Experiences

Setting Up Camp, Part 4

Jeanna GLeave a comment

Camp isn’t camp without tie-dye.

A view of the gallery from the gallery

I don’t think I’ve ever attended a camp and not tie-dyed something. Our annual family vacation is held at a beach along the Carolina coastline in October. We all participated and tie-dyed some piece of apparel. It was a colorful and creative way to wrap up the summer outdoors before the cold weather forces us inside and onto smaller, less messy activities.

My daughter and I packed in quite a bit since the disheartening news that her camp was not going to take place as planned. Coincidentally, our camp-at-home experience was wrapping up when I received an email notifying me of the date to register for summer camp 2021. My daughter is again registered for the Christmas in July week of sleepover camp. Our hopes will remain high, but guarded, regarding what 2021 has to offer.

Now on to the holidays!

How will your holidays change this year? How has your outlook on the future changed?

The Sixth of Firsts – My First (and Only) Ambulance Ride

Jeanna GLeave a comment

My hometown was host to an international soccer tournament around the 4th of July for many years. The town’s travel team is called the Granby Rovers. I played a few different positions with the Rovers, but during this particular game, I was the goalie.

As an opponent was dribbling down the field, I started to come out of goal to cut off her angle. When she pulled back to take her shot, I slid down on my side to grab the ball. I gained control by pulling the ball down to my chest, but she followed through on her shot anyway and kicked me square in the neck. Everything went black.

When I opened my eyes, I saw my coach leaning over me. He asked me if I knew where I was. I replied, “On the ground.” Off I rode to the hospital. My parents met me there and denied medical attention; they took me to the chiropractor instead. I’ve been receiving treatment from chiropractors for all of my musculoskeletal injuries ever since, inclug my first car accident and my first (and only) snowmobiling accident, but I’ll save those stories for another day.

Red Fox & The Fifth of Firsts

Jeanna GLeave a comment

Y-Guides, previously named Indian Princes and Princesses, is a program organized by the YMCA that aims to nurture mutual understanding, love, and respect within the father-daughter relationship. It was inspired by Native American culture and their practice of fathers raising and teaching their sons. The program began in the 1920s for fathers and sons, but incorporated father-daughter programs as the years went on.

My father and I participated for a year when I was in elementary school. He and I didn’t need this program to bond, because although he was out of the house before I woke up and returned home just in time for dinner Monday through Friday, he found many ways to bond with me on weekends. Even so, I’m happy we participated in this program together. Thinking back, it was probably my mom’s idea, considering she worked for the YMCA. And now that I’m a mom, I’m guessing her true motive was securing some alone time by getting us out of the house more often. But I digress…

When we joined the program we were told to give ourselves an Indian name. My mom used to have a red fox fur coat that I loved to pet, so I named myself Red Fox. That became funnier once I learned about the comedian Redd Foxx! My dad named himself Hollow Horn Eagle. His name had a lot more meaning as it was the name his grandfather was given from the Oglala Sioux Tribe as Honorary Chief.

The most memorable and culminating experience of the program was the camping trip at Camp Woodstock in Connecticut. We participated in relay races, egg tosses, and variety shows. My dad’s a fairly conservative guy, so I was slack-jawed when he and the other dads pulled their shirts up to cover their heads and reveal that they had painted faces on their bellies. Then they performed a bellydance by rolling them along to music so it seemed as though their bellies were singing. I still laugh knowing there is no way that was his idea, but I love that he went along with it anyway.

And as for the sixth of firsts, I caught my first fish on that trip. An 11” Rainbow Trout. I won first place for that fish, and I selected a new pole as my prize so my sister and I wouldn’t have to share anymore. My dad and I cleaned and deboned, and grilled and ate that fish together. I’ll never forget it.

These memories came rushing back about two weeks ago when my daughter caught her first fish. We were at a local farm for their fall festival, and fishing was one of the many activities we were able to participate in. She actually caught two and I caught one, but we threw them back. By her excitement and the look on her face, I’m sure she’ll always remember that moment, too, and I’m so happy I was able to share it with her.