Summer Camp Fun, Sh'mucks (Repost)

Striving for coolness

My Dear Sillies,

Please forgive my periodic re-posts. I figure that having blogged for 8 years, I've earned the rights. Some of you are so loyal (e.g., Alex), you've seen this before. But it's been 6 years and didn't get many views. So I'm re-posting a snippet from a fun (and exhausting) summer camp experience.

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   They comprise a stigmatized yet ever-increasing segment of our population. Nothing but a twist of genetic fate brings on a developmental disability. (Though we are inundated with concepts about the causes of autism, none of these hypotheses has been proven.) There is no known cure, and symptoms last a lifetime.
   Fortunately, some laws and systems address this groups’ special needs. For one, Ronald McDonald Charities offers camp experiences wherein kids and adults with developmental delays can be themselves and have a great time.
   Fortunately, the campers offered at least as much laughter as they posed challenges. I was fueled by their uninhibited randomness and spunk. (Sporadic doses of hot chocolate helped too.)
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Here are 10 HIGHLIGHTS from the session. [Names have been changed to protect their identities.]

1)  When we first met, camper Traci sized me up (literally). “Wow, you’re short. But I don’t mean to make assumptions.”

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2) In the middle of outdoor activity time, Jimmy casually dropped onto the grass at my feet for meaningful dialogue:

“Ekxy6tynmypsi, how 'bout you?” he asked.

“Oh yes, how about you?” I replied.  

This exchange repeated itself approximately 23 times.

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3) While walking to Eagle Lake, Karl ranted about “sh’mucks, sh’mucks, sh’mucks!” I was tempted to commiserate via explicit detail regarding all the sh’mucks I’ve encountered in this lifetime, but – as a chipmunk crossed our path- I astutely realized he was likely referencing those little critters. Phew. Good thing I maintained a professional stance.

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4) At the lake, I laid Annie’s towel across a beach chair, adjusted the chair, and told her to try it out. She stretched out on it.

“How does that feel, Annie?”

“It feels like a million bucks!”

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5)  “Okay ladies, let’s drink some water before we leave for arts and crafts,” I suggested.

“Yeah,” Carrie quickly agreed. "If you don’t drink enough water, you’ll get hibernated."

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6)   As Helen dashed out of the cabin to join the group, she bounced with a mixture of cheer and hypochondria. “I need to go to the nurse! I just popped my knee!”

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7) In all of her glorious drama, Traci asserted, “Girls can be so dramatic sometimes!”

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      8) Readying herself to take some pictures of the, cabin group, Becca concentrated on highly scientific calculations: “I’ll take half of the group in one shot and then the other half in another picture. Half plus half equals two and a half.”

 9)  Traci advised the group on Justin and Selena:

“Justin Bieber is 17 and he’s dating Selena Gomez. She’s 18. That’s very bad. They are setting a bad example of teenage dating.”

10)   On the last morning, with sadness pervading the campsite, Becca hung onto me for minutes with a silently somber hug. Suddenly, she blasted my eardrum, shouting “Red Robin!”

Kudos to the campers and their families for facing life with gumption, love and cheer!  They're an inspiration! (I'm glad to see Camp Ronald McDonald is still going strong these days.)

Take good care of yourselves.
Love, smiles, & coolness or heat (whatever's most needed) to you.