Fast forward 9 years. (same) trunk packed. and a duffel. and another one. and a box. Different Volvo. The road is smooth, no dirt to be found. Palms are still sweaty (I start to wonder if they ever stopped sweating). Dead stop. I hop out. I breath in... what do I breath in? Pines, maybe. Water, maybe. Sweat, yes. I am here.
The first time I arrived was a at camp, the second time, at college. There is no difference.
College is wrapping up. Camp, despite my pleas and longings and desires to go back, may be wrapping up to. How ironic that that is occurring at roughly the same time. Philosophical me says: take it as a sign that you actually have to grow up. Normal me says: fuck that, i'm going back.
Things I learned/gained at Windridge:
1. How to play tennis
2. How to hide from bats
3. How to make the perfect s'more
4. How to fall in ditch and break your arm (I wish I were kidding)
5. The ghost of cabin 13
6. How to make some of the best friends of my life, and, in turn, that these friends will come back when you least expect it
7.How to catch a pig
8. How to not shoot myself in the foot while playing archery
9. The proper use of band-aids
10. How to shave my legs past the knee
11. My first kiss. yes it was behind a bush.
12. The polar bears is definitely worth it
13. Camp food is not that bad, until you have to experience as a counselor
Things I learned/ gained at college:
1. I re-learned how to play tennis
2. How to survive with one arm for a while
3. How to make some of the best friends of my life
4. That those who matter won't leave
5. How to properly mission
6. How to make everything a joke
7. Maybe studying doesn't really make a difference
8. I didn't learn how to cook
9. Dance breaks are necessary
10. It's not about what you need, it's about what you want
11. How to effectively set off fire alarms
12. To embrace the now
...... i';m going to stop there.
The point is, college is one big time at summer camp, just with class, papers, teams, and wayyy more drama. Unfortunately, it looks like I won't be able to go back to the camp that shaped me into who I am today, that allowed me the chance to frolic around causing trouble and falling in ditches, that gave me confidence and insight and independence. I will, however, be leaving the place that helped me to hone these skills as an adult with a killer resume but absolutely no direction, and have no desire to come back and do college all over again.
I don't know where I'll be at beginning of June. But wherever I end up, be it camp or Burlington or in a van somewhere or in Europe or maybe Alaska or Seattle or in some oddly convoluted in-between, but most likely in my parent's basement I'll carry what I learned at both camps with me. Right now, that's all I have.
Enjoy the unknown, go out and grab it.
