Time Warp

There are three weeks of camp left. I have three more days off, two more nights off, and then... done. Crazy. Three weeks! In two more Saturdays, I'll be saying goodbye to Merri-Mac. And hello, Spain... In light of that, here is a recap of my past few days.

1. Today was AWESOME. They didn't put me in any classes, so I went to the dock and helped teach swimming, diving and kayaking all day. Which involved talking to some of my best friends here, sitting in the sunshine, swimming, and practicing my kayaking skills.

2. Today, my friend Getta wanted to see my hand roll. (That's where you flip your kayak over with just your hands, not using the paddle.) I've only done it twice, and then couldn't do it again, so I was a bit nervous about trying it. Messing up involves a lot of water up your nose. My co-counselor Laura then yells, "Ah, I've seen you do it!" yanks my paddle out of my hands and flips my kayak over, cutting off my yell of, "Wait, Laura!" in a mouthful of water. Much to my delight, however, I rolled right back out of the water with no problem. And then Getta said, "Sorry, Ally, I didn't see it!" and then Laura rolls me right back over before I have any idea what's happening. Another successful roll for me, another dirty look for Laura.

3. The longer camp goes on, the more important communication becomes. Most importantly because it becomes harder to give others the benefit of the doubt when you are exhausted, and communication just makes things so much easier for everyone.

4. I have to cover my tattoo while I'm on camp property (it makes me a bad influence, apparently... I guess 14 year olds going home telling their parents they want a tattoo like their counselor is probably not the best thing.) Thus, I have a sweet band-aid tattoo on the inside of my forearm.

5. Lake Doris is officially disgusting. The fish have begun to die, and there are dead tadpoles floating all over the lake. Sick. Does that stop me from kayaking and swimming, which involves water in the mouth sometimes? Absolutely not.

6. I have read these books at camp so far: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, (started Mockingjay today,) Mere Christianity, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Pursuit of God, and my Utmost for His Highest. Success.

7. The amount of people here who LOVE Jesus is astounding. And I mean LOVE. It is so wonderful. They have taught me so much about the way people are supposed to love each other, and the way we are supposed to love Christ. I am so grateful for my sweet friends here.

8. Three weeks feels like a very long time, and like absolutely no time at all. It is becoming harder, and infinitely more important, for me to be grateful for where I am, when I am.

9. Spain in 34 days. I have exactly two weeks to get myself to Saint Louis, see all my friends, and get packed before I leave.

10. After camp? Here is the loose plan: Getta and I are leaving the morning camp is out, hanging out at Natalie's house in Black Mountain, NC. Then we are going to SC to see a friend of Getta's for a day (Natalie is coming with us, I think) and then coming back to BM to see one of Getta's campers. Then, to Nashville for a few days. Then to Saint Louis for a week. Then to Chicago to pick up my visa, then back to Saint Louis where both Getta and I will fly out from. (Going our separate ways at this point.) So busy. So fun.

11. I used my WFR skills today. Granted, we were in the middle of a park in Black Mountain, NC. But one of my campers slipped and fell and hit the cement pretty hard. I heard her hit the ground, and when I turned to look, she wasn't moving. At all. My heart stopped. I and my co-counselor went into high gear. Fifteen minutes, one patient exam, and a few soothing words later, all was well. She has some bad bruises on the inside of her elbow, but nothing broken... It took about thirty minutes before my heart rate came down, though.

12. Tomorrow is my birthday. (and my mom's.) Goodbye, teenage years. Hello, twenties. It feels weird. I am excited to be spending it at camp, but am a bit sad that I can't go to the zoo with my mom like we usually do.

Happy 50th birthday, mama!