My Camp report for Fall 1998


Fall Camp was Wonderful! most of us arrived a day early so we could have more time to play. When I arrived on Thursday at about 12:30PM Taffy was already there and all moved into her room. My room wasn’t ready yet so Daddy went out to take a walk while I was waiting. Daddy was walking over to our car to check on something and just as he got there another car pulled into the parking lot. A man and a Lady got out and I knew at once that it was Taffeta’s Mommy and Daddy! Daddy didn’t say anything ‘cause he wasn’t sure who they were even though I told him it was Taffeta’s parents. Daddy walked just ahead of them back to the main lodge and held the door as they walked in. Once inside Daddy introduced himself to Taffeta’s Daddy and he introduced his wife. Taffeta sure was right; her Mommy is Very Pretty! Taffeta’s Daddy had some things to do so Daddy took me for a little walk around camp. We made a Super discovery that we hadn’t noticed before. They have a Swings! and a set of monkey bars. Daddy and I hurried back to the lodge to tell about our discovery. About a half-hour later our rooms were ready and we moved in. By 2:00 I was moved in and Visible! I went back to the lodge and on my way I met Melissa. I was Very Glad to see Sis. again; specially ‘cause we hadn’t e’mailed much since last camp. When we went inside I discovered that Pam had arrived too and was talking with Taffy. Jenny and Petricia had also arrived, but hadn’t moved in yet. A few minutes later Taffeta arrived with her Mommy so all the "Early Girls" were together at camp.

Taffeta Loves to play active games and so do I; so we went outside to try out the swings. The swings are the kind like they have at the playground so ya don’t have to worry about it tipping. Taffeta and I wanted to see who could swing the highest. There was a tree branch near by the swing that Taffeta was on. She tried hard to touch it with her toes, but she didn’t quite make it. I just loved being on the swings. Daddy had a swing when he was little and he used it a lot. I was glad for my tights and sweater to keep me warm. After that we went looking for a place to play hopscotch. We found a nice area behind the tennis courts and Taffeta’s Mommy (Ms Farida) showed us how to draw the hop scotch lines on the pavement. I found a nice little flat stone to toss (ya need something to toss onto the place your going to hop over) and Ms Farida showed us how to play. Taffeta was much better than I was, but I liked it very much. After that we tried skipping rope. We did it where two people spin the rope while one person skips. It took me quite a while to get going at all, but I finally got to where I could make four skips before I missed. We were getting a little chilly and decided to go back inside at the main lodge with the other girls. We talked together. colored and stuff until it was time for dinner.

It was about then that I discovered that I had made a shameful mistake. If feel so bad! I just can’t imagine that I really did it. I left my camera home! Can ya image; ME! leaving my CAMERA! home. Oh the shame of it. Well, at least it was the only thing I forgot.

As usual dinner was Super Excellent! and we talked about lots of stuff that had happened since the last camp. Jenny, Petricia and Sis. had mostly been out of contact since last time and this was Pam and Taffeta’s first time at camp so we had lots to talk about. Pam told us about Vegemite which is a spread that people in Australia use on their toast. Pam brought some with her and said she would bring it to breakfast so we could try it. After Dinner we gathered at a table in the lobby and continued our coloring and stuff until about 10:00 PM when Daddy had told me I should go to sleep so I would be fresh for the next day. I was the first to leave, but I found out the next morning that most of the other girls followed my example. You see, it was very important for us to be well rested in the morning. Friday at 10:00 AM was to be our first Ballet class!

In the morning I was up early since I take about an hour and a half to get ready in the morning. I decided to wear my school jumper over my leotard so I would be ready for Ballet class (I didn’t want to chance being late). I went to the main lodge where I met the other girls for breakfast. We were the only guests for breakfast that morning so they set up a small buffet with juice, fruit, cereal, and danish. Having breakfast that way was lots of fun and we finished early which gave use some time to make bead bracelets before Ballet class. I know I shouldn’t capitalize Ballet all the time, but I like Ballet very much! A few minutes before time for Ballet class I went back to my room, picked up my TuTu, and walked to the building that usually serves as a night club. They have a nice big dance floor with mirrors on the wall so that was just what we needed for our class. I got out of my jumper and stepped into my TuTu and something magic happened. When I looked in the mirror it was Me!, just me!, Daddy wasn’t anywhere around. I was so happy and I just knew Ballet class was going to be the best! Colleen had arrived just before Ballet class. We couldn’t talk her into trying it, but at last our whole group was together at camp.

