Nonverbal Love

This past week I fell "in love" with a camper. I know from taking A LOT of Education classes that you are not suppose to have a favorite student, but I'm making an exception. His name is Vernon. Which was weird at first because I have a Grandpa Vernon. He is nonverbal but is very expressive through his sound effects, hand gestures, and emphatic high pitched "YEPS." For example, I always knew when he wanted me to sit next to him because he would slap the chair very loudly next to him until I was in the seated position by his side. Every morning when he saw me he would point to his eyes and then his tent and chirp loudly as to show me that he slept in that tent every night.

My favorite moment with Vernon happened on a walk down the gravel road of camp. Let me back up. From the first day I met Vernon whenever he wanted me to go somewhere with him he would grab my arm to link it with his. We constantly looked like we were in a wedding together walking around camp arm and arm. On Wednesday, Vernon decided we should take a walk. He took the lead of course putting my arm through his. As we walked he all of a sudden started holding my hand, not just holding my hand, but interlocked our fingers together. I teared up thinking to myself, "how did he know?," how could he have possibly known that I needed a real handhold at that very moment? I looked down at his wrinkly hand locked perfectly into mine, and knew my heart was gone. He said nothing and probably thought nothing of it, but it was the most perfect handhold at the most perfect time. A picture I will never forget.

Vernon also surprised me the last night at the dance. I was trying to get him to dance with me. He would just wave his arms, make an "X". As if to say "are you crazy woman! NO WAY JOSE!" I finally left him alone till the last song of the night. (to tell you the truth I felt rejected that my favorite camper would not allow me ONE dance.) As if he knew it was the last song, he humored me and got up and danced with me. He spun me and I spun him around the dance floor. He smiled from ear to ear and hummed as I laughed and cherished our last dance together.

When it was time to go the next day, Vernon once again took my arm and sandwiched it under his and walked me to his car to show me where he would be sitting for the ride home. I gave his driver the sunscreen tube that I had applied on him all week so his balding head wouldn't get burned. I also gave him the bug spray I had strategically spritzed on him each evening to ward of pesky mosquitoes. I felt as though a part of me was leaving camp that day.

This is only one of the many campers that has touched my life here at camp. I thank God everyday for blessing me with the opportunity to give so little and gain so much in return.