Eddie and George Save Christmas!

Eddie and George woke up this morning WITHOUT ANY ELECTRICITY!  Kathy and David noticed it, too.  After David cranked up the generator, George wandered over to the rig next door to see what was the trouble.

"Campground didn't pay the electric company so they shut off the power."

Eddie and George knew that already, because, when we arrived at the campground on December 1, there were two huge portable propane generators perched strategically near the two bathroom facilities.  "Hmmm," Eddie had confided, "I don't like the look of this."  Kathy agreed, so David and George had strolled down to the office to find out what was what. "Oh, [mumble mumble mumble]," the campground host said.  That explains it all.

Twice since we arrived there, the propane generators failed and had to be serviced.  Each time, David clambered out on the truck and started our own gasoline generator.  We were all comfy as children all snug in their beds, with visions of Christmas in Philadelphia dancing in our heads.

But it was not to be so easy.

The neighbor elaborated further to George this morning.  "Seems the campground didn't pay the generator rental people either, so one generator got pulled. Everyone in the campground has to move over to the other end, so the last remaining generator can supply us."

"Hmmm," Eddie said when George returned and reported.  "I wouldn't want to share that one little power source with about 40 other rigs."  Neither did George.  Nor the humans for that matter.  Nor, even, Baxter and Flip.

David and Kathy thought about leaving the cats for five days to rely on power to recharge the batteries so the propane heater could see it through.  In fact, they thought about the risk of losing power and heat, and what might happen to the water (I mean ice) in the fresh water tank.

"Nope!" Eddie exclaimed, "We can't stay here."

George responded, "You're right, Eddie.  Let's counsel the humans."  Well, it didn't take much counseling for Dave'n'Kathy to agree with the bears.  The cats were way ahead of all of them and were already searching for new campgrounds on the internet.

We found a KOA down here in Fredericksburg.  Dave marched down to the campground office and informed the staff we were leaving early today, and demanded a partial refund.  The three chagrined campground workers didn't even protest.  "Sure," the desk guy said, processed it, and said, "The credit will be on your credit card in a week or so."

"That was easy," David reported to Kathy, the bears and the cats.  "Let's see if the credit actually comes through."  David responded to the desk guy and the other workers:  "Just one word of wisdom. Make sure you get your paychecks.  Preferably in cash."

So suddenly it was MOVE DAY.  "Batten the hatches!  Hoist the mizzen!"  Kathy yelled.  Flip and Baxter ran for the bedroom.  David went out and battened and hoisted.  Kathy threw the cats into their carriers and the bears under the covers.  The ship set sail and followed the wind south down I-95. Except for about 18 construction zones and the accompanying traffic congestion, it was smooth sailing.

We docked at the Fredericksburg/Washington South KOA.  Eddie and George leaped out of the rig and helped plug in the electric.  Here, Eddie is examining the connection while George waits for the readings on the UPS:



Sure enough.  "We got POWER!" Eddie yelled.  "And its 50 AMPS!" George contributed.

This was mighty good news.  We all rushed into the rig and gathered around the Christmas tree to see it spring to life with a mighty force of electrons:

George and Eddie decided to wander outside to our picnic table, which was scenically posted right on the banks of a beautiful pond.  The two admired the bucolic view.

"Eddie?" George whispered.

"Yes, George," Eddie returned.

"I think this is going to be a good campground."

"Indeed," Eddie rejoined, "But you know what's even better?"

"What," George queried.

"I think we saved Christmas for the humans," Eddie concluded.

"I do believe you're correct," George observed.  "And not only that, the cats and we are going to be mighty comfy all through the New Year."

The Bluebird of Happiness flew by the two bears and, as if in agreement, swooped down onto its perch and sang a little song:  "God Bless Us Everyone!"