Well—it’s Thursday and the kids are leaving tomorrow. I’m going to miss this camp the most. I think being there Saturday gave me a really clear idea of what it’s all about. After weeks of young delinquents, the office was flooded with kids that let off the warmest feelings of reunion and fun. (: for the counselors it was like Old Home Week.

I worked office Saturday. Five little girls came in to ask who is still working at the camp since last year. They knew Cameron but no one else. They were so sad. I saw the girls off and on in my courses throughout the week. Today I sent all five off the zip line (: They wanted to know if I’d be back next year ): It will be so sad to not see my little buddies again. And those were only a few of them.

Saturday:
They left today! All my new friends! I think it was saddest to see the cousins go. Yvone, Erica, Mary . . . was mary a cousin? And Jennifer? Well—I can’t remember all of them. (: Regardless, they were special girls. At lunch they found me and Yvone made her cousin take a picture of her and I. *sniff* Ya, they were my friends (:

I have a few memories of each day I suppose.

Last Saturday and Sunday:
Mobs in the bookstore and lounge—chatting so loud you couldn’t hear yourself think—their thrill at seeing old friends and old faces—the unnaturally high speed at which they consumed the hot water and tea bags—the overall atmosphere of fun, excitement, and anticipation.

Monday:
Getting covered in dirt from ropes and walls at the climbing gym—getting ragged on about how filthy I get at the INDOOR wall—sharing with one shy girl that, on completing the easy climb, she is official climber chickage (she came back every day)—making the kids (and counselors) stay on the course till they finished the climb—being accused of torturing the children—hearing Dan’s kids whine about the exercises he makes them do every morning—hearing Dan’s kids say “I won’t give up!! If my counselor were here, he’d NEVER let me give up!!”—talking with mobs of little stragglers about their day and their lives.

Tuesday:
Calming Julie’s nerves for her first year at Simpson—belaying Julie on a difficult climb with just flip-flops on (YOU DA GURL!)—Julie belaying me on one of the easiest climbs and being excited when I finished (hehe)—Julie laughing as I frantically ran out of the bathroom from a big, black SCORPIAN!—Julie and I making a little boy kill the scorpion for us (HEY! He was a guy! We are girls (: )—one of the counselors making his kids take pictures with “the trainer” after the climb (trainer = me), trying to teach one of the counselors how to belay—seeing all the kids from Monday come back for MORE! (:

Wednesday:
My kids were back again and climbing harder than ever, although maybe not better (: --Dan was making his kids do jumping jacks in the sand pit—some of the kids asked if I was doing the wall again—Kate said my smile is back (:

Thursday:
Meeting Meredith’s mom—seeing the beautifully engraved Bible that Meredith bought for Drew—seeing the look on Meredith’s face as she showed me—realizing how much I’m going to miss that girl—taking the cousins up to the flying squirrel—seeing the look in their eyes when they heard it was my first time working it—seeing the fun they had—talking to all of them and their many friends—spending a beautiful, quiet day at the ball field—coming down to find Abby and the crew getting ready to take camp pictures—realizing how much I love Abby and the crew—Taking some HYSTERICAL pics.

Friday:
Knocking on doors to clean rooms and being greeted by all my little friends—cleaning with Sherri and talking about her boyfriend and her 20 year old son and the guys at work etc.—cleaning with Kate and making plans to go to Africa—Meeting the new Meredith (she has a lovely smile)—trying to hook Cameron up with the new Meredith—Yvone finding me at lunch to have Erica take a picture of her and I—Mary waving goodbye—the line of girls waiting for one of the little boys to sign their camp pictures—saying goodbye not only to my favorite campers, but also to the summer staff—I’ll miss you like mad, Andrea, Meredith, Eric, Sean, Robert, Julie, and Josh.

What beautiful people I’ve met. (: Sometimes I have a hard time believing I have such an amazing job with such amazing people. Other times I can’t believe that I’m leaving and may never return. But I don’t want to be afraid to be happy while I can be. I have two more weeks here and I am going to enjoy them to their fullest as I have tried to enjoy the previous months. Oh, God, my cup is overflowing. (:

Oneluckyfrog1997: so Mary
BlondyBabe: 2 days till we see Kelly!!!!
Oneluckyfrog1997: SWEET HOME ALABAMA
Oneluckyfrog1997: Mary
Oneluckyfrog1997: Mary
BlondyBabe: Mary
Oneluckyfrog1997: hey Mary......
BlondyBabe: Mary
BlondyBabe: Where are you Mary?
Oneluckyfrog1997: MARY
BlondyBabe: Mary come back to us! Don't leave us here all alone? You didn't just take off and go to New York or something did you?
BlondyBabe: Neen I told you she'd be gone soon!
Oneluckyfrog1997: I know
Oneluckyfrog1997: I
Oneluckyfrog1997: I....ca can't hold...can't hold it....to to together
BlondyBabe: We can't live without our Mary
Oneluckyfrog1997: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa :'(
BlondyBabe: We'll have to call Without A Trace and make them find her!
Oneluckyfrog1997: yes...I knew she could get us on one of our shows
Oneluckyfrog1997: if it isn't who wants to marry my roomie then Without A Trace works
BlondyBabe: Thanks Mary! But we like you better than our shows! We promsie! Just come back!
BlondyBabe: Yep
Oneluckyfrog1997: MARY
Oneluckyfrog1997: MAYR
Oneluckyfrog1997: MARY
MEScott4444: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Oneluckyfrog1997: I miss Mary
BlondyBabe: Maybe she's going number 2
Oneluckyfrog1997: Mary
Oneluckyfrog1997: LOL LOL LOL
Oneluckyfrog1997: dang Jen