My Camp report for Spring 1998


Well I’m back from camp. The little verse I put on my camp page should give you a feeling of what it was like for me. I packed way to much stuff. I did about right on clothes, but I brought tons of things like coloring books, crayons, stickers, stories to read, and so on for all of us to do together and there just wasn’t time. So next time maybe we’ll stay an extra day or I’ll bring less stuff. Before I went to camp some of the girls and even Aunt Tessy had been talking about how we might get scared and not come out of our rooms. I thought about it, even on the way to camp. Somehow I knew though that it wouldn’t be a problem. I knew that camp was a very important time for me and I didn’t want to miss a minute. Even though it was the very first time I had ever been visible in public I couldn’t wait. When we arrived at 2:00 PM on Friday. Daddy signed in at the main lodge and got the room key (I stayed in the Cherry House Lodge). It took Daddy about fifteen minutes to get the car unpacked and everything in my room. I had already decided what I was going to wear so it only took me about an hour to get ready. As I left my room I took a final look in my mirror. This was the first time I had been fully visible with my pretty new hair and everything. I felt excited and good inside as I really saw myself for the first time. At last! I was there and it was MY time. I picked up my bunny Sandy and left my room. I wanted to run down the stairs, but I knew that wouldn’t be proper since I was wearing a full skirt with fluffy petticoats. I walked down the stairs as slowly as I could never pausing at the door I was outside in the sunshine and fresh air. I felt glorious inside as I looked around and smiled at those who passed by. I walked across the road to the main lodge and went into the lobby. Aunt Tessy couldn’t come because Tom (her boy part) was in a play where he had to have a beard. Tom had come though and I was very happy to see him. I curtsied and greeted him then I gave him a big Hug! Daddy never felt comfortable hugging another man. Little girls, though, can hug anyone they want to.

Pam is a girl we chat with and send e’mail with; she lives in Australia. She was sad that she couldn’t come to camp, but she wanted to be there as best she could. She sent a big package to Aunt Tessy and Tom brought it with him. In the package Pam had sent a gift for each of us. They were all very nice gifts, but when it came time for me to open mine I cried a little when I saw what a wondrous thing it was. Pam sent me a book and very special book it was; written by a nine- year-old girl long ago. The title is "The Young Visitors" and the little girl author was Daisy Ashford. The story is set in Victorian England, as it was the time and place Daisy lived. The book is an exact printing of her manuscript, spelling errors and all; a treasure indeed. Taffy brought gifts as well; she gave each us a box of California Taffy. So we have California Taffy from Taffy from California. It was so deliciously funny but sweet and nice just like our friend Taffy. My sister Melissa arrived a little bit late but she showed up in the lobby well before dinner time with her bear Suzy. It was so very special to finally meet my sister! Though Melissa is quite shy everyone was very nice to her and she quickly joined in with our conversation.

Before dinner we had a chance to talk together and with the adult guests as well. None of the adult guests we met had ever met an adult little girl before and many had never even heard of us. They were very kind and curious to know more about us so we spent much of our time before dinner talking together to get to know each other better. From the very start everything was absolutely perfect. I found myself thinking that we were all under special care where this weekend was our time and everything would be just right. I started the evening holding Sandy close, but by the time we went to the dining room to eat I sat Sandy down beside me. I know at ten I’m a little old to be carrying my bunny around, but sometimes a girl just needs her bunny. Jenny, she’s one of my friends, well Jenny is seven and she brought her stuffed cow Mooie with her. Jenny was hugging Mooie very tight. By the time we started dinner Jenny sat Mooie down by Sandy ‘cause Jenny wasn’t scared either. Dinner was very nice they had prepared a place where all eight of us could sit together and the food was delicious. After we ate we sat at the table a long time and talked. The others that had come to Rainbow Mountain for the weekend were very friendly and several came over, introduced themselves and talked with us for a while. by about 10:00 I was very sleepy and retired for the evening.

The next morning we were all up and about by 8:30 as we wanted time to talk before breakfast. Each of us had prepared a small gift for Aunt Tessy, but since she couldn’t come we decided to give them to Tom. Before breakfast, one by one, we presented our gifts. While we were waiting for breakfast to be served Tom opened each one. I knew that Aunt Tessy loves Pooh Bears. So I did an extra special good job coloring a Pooh Bear picture in one of my coloring books. Then I carefully cut it out from the book and put it in a nice frame. Tom said he liked it a lot and that made me feel very nice inside. Through the rest of the day we played pin the tail on the donkey, made bracelets of pony beads, and had a birthday party for all of us. Then it was time to change for dinner; everyone went to their rooms and after an hour or so started showing up back at the main lodge. Most of us had been planning outfits for this very occasion for months before so everyone dressed their best and everyone was so very pretty. Dinner and visiting with our new friends and sisters was wonderful, but ten o’clock came all to fast and again it was sleepy time.

Daddy had to leave early the next day since it was a long trip home. I got up at 6:30, got most of my packing done, and went for breakfast. The whole weekend had been like a dream; sort of like we were in a magical land where everything had been made just perfect for us. Besides the friendships, party, and play time I had felt there would be something more. In a single, beautiful, bright crystal of a moment it was given. One day I hope to share with you the story of a search that Daddy started as a very young boy that has now become mine.

The links at the bottom of your screen will take you to the main topic areas