My public service message

**excuse me while I climb on my soap box....**

Okay, here I go.

People ask me all the time why I don't drink alcohol.

It's events covering the last 3 weekends of my life that sum it up perfectly.

DRUNKS are self absorbed idiots which end up ruining good times, making absolute fools of themselves, destroying friendships,

and if we are lucky they are only harming themselves and not innocent people around them.

I won't dwell on my first two experiences because I am too steamed up by this last one.

Last night was our ward campout. I have been looking forward to this all summer, for multiple reasons really. And anyone knows that getting ready to camp is a lot of work. Add to that kids and the work load is multiplied. This is why we have NEVER camped with our kids.

And to top it off Cam even got of work EARLY. Which anyone who knows my life knows that NEVER happens either. And it is a big deal to me.

All to have it ruined by an obnoxious large group of people in the campground next to ours who decided to drink and party themselves silly until 3 a.m. then too drunk too function as human beings break out into brawls amongst themselves, associated with horrific language.  Which were bad enough until they started yelling disparraging remarks and even shooting threats  across to our camp for being MORMONS! This all went on until 5 a.m. 

Absolutely ridiculous!

Multiple attempts were made by various individuals kindly asking for some respect for the dozen families trying to get some sleep, and who in particular didn't want all of that disgusting profanity taught to the children. These imbiciles even had children with them!

Are you kidding me!!!

Trust me, if cell phones had service they would have been used a lot earlier.  So instead someone drove to the campsite host to complain around 3:30 and when he came out not a lot changed. But that is when the gun threats started so that is when he called the police.

Laying there, quite frankly too scared to drift off into slumber, for fear of being ambushed by these unruly heathens. Also, because by this time, what was the point.

 My thoughts were turned to the early pioneers of our church.

Believe me, I know my one night doesn't even compare to the truly horrific persecutions and mob attacks that they dealt with all the time. And all in the name of religion. 

But, I couldn't help but feel such compassion and heartache for those mothers who were sleeping in less than desirable accomadations, usually cold, hungry, and fearful for the lives of their family. Not only from their own "unruly heathens" but disease and mother nature were always a threat too.

How did they do that night after night?

Did they ever have a peaceful nights sleep?

Would they lay there praying that somehow God would silence their

adversaries and protect them?

These and many other questions flooded my mind. And my appreciation grew even stronger as I felt a little connection with my faithful ancestors.

Cops finally showed up around 5 a.m. to a group claiming there was never a problem and we were making it up. Luckily for us they knew otherwise. They were told to have those who could drive to leave immediately and the rest to sober up and get out!  And when they came back those still there would be arrested. Great and all, but a little too late. Damage done.

When the sun arose and our comatose group of sleep deprived families started to stumble around getting ready for breakfast it was obviously but unfortunately the talk of the camp. Everyone too tired to really enjoy anything, ate, packed up and left. A tradegy really.

Again, all because some self absorbed, idiodic, drunks decided their alcohol was more important than human decency and common sense.!

**And now I will climb off**