Today is the first full day of camp, though not a ‘normal’ day, but we all woke up here. It is full here. we are full here. Wake up call crew comes along and is fronted by Syd, Merle, and Syrus. I’m in the field, the birds, which I wish I knew what they were, are singing, and everyone is rustling awake like me, rubbing their eyes, yawning, stretching, adjusting for warmth.
Breakfast is ol’ reliable for me, potatoes, eggs, and tofu scramble. Syrus asked me to hold her jacket, “of course I will” I said eagerly because damn that green varsity jacket looks badass. I feel rushed and a little anxiety in my chest because I forgot to get meds, I hastily relieve myself of this feeling by heading down to the moose tent (the small medical building on the campsite), and sure enough Will is still waiting there for me, what a nice guy. I happily promote to Jr staff that I’m not only willing, but actively so jolly about doing morning check in, they always love help, so they smile, and hand me the clipboard. This is often how I learn people’s names early into the session. You make sure they’re accounted for, and ask how they’re doing on a scale of 1-5. Simple and sweet.
I adore the first morning meeting, they explain more about camp, the schedule, the culture, the reasons behind the creation of this beautiful thing that happens every year. We sing Lean On Me at the beginning of the meeting, this song comforts me. I’m sitting with Syrus on a mattress, who almost falls asleep on me, we are giggling about it, but try not to interrupt the meeting. The impact of little interactions like this make me feel whole.
After meeting we have advisee, and Larkin is my advisor! My advisee is also full of Lily, Tomoko, Zoe JDP, Leo, Zesh, Jan, Saskia, Chase, Violet, William, Syrus, and Graham. We’re jam packed this session huh? 13 campers, 1 senior staffer.
We found ourselves doing introductions with a couple of questions like we usually do,
Q1- “What’s a threatening fact about you?”
“I have all the achievements in this difficult metroidvania called Hollow Knight” I proclaimed.
Q2- “How was your sleep last night?”
“When I was asleep, it was great. When I sleep in the field, more often than not folks will talk deep into the night.” I answered.
Q3- “Are there any needs that haven’t been met?”
“Not really. Honestly, I just want a watch to tell the time.” I told.
It’s a beautiful feeling getting to know these people.
We are at lunch and it’s soup n bread. I’m currently not super in the mood for soup, but it is good, that’s for sure. The worktraders meet and I get my assigned work shifts, morning and night!
By the time the meeting is over it’s siesta. It’s my mission to sleep in the field, I am tired, and sore from my travels from the Midwest. I ask Phaedrus, who kindly lets me use his sleeping gear. I lay out the sleeping bag, a small blanket, pillows down, and then myself. I’m surrounded by Lily, Tomoko, and soon to be Syrus. Napping rejuvenated my soul.
I enjoyed the Treating Each Other Excellently talk more than I thought I would. I also finished reading the main story of a book I brought, House of Leaves. Seriously go read it, actually incredible stuff and extremely immersive. I tell Phaedrus how it ends and we are both appalled. I loved dinner, it was stuffed potatoes. :3 I ate that and didn’t get seconds, but mentally I walked back and got another serving. So filling. I market once again that I’m eager to do check in for evening meeting, Syd gladly lets me help. We do check in outside for the first time, and it was fantastic? I enjoyed sending people inside? Legendary? It really makes sense. Evening meeting is so peaceful and it reminds me the soft intricate differences between the Vermont session and Oregon session.
The staffer talent show was a great start off evening event. I think my two favorites were Christian’s singing, and Kitty’s poems. The others were hysterical or inspiring in some way, actually amazing. I’m so tired after watching everyone and how long this day was.
I’m somehow creating more space inside myself to be filled with emotions, really think about what could occupy that cavity, every kind of emotion and feeling.
I’m a bigger soul.
One day of growth.
What Oblivious Wonder. (WOW)
Elijah Bleu K., camper
