Camp Wawona, Part V

On Tuesday evening, my parents came and we took off to Oakhurst with my friend Alexandra for a midnight showing of a film I have been anticipating for some months. When we arrived we were only the second group in line, which was wonderful for getting good seats. As the night progressed there were even costumed characters who came out and made appearances. I enjoyed the enthusiasm and creativity of the whole event; had I gone to the theatre in Pleasant Hill it would not have been nearly as much fun. Once the doors were opened, they had a raffle for some cool movie prop replicas and other assorted things, and an auction for some other charity event the same organization will be holding. Obviously, Oakhurst has a very active, involved community.

The film in question was excellent, and even inspired me to write some not-too-shabby poetry along one of its themes. We arrived back here at Camp Wawona at around 3:00 AM, and I got about two and a half hours of sleep before going to work the next morning. After breakfast, I spent some more time with my parents before they had to take off. They had, of course, brought all the items I had requested, which made me grateful, but not as grateful as I was just for being able to see them.

Yesterday, I broke open my bottle of Inca Cola from graduation. To smell the golden cola and to taste it transported me back to Cascas, Peru, where I first tasted it--the fragrant garden in Monte Sion, rainy afternoons in the town square, looking out at the Southern Cross in the night sky. These memories sustained me through the lunch work shift, which was particularly frantic. I enjoyed my time off in the afternoon very much, lying down a bit, then returned to work to prep for the rodeo. Some say that this week's rodeo was the best so far--the wranglers really did an amazing job at their choreographed drill, which they were not able to do before. During the hay bale race, a camper messed up her ankle and I found myself reassuring her.

After the evening Black Bart program, we had our weekly staff party, where we sat, relaxed, and listened to the music of Scott Cable, one of our aquatics staff who has also been leading song service for the evening meetings. His music is amazing--not just easy on the ears, but the lyrics themselves are incredible. I could have sat and listened all night, and it wasn't until I reluctantly found myself helping them pack up that I was compelled to leave. It was, in short, a very nice way to start my day off. I slept in until nine, a true excess for here, and took care of quite a few items of business I've been needing to do.

Well, I know that some of you are headed off to campmeeting this next week--Redwood, Soquel, or otherwise--and I wish you happiness and safe travels in that. I hope you are all well, and am glad that you continue to give me news of your travels as you go about this summer.