Family Matters

Sunday I had a very special visit. Aunt Ellie and Uncle Maynard came to visit me. They took time out of their travel schedule to stop by camp. I have always loved that about them. No matter where they are in the country they take time out for family. I appreciated their visit so much. It made me miss home, but at the same time it felt good to show someone my new home.

Camp is at a new location this week. We are about 5 minutes from Statyon, which is where the camp office is. During the summer this camp is used by deaf people. I guess this camp owed a favor to Muskrat and Grasshopper for helping them out in the past, so this is why we had the opportunity to use the facilities this week. It is nice in the fact that there is a lot of room to move around. But it is also deceiving in the fact that even though the ground might LOOK even and smooth, the divots and holes are still present. This has made it very difficult for wheelchair maneuvering. One campers insists she is going to topple over in her wheelchair so now we have to double team her wheelchair moving. Not so fun for the back, but she feels more safe. I also started singing to one of the campers that is a slow walker. I noticed that when I sang she tends to walk faster. Oh how that backfired, now every time she goes to walk she waves her 2 index fingers in the air instructing me to sing. I am running low on song ideas, and have resorted to Christmas Carols, so any suggestions? lol

Speaking of songs. We had a talent show last night and one camper loves Kenny Rogers. She asked me to help her sing and the only Kenny Rogers song I know/can remember is "Buy me a rose, call me from work, open the door for me what would it hurt, tell me you love me by he look in your eyes.." Which she didn't know. So any suggestions? lol There is another camper that everyone calls the "Patriot" I knew I would get along with him seeing as I like the Patriots. Come to find out his favorite team is the Packers...but oh well. He also likes to say the Pledge of Allegiance. This camper can be found waving his mini American Flag equipped with Green Bay Packers sunglasses. I thought I would get to know him better by singing some patriotic tunes. He knew the National Anthem and the Battle Hymn of the Republic. When I started singing America the Beautiful he started to cry. I thought to myself, "OH NO! What have I done!? This guy probably served our country in a war or had a loved one die in battle, what can of worms have I opened?" I asked someone and come to find out he is just that patriotic, that at the words to a tune he can burst into tears because he loves this country that much. I thought "wow! what pride." Ever since the crying, we have been best friends.

I've learned this week that it is the little things in life, like a warm cup of coffee or a good cry for our country, that mean the most. Everyone thought that trying a bigger and "better" camp out would be great. But most all of the campers and staff miss home on the mountain, in the woods, where we catch fish from a stream not a horse trough.  (remind me to tell that story next blog)