Early education.

I took the Wild Ones to a park in Minneapolis yesterday and got a little more than I bargained for. I thought we might play LaCrosse or toss around a football, but first the Wild Ones wanted to play on the steps that lead to the Mississippi. Of course when their toes hit the water they had to "pee" (as the doctors are so fond of calling it) and there were no proper facilities to be found. Next best thing, find a private bush. Well in our back yard that is easy, in the middle of a park-not so much so. We wondered down the shore, behind a steep bank and up a path into some trees and found the perfect spot. In the peace after finding a "potty" we started to look around and realized we had wondered through someone's home. Imagine the size of the Wild One's eyes when they saw freshly washed clothing hanging in the trees to dry and groceries hidden under piles of twigs. We also saw a 6-pack, minus one, sweating in the shade. At this point I scooted the boys of out the woods and explained that someone was living there. We had a very candid discussion and then tried to go about our business of playing in the rocks. As I sat there watching the Wild Ones, many emotions and thoughts whorled through my head. From the corner of my eye I felt someone sneak behind me...it was the occupant of the home we had inadvertently invaded. He was checking to make sure that we had not stolen anything...I should have left him a ten dollar bill. He stayed on the other side of the steps with me between himself and his home, but never let his gaze wonder too far from me. Just before we were leaving I watched a woman walk up to him, hand him a folded bill (as in cash) and inconspicuously take a small envelope from him. I figured our exit was good timing and I was glad at that point that I didn't have any money to leave for him.