It Takes a Village

My mom was here visiting over the weekend and it was wonderful to have her here. I took her on a tour of camp to show her all of the projects we had completed on work weekend. As we walked through camp, we reminisced about all of the years before this one. My mom has been visiting since the beginning and she is one of just a handful of people who remember what it was like my first year. It's so nice to have people who remember buildings filled with junk, dreary, messy camp.

I wish I had taken photos that first year. I was so embarrassed, but now, as I walked through each building with my mom and organized, labeled shelves with bins of supplies and bright painting welcomed us in, I know the progress we've made, but I wish I had photos to remind me just how far I've come.

As I begin my 7th year, I can't help but feel nostalgic and sentimental over all of the support I've had. I could not have lasted this long without the incredible community around me.

My mom has made multiple trips each year- cleaning my house, bringing me food and the dogs treats, encouraging me, donating money and about a million random items...

My dad, obviously...

My best friend X who visited the very first week of the very first year and was there when the executive director yelled at me for no reason- the first of his jekyl/hyde freak outs. She helped me figure out how to create activity schedules the first year and has  visited every year since, even last year with 6 month old twins. She sends me mail, care packages and always knows all of my staff so she can listen to my ridiculous stories with enthusiasm.

My brother who has been to most work weekends and has always had the worst job (digging a hole, in the rain while a bulldog puppy barked at him, etc), who has visited every year, always making an impression on the staff in the shortest amount of time.

So many other friends who have visited, sent letters, listened to my stories, and never forgot about me when I disappeared and stopped answering my phone for 3 months each year.

Many former YMCA co-workers who have willingly given me camp programming, handbooks, financial aid charts and have always taken my calls when I needed advice and guidance.

And of course, my fiance, who has supported me 100%, driving a million miles a summer and never once complaining about my job. Whenever he has a business trip and has to be gone for 3 days, I have a meltdown, whine, cry, complain and go on as if my arm is about to be chopped off. He has never said a word about me running off to the woods every summer.

It's kind of amazing as I think about it- I don't think it is typical to have so many people to come together to support one person's job. I am so lucky. It has been an amazing journey and I am so thankful to everyone who has been part of making this possible for me.