Better Than Last Year

Last year at this very moment, I was laying on a dirty couch in the fetal position, crying and wishing I was at home. It was rainy and cold, I was alone and camp was a MESS. I had no idea how I would get everything done so that we could be a functioning camp and I was just starting to realize my idiot boss wasn't just a pain in the neck, but also an obstacle to actually achieving a productive summer. I wasn't sure what I was going to do- quitting was an option, but in the very back of my brain, I could imagine this camp as a great place. But getting there was going to be a long road I hoped, but wasn't sure, I was up for.

This year, camp looks vastly different. Between a year of work from my dad and an incredibly productive Work Weekend, the junk is gone, broken things are fixed, new stuff is in place and this place actually looks like a camp, not a run-down ghost town camp. I am excited to hear the reaction of people who visited camp last year. I think they will be impressed. Also that means I don't have to spend the next month hauling broken furniture or cleaning abandoned buildings. I can spend the next month programming, planning fun stuff and getting this camp in order so there won't be so much stress once summer begins.

In addition to the physical changes, I feel way more prepared just having gone through a summer already. I know what to expect, what to prepare for and I have had a year to get things in order. I feel more organized, more experienced and ready for what lies ahead.

I am still a little overwhelmed and feel a little crazy with everything that needs to get done. Camp is a huge place and there's a lot to do. I don't quite feel settled or organized yet. I have a lot of lists and keep adding to them, which is making me feel overwhelmed. I am trying to be patient with myself, as I have been here just a little over 24 hours and have plenty of time to get everything done. I have my dad, a great staff and it is all going to come together.

Puppy is adjusting slowly. She needs a lot of attention and keeps biting me and whining when I won't play with her. But she happily follows me around as I walk from building to building and she seems to like being outside playing in the grass and dirt. It's been very windy today, and the rattling buildings freak her out, but hopefully she adjusts to that soon too.

And I haven't cried or thought about quitting yet, so we're definitely in better shape than last year.