SJ Ranch

Jul 15, 2007 20:31

So, it's Sunday night and it's finally sinking in that i'm home.
Truthfully, it feels odd to be sitting here right now, my fingers tapping out this message, air conditioning keeping me cool, Indian food satisfying my stomach.

Right now, i'm still in camp mode. If I wasn't aware of the fact that most of my friends from camp are home too, i'd be bawling my eyes out to go back. Funny, isn't it?

Then again, it was my last year as a camper. Maybe as a person, for in 2008, SJ Ranch will not see any Hannah F.. Maybe i'll return as a full counselor in 2009- if they'll take me- if I don't get swept away in something else.

For now, however, i'd like to chronicle the best camp experience of my life.

I arrived at SJ Ranch three weeks ago- to the day. It was sunny, something that wasn't too often for an orientation day. I was in Sparrow bunk with my best friend Hannah G. and two acquaintances from the year prior- Amanda S. and Krystina. There were two new girls- Mel and Amanda E. We were the oldest cabin.

I had always wanted to be in the true oldest cabin- the year before I was in the oldest cabin by average of ages, but the oldest camper had been in a different cabin. This year, I believed that we would be the oldest cabin in every sense. Funny, isn't it? The irony still gets to me.

"Conflicting personalities" was the reason Hannah and I gave as we hopped cabins, two days later. We switched into Raccoon (trading with Libby and another Amanda S.). They (our new cabinmates) were younger than us- so essentially, Hannah and I had re-created the situation of the year before. Hannah was the oldest camper, I was the second oldest camper.

It was a good move. As much as I liked my old bunkmates, my new ones rocked. WE HAD A FREAKING AMAZING CABIN! <3 to Hannah, Rachel, Chloe, Katherine (plus Chris and Sammy when they arrived two weeks later). We were dubbed the weirdest bunk in camp by the end of the first week. We were an open bunk- we had tons of visitors. I love the younger campers at SJ, and I was so happy that they would come and chill with us. We held rocking dance parties- once we extended lights out.

But enough about the glory of the bunk- I could go on forever but I want to get to e-mailing people. SJ Ranch revolves around horseback riding. Six days a week, twice a day. It was awesome!

I was in the second highest group- Group N. The word for the riding groups this year was "Un Cheval" (a horse). We did everything- cross country jumping, stadium jumping, flat work, Earle Park, pasture riding, woooo.

Skipping to the last night, Bonfire, a friday. I didn't cry this year. The tears wouldn't come until the sky opened and it poured as we set our candles adrift on the lake. I was seated next to Hannah. I realized that I would never again be in this situation, that I had moved on from camper status and that even if I returned as a counselor in two years time, the people will have changed.

DAMN. I'll miss everyone. All my group members (Morgan, Peyton, Julia!, Natalie, Nikki, Hannah), Julia for being my little sister (not the Julia that's my actual little sister), everyone. My bunk mates especially.

And all the counselors/CITs.

I'm horrible at writing to people. Rebecca, I owe you an apology for I received your letter and as camp was winding down in a horrible manner (meaning, it was rocketing along) I had not the time to reply. This year, though, I don't want to lose the friendships I made. I won't have next summer to reconnect.

Much love to everyone, if you should stumble upon this meager entry.

<3, Hannah
Previous post
Up