But I had some family vacations planned for the beginning of August. My grandparents have never met Penny, and then Kevin's high school reunion is in a couple weeks up in Washington.
So when the call came offering me this job... I turned it down. I felt torn completely in half, but then I realized that won't be living in the same country as our family for the next thirty-or-so years, and it would be better for me to visit my family than take a job-- even one as awesome as this.
So when one of my coworkers messaged me on facebook about awaiting my triumphant return, I cried.
Then I decided that my vacations hadn't started yet, and by golly, I'd like to go volunteer at Bear Camp. So I went for a couple days. It was so fun to play tag games with the kids, glue popsicle sticks together, sing Bear Camp songs, teach them the rooster song which had faded from memory since my days there five years ago, go swimming, eat my lunch with the kids, and come in as late or as early as I wanted. I was a volunteer; I don't have to be responsible!
One neat thing was that there were two kids there who I remembered from five years ago when they were little 6 year olds. One of them, Kelson, used to love to dress up. On Harry Potter week, he'd show up dressed as a dinosaur. On Rock Star week, he'd come dressed up as a skeleton. On a normal day, he'd come dressed up as a dinosaur. He just liked to dress up. Now he's eleven or so, has long hair (as he did as a child) and wears all black-- even in the summer! But he's still a good kid. The other one was Zar-- short for Balthezar, really! He was always one of the sweetest kids. We would eat lunch together, and he'd always make me eat his Bonbel cheese. See, I would NEVER eat a child's food (ahem), but he'd offer it so nicely. And I'd refuse. He'd strongly insist. I'd strongly insist he eat his lunch, darn it. Then he'd tell me he was throwing it away anyway, and would I rather have it than have him throw it away. And then I'd cave. And this year, he did eat his own lunch, but I'd still turn around and always find Zar right there at my elbow, smiling and starting up a conversation. He's such a sweetie! And I wonder when (or if) he'll ever cut his rat tail. Maybe next time he cuts the rest of his hair, which may also be never. What's this with all the long haired kids?! ;)
A couple of the counselors (Jessie, Austin, Riley, and Squeaker) had also been kids at camp when I worked there, and it was surreal to see them-- well, bigger versions of them-- out there being responsible and still entirely silly.
One of the highlights of the week (okay, I only went for two days... I was busy), was going to the staff meeting on Thursday night. They had a BBQ, and Seth and Riley handed out the Bear Camp awards: the Bearies. Those two are the funniest boys I have ever met, and they had us laughing the entire night. I even got an award (which was a certificate rolled up inside of one of last year's Triathalon third-place-finish cup. I shall treasure it always). I won the award for Y Counselor of the Year, beating out a girl named Stephanie who actually DID work at the Y, and a pile of bear poo. Ah yes, those were the days-- all five of them!
I'm sad to know it, but those were probably my last days at Bear Camp. I don't see myself ever being in the position again of being able to work at a summer camp all summer. But I hope that when we come to visit my family in the future, when Penny is old enough, maybe we can send her to Bear Camp for a week to have a wild adventure of her own!
Only four more years!!
2 comments:
I remember Zar! His hair was so crazy. I also remember Riley. And now I feel old...
Um.. ya for you?
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