pick up

I was so antsy to find out how camp went, I was up early and headed up to the mountain by 8:00 am to find my boys. Pick up was between 10 and 12. I had not taken the directions with me. The car had to go into the shop for an oil change. I had removed the directions so I wouldn't lose them and had forgotten to return them to the car. After dog legging some country roads, I called Tom. "

Help, I need to know where the camp is from where I am." I found the camp soon after that. It is down in a valley by the river with no cell service. Tom had no idea if I had found the place and kept sending me messages to call him back which I could not do until after we left the camp area. I saw all the missed calls at that time. I had Riley call his Dad back, since that is really who he wanted to hear from.



When I got to camp, an hour early, they had not had their closing fire side ceremony. I got checked in as authorized pick up, with my own wrist band with the boys names on it for security. Then I went looking for the boys.I located them at their tree top cabins packing and cleaning up. Well the other cabin mates were cleaning, my boys were outside hanging out with their new friends. Everyone started telling me about the boys adventures during the week all at once. It is one of the advantages to coming early, they want to share and the story is fresh and new to them. They haven't yet told it over and over again.

I told the boys they could stay for fireside. I checked out their cabins. Wow, bathrooms in the cabins, carpet and dry wall, mudroom in the front with wrap around bench and hooks to hang coats and towels, enough room for everyone. It looked really clean and nice. Not the primitive conditions my boys had had at previous camps. It wasn't a dark damp space with beat up bunks. Decks connected the cabins. The cabins were on stilts on the side of a hill high above the forest floor, like a tree house, overlooking a wooded paradise. It was definitely a step up.



Since I was early I was able to avoid the lines again. While the boys said their farewells to friends and ran around looking for lost camera and t shirts, I got the bags and unused medicine, then I joined the fire side. They sang songs and the staff talked about how special the campers were and how much they look forward to seeing everyone next year. One councilor started to choke up with tears.

A councilor I stood next to, in the back, out of the way, told me about two boys who met at camp and did their bone marrow together so they could be at the hospital together.

Trevor's cabin councilor told me about Trevor trekking across to the other side of camp to the showers then coming back for his towel, then coming back for his soap. I laughed, it was so classic Trevor.

The pool was freezing and un heated. Trevor passed the swim test. They had to jump in the water and swim the pool length and then float for a minute. Riley wouldn't jump in. His is excuse was the doctor said no jumping or diving. Really, Riley just doesn't like pools that much. Cold water pools are the worst. They had several water balloon fights. Trevor said they got the little kids really good, then the girls attacked back in revenge.

One boy in Riley's cabin brought a book. As soon as he was done with it or when he didn't want it, Riley read it. They had FBT time which was Flat bunk time, rest for the councilors and the kids. That was the time they were supposed to write home or read quietly or nap. Trevor said his councilor let the kids play cards during that time.

The boys had nick names T man and Scorpion. They had picked their own names. Riley said he really made a good friend with a boy nick named Road Runner. Another boy told me how much he thought T man was a wild thing and so much fun. The councilors passed out black river rocks and talked about how old rocks are and to notice the flaws included in their smooth beauty. The flaws only added to the interest of the rock and did not detract from its natural beauty. We were to carry the rocks with us to remember the experiences had at camp and the friends made. The memories will last like the rock. I got teary eyed. The councilor next to me gave me a hug. I held my rock all the way home, rubbing its smooth surface.

I now have that rock in my purse. I will keep it there to hold and remember that it is old and beautiful forever. It is a wonderful destresser and focus tool.



Once we got in the car home, the boys immediately started singing camp songs. "You can do Camp, UCANDU Camp" over and over again. Other songs rang out. I smiled. We called Tom so he could hear their voices for himself and know they were alive and well and happy.

I sent them right to showers and bed once we were home. They didn't even argue. The cat that hadn't made an appearance all week settled on Trevor's pillow right above his head and slept also.