waste not want not
If you’re reading the stories on this website, you already know about Joolee’s many wonderful qualities, including her generous nature, kind heart and adventurous spirit. What you may not realize is how frugal she is when it comes to her material possessions. Those peace signs you sometimes see on her stuff suggest both a zen-like attitude and a tear! Well, I’m here to tell you about the dark side of that frugality.
My cautionary tale takes place a few years ago, when Joolee and I found ourselves visiting our respective siblings, Ray and Jeanette, in Alaska. We had some time on our hands, and neither of us had ever visited Hope, Alaska, a place we both wanted to see on the south side of Turnagain Arm. It turned out that Joolee had some friends staying there, so we decided a weekend trip with an overnight hike to Gull Rock would be fun.
The 5-mile hike was beautiful – small waterfalls flowing over moss covered rocks, sun rippling on the water in Turnagain Arm, snow covered mountains in the distance. Pretty much everything you’d expect during a great day in Alaska.
We set up camp at the aptly-named Gull Rock, had dinner, and settled in to enjoy the company and scenery. Eventually sleep beckoned despite the endless suns of Alaska’s summer nights. Joolee and I were sharing a tent, so we laid out our sleeping pads and bags and prepared to listen to the gulls squawk on the rocks.
Pfthhhpop. All of a sudden, I heard something from Joolee’s side of the tent. Pfthhhpop. My mind started to race – what did we have for dinner again? Green curry and rice? Joolee started to rustle around in her sleeping bag. Pfthhhpop. Pfthhhpop. Pfthhhpop. Should I say something? Be discreet and pretend nothing was happening? I didn’t smell anything but … pfthhhhhhhpoppoppoppop. I couldn’t stand it! I rolled over to check on Joolee. I didn’t want to be rude . . . pfthhhpop…pfthhhpop…pfthhhpop. Lo and behold, Joolee was eyeing me as if I was trying to hide something! Pfthhhpop.
We realized at the same time what we were hearing – Joolee’s sleeping pad!
Keeping in mind the motto, waste not, want not, Joolee had repaired a couple of rips in her sleeping pad with duct tape, but the tape wasn’t holding. Every time she moved, air would seep out of an air pocket and then the pocket would pop! We broke out in giggles that wouldn’t stop. Every time we started to get ourselves under control – pfthhhpop – and we’d be off again. I know I didn’t get much sleep that night, and I’m not sure how much Joolee or her friends could have gotten given all of the laughing and popping noises coming from our tent. Although I’ve had my share of sleepless nights since then, none of them have made me laugh as much as Joolee’s and my time on Gull Rock with the leaky sleeping pad.
Happy 40th Birthday, Joolee! You deserve 40+++ days of celebration and fun. I can’t wait to catch up soon.
Peace and love, Sharon
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joolee's forty 
Nicely done, Sharon! Makes me giggle every time I think about it.
Heeheeeeeee! I’d forgotten about that…thanks for starting my day with some out-loud laughing, Sharon! You know, I’ve found out since, that Thermarest has a lifetime guarantee…I STILL shouldn’t have thrown that thing away :O). What a fun trip…Peaches and Michiel were the hosts with the most…delicious curry, and no casualties when the bear spray exploded! Sharon, if you haven’t already noticed it, please see your bio and associated comment…if it comes off as a veiled threat, it’s not at all what I’d intended, heheh…see you in just over a month…can’t wait to shake the bebbees with you! xoxoxo, Joolee
What a hoot! Sharon, that’s such a great giggle for the day!!
Sooo.. I’m not sure what year that was, but Joolee guided a whole season for us with that same flat thermarest. When we finally realized we reminded her they have a lifetime warranty. I *think* it is now repaired and keeping her comfortable, warm and quiet. There’s always other things to giggle about though…
I had forgotten about the exploding bear spray, having been traumatized by the leaky sleep pad! I’m glad to hear, Joolee, that you have something new to keep you comfy and warm – I think you call him “Bill”. 😮
Lots of fun memories down the years, though, including those of me crushing you, Jeanette and Ray at Catan! Now that’s a thrown-down gauntlet!
Eek…I want to talk trash, but I must admit I am intimidated by your Cataan prowess…let’s see, Jeanette comes back the 29th…let’s make it May 30th, 8pm, Legenza kitchen table…be there, or be a scaredy cat! Also Sharon, I forgot to thank you for holding my hand and maintaining eye contact and a calm voice throughout the other process that took place on that aforementioned kitchen table…. :p
Hi, Tina! YES, you are the one that told me about the lifetime warranty! But that was AFTER Sharon witnessed the death of my 3/4-length pad, and I threw it away b/c it ended up with a bubble at one end that was bigger than my butt…way bigger, in fact :). So then, my mom gave me the full-length Thermarest she’d bought for the Nepal trip in 95, and that’s the flat one I carried around until you helped me see the light. And yes, still carry around. Thanks for the tip!