Whoops, it's been so long I forgot my password
Camp Care-a-Lot. It was three weeks ago. It feels like I just got back. Summer. It's almost over. It feels like it just started.
Camp was an amazing experience. It was an exhausting experience. Cleaning vomit off the floor at 3 a.m. wasn't very fun, and having a revolving bucket wasn't very fun, but the good moments outweighed the bad. It was hard to say good-bye to those girls. At a "normal" camp, campers are sad to say good-bye, but they are excited to go back to their lives. At Care-a-Lot, the campers are sad to go home because they don't want to go back to their lives. Just some random quotes that I haven't forgotten (and will not forget) from throughout the week:
Amber, Orange cabin, during a "drug-free presentation": What do you do when you have good drugs from the doctor and someone puts bad drugs in it and makes you take it?
McKayla, my cabin: My cousin has a plant he shouldn't have.
TaShaye, my cabin, after getting a toothbrush: I get my own toothbrush?!
TaShaye: Look, Kaira, we get beds!
McKayla: Stacey, I have a bug bite on my private parts and it itches A LOT!
During a presentation by the Salvation Army about staying away from drugs, the presenter asked how many kids have seen someone do drugs in their house. All seven of my girls raised their hands.
Miccah, numerous times to Stacey-Stacey, Meghan, and I: Will you be my mom?
Yeah, I'll be back next June. I really hope I can do some fundraising for camp through UIS this school year. I've only been involved with this camp for one season, but I fell in love with it. Eydee is so passionate about what she does and it's hard to not get caught up in her love for the kids and her passion for providing them with a week that could change their lives. Over and over she reminded us throughout the week that we're only with these kids for a week, and that is a very short time, too short to actually make a grand difference in their lives. But, she tells us, every second helps. Every second that we are showing these kids that someone does care about them and that there is a way out of their poverty and drug-stricken homes gives them a little hope for their future.
Sunday I had seven little girls, shy with low esteem, but by Saturday, I had six rambunctious little girls who had had the times of their lives at probably the only camp they will ever get to experience. I hope they do come back when they are sixteen and will be counselors with me.
Until then, I'm going to Jacksonville for a day to be day help. Hopefully I'll get to spend the afternoon with the kids, with a cabin. Otherwise, I'll be helping Eydee and planning for the talent show.
In other news, things are going wonderfully this summer. I love living with Audra. I wish KK and Jenny were there, but we only have a little over a month left. I miss Wyant, but it hasn't really hit me that he won't be here next school year. I'll work on that one when the time comes. I miss Kyle like tons. I miss Roger walking into my house with a whiskey bottle under his coat. But I love having Molly back. I definitely can't complain about the way this summer is turning out!!