frolicking today, as well as a PORPOISE and seals galore!

 

"We forgot the tent poles, so we had to be innovative and practice our tarpology skills... with the help of the throw ropes and some paddles, we managed to make a mansion out of rain flies and ground cloths! 

 

"My chocolate sea pudding with the Turkish washcloth seaweed thickener was a big hit :)