Ms Farida started by teaching us how to stretch; she said stretching is very important so you don’t hurt yourself later. She taught us the first position and then we did several exercises at the barre. Well, they didn’t really have a practice barre so each of us took a chair and steadied ourselves by holding onto the back to the chair with one hand. The first exercise was that we brought one leg forward out in front of us with our toe pointed. We held our leg like that for a moment and then slowly lowered our leg until our toe touched the floor out in front of us so our leg formed a little triangle with the floor and the leg we were standing on. Then we slid our foot back so we were in first position again. We did the same again, but with our leg moving to the side and again with our leg moving to the back. While we did these exercises Ms Farida watched us and helped us learn to hold ourselves up straight and keep our legs straight with our toes pointed straight with our leg. After our exercises we went to the floor and Ms Farida taught us some things about dancing. She taught us several basic steps and we put them together into a little dance. Ballerinas sure spent lots of time standing on one leg. As it turns our I’m pretty good at being on one leg. While we were learning our dance Ms Farida taught us how to move our arms so that our whole body moved gracefully. We even learned to watch the movement of our hands so our head would be turning correctly. It sort of felt like my hands led me in the dance; where my hands went the rest of me followed. I felt so pretty while I was dancing. I felt like it was the most natural thing I could ever do. I think Ms Farida’s Ballet class is the best. most happy thing I’ve ever done.

All good things end, or so says Daddy, and after class we went for lunch. Again we were the only guests for lunch and the chef has Friday afternoons off. So we had a chance to decide what we wanted for lunch. Guess what we picked!? PBJ sandwiches! What a perfect lunch it was; Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches with a glass of milk and cookies! After lunch we all went to change and met back at the main lodge. Taffeta had gotten everyone a pretty drawstring bag with Pezz candy and a book we could have each other write in. Through out the rest of our time at camp we took turns writing in each other’s books. Taffeta wanted to play some more hop scotch and skip rope so Melissa and Pam went with her and her Mommy to the playground. Pam sure is good at hop scotch; she turned out to be camp champion! The rest of us sat a table in the lobby and colored & stuff while we watched the others at the playground through the window. When they came back inside we talked some more and then decided it was time to change for dinner. We all left the main lodge together and when we got to the front steps Taffeta, Melissa, and I sang our song. A few weeks before camp We decided we’d like to sing "Good Ship Lollipop" together and had been practicing on our own. I think we took some people by surprise ‘cause quite a few stopped to listen. Singing our song was Lots of fun! I hope we sing again at Spring Camp. There were sure lots of pretty clothes! Taffy has a web site on fashion (on my links page) and I imagine that when she writes her camp story she’ll include descriptions of what the girls wore.

Friday evening was the beginning of the scheduled CD weekend at Rainbow Mountain so when we arrived back at the main lodge for dinner some of the adult girls had arrived and were also dining that evening. As always the dinner was perfect and we still had plenty to talk about. When the adults heard about Ballet class several were quite enthused about the possibility of joining in and we invited them to attend our Saturday morning class. After dinner we gathered in the lobby to talk, color, write in each others books, and take pictures. The time flew by and it was night night time again.

