Juxtaposition; i.e. Camping with Little Girls

    Camping, the point where man and nature come together once again. Man to bask in the glow of a campfire and the out of doors, and nature to be horrified by all things pink and princess. Codorus State Park in Pennsylvania was descended upon by the Brannon family as a weekend getaway. After camp had been set up, there were things that seemed out of place, not as rustic as to be expected. Of the chairs that ringed the campfire, two were a lovely shade of lavendar and graced with Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Cinderella, their ball gowns billowing out, not from dancing but from a cool forest breeze and an overactive, smoke producing fire. A princess carriage in the form of a pink tricycle, took the girls to once upon a time and far, far away. Of course, to get to the castle in the distance, the one riding the tricycle wore a crown of protection, in distinct Disney Princess pink.
    The tent with its manly Cabela's label affixed proudly to the deep green rip/stop material belied what was inside. Our sleeping beauties slumbered on a pink, princess air mattress, keeping their little bodies from uncomfortable peas (or rocks) underneath. The girls' 'special blankets,' which when left at home become a travesty, are fluffy, one spinkled with pixie dust from Tinkerbell and the other promising that "Dreams Do Come True" in true princess fashion. The youngest Brannon slept in a cherry blossom bedecked and ruffled crib.
    Walt Disney would have been proud to see our campsite and to hear the girls many comparisons of nature to the princess movies. Pocahontas liked trees and ran 'just around the riverbend.' That lightning bug's name was Ray, like from Princess Tiana. Taking a break in the tent was like Snow White at the Seven Dwarves' house. Perhaps Disney's marketers would be a little more proud any way. Although, the girls should probably not be told that we ate one of Bambi's relatives for dinner while out in the 'wild.'