Especially Dirty

I think that most parents will tell you that they bathe their children only once every several nights - it's a hassle and most kids must not get all that dirty. Noah, on the other hand, requires a thorough scrubbing most nights. He's managed to draw on his face; he's covered in dirt from playing outside; and he has usually rubbed oatmeal, spaghetti or whatever he has eaten all through his hair. Generally, it is not a good idea to lay the boy down without his hose down. Now, I don't know if Noah is dirtier than most kids, or if most kids his age just happen to be more fastidious, or if other parents don't mind laying their child down in the days debris; but, his general filthiness by the days reminds me of something someone said to me a while back concerning my own hygiene as a child...

In the winter of '99, Sasha and I headed out west with Bob and Shane to do a little backpacking. We crashed the first night in some primitive campgrounds in Big Bend National Park where we were informed on arrival that we were to bury human waste (poo) at least 6" below the surface to which Bob responded, "Six inches?! That's deep enough to bury a man!" The next morning we headed out to Big Bend Ranch State Park which, despite the fact it lacks water, is utterly beautiful. We hiked through the desert for two-and-a-half days, infrequent cairns being the only thing distinguishing the path. On the second evening, we stopped atop a small ridge for the night. There we unpacked and began to set up our tents. Determining that I wouldn't sleep well if I was pointing down a mild slope and figuring that I was already filthy after two days hiking in the hot sun and no shower, I laid down in the dirt to determine if the spot I had picked to put my tent up in was good. While wallowing in the dust, I heard someone approach and looked up to see Shane looming over me. Seeing me splayed out in the dirt, he said to me, "You must have been a dirty kid" to which I replied that I thought every kid was dirty. He thought about this for second and retorted, "Yeah, but you must have been especially dirty".

So, now I think that maybe there was something to what he said. Maybe I was especially dirty. Maybe it's genetic. Maybe my dad was especially dirty, and now my son is also and his son might be also. It's definitely something to ponder. I think I'll go ask mom about this. She would probably know if I was especially dirty...