I was up very early on Saturday morning because I wanted some time to play before breakfast. I got all ready just like Friday morning so I was prepared for Ballet class. Then I went to see who was up and around. Taffy and Melissa were awake and Taffy was all dressed and ready for the morning. Just before camp Daddy found a very nice set of checkers the "board" is a cloth mat about 60 CM square and the checkers are about 10 CM across. That makes it real nice to set up anywhere without the checkers sliding around or getting lost. I hadn’t used my new game yet so I invited Taffy to a game of checkers. We played a very silly game. Neither of us took any of the other’s checkers and we got into a spot were we couldn’t move anymore. It was all very funny! While Taffy and I played our game of checkers Melissa came by and so Melissa and I played a game of checkers while Taffy watched. This was more like a real game of checkers ‘cause we did get to take each others checkers, but we didn’t get to finish ‘cause it was time for breakfast. There were lots of people in the dining room for breakfast so it was a very happy place. The adult girls were having a fashion show in the evening so some were talking about that and some were just catching up with their friends like we were. Pam brought some Vegimite and we all got to try some on toast with butter. I liked it; Vegimite tastes sort of strong, but ya only use just a tiny bit. Daddy’s trying to find some so I can have it on my toast at home. As a token of our gratitude and thanks the Petticoat Pond girls got a gift of candy for the staff at Rainbow Mountain. We had all signed the card that went with the gift on Thursday night and since Melissa had organized our weekend at camp this time she presented our gift. They were all happy and started enjoying it right away. After breakfast we went to the lobby for a while and worked on bead bracelets. We just got done with our bracelets when it was time for Ballet class! I went back to my room, got my TuTu and went to class as quick as I could go.

I was the first one there so I started setting chairs out on the dance floor for us to use in our practice. Taffy arrived next and helped with the chairs while I went to get into my TuTu. By the time I had it on all the others had arrived along with several of the adults. This time Colleen and Petricia decided to give Ballet a try so we only have one more girl to get out on the floor next time. Ms Farida invited the adult girls to participate with us, but they were to shy. We started with our stretches and continued with our exercises from first position as we had on Friday. About half way through one of the adult girls gathered her courage and joined us. We all had a great time; I was thinking to myself how very lucky we were to be able to have real! Ballet lessons taught by a real! Ballerina. When we finished Ms Farida worked with us on our form and we again put our basic steps into a little dance. This was such a perfect time I just don’t know how to tell you how very special my time in Ballet class was.

After Ballet class we had to hurry back to our rooms and change because in just a little while it would be time for our Birthday Party. Like last time we were having a birthday party for all of us. I was the last one to arrive at the birthday party ‘cause while I was changing I got caught up in a lovely daydream about being a Ballerina. The party was just getting started when I arrived and Uncle Tom was there with his wife Aunt Garnet. They came for the party and to spend the rest of the day with us. We had pretty decorations, balloons, pretty party music, party favors at each place, yummy cake and ice-cream, and Aunt June in the UK had sent a present all the way across the ocean for Taffeta. That’s because Taffeta’s birthday was really going to be just a few days after the party. Taffeta got a stuffy bunny from Aunt June and Taffeta likes her new bunny very much. After the party we had a little time to play before it was time to go change for dinner. Busy little girls are we!

Taffeta likes to have stories read to her so when I returned to the main lodge I brought along book one of my Samantha stories. After we all talked together, wrote in our books, and colored a while I started reading to Taffeta. She liked the story and we almost finished it before it was time to eat. I sat at a table with Uncle Tom, Aunt Garnet, and one of the new adult girls. We had a great time talking together while we ate our dinner. After dinner was time for the adult girls to have their fashion show; they were all dressed very pretty. We went to one of the tables in the lobby to play and talk while the adults got all lined up for their show. We knew that tomorrow morning was the end of Fall Camp for 1998 so we planned what to do. I told everyone that Daddy planned to leave at 11:00 AM and we decided we would all meet for breakfast before those who could stay longer went to Ballet class. The time went quickly and it was time for nighty nights once more. I was a little sad as I walked back to my room because I knew I would miss Ballet class the next day. When I got back to my room I spent some time packing so I could spend my morning time with my friends instead of packing.

I got up early in the morning and as soon as I was dressed I finished my packing just leaving Daddy’s clothes out for the trip home. We all seemed to have the same idea because everyone was at the lodge early for breakfast. We ate and finished writing in each other’s books, talked for a while and the time had come for parting. I went to my room then Daddy packed the car and checked me out. While Daddy was at the desk checking out he found out some things about next camp so he decided to go tell the others. He arrived just as Ballet class was ending and the girls were walking back to the lodge. Our Good-byes were said and Daddy and I were on our way home. A very emotional trip it was; sadness for leaving friends and the magic of being at camp, and Happiness too for all the wonderful things that had happened at camp. We cried a little and giggled some too. Now we’re home and planning for Spring Camp!

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