Camp Wawona, Part XIII

After a delicious lunch of egg rolls and stir-fry on Thursday, it was with sadness that I said goodbye to Yvonne from crafts. Leaving with her was Riley, from the nature center. They wised to give the nature center cats to a good home, so I flirted with the idea of taking one back for my grandfather, but ultimately decided against it. Instead, James from the kitchen fell in love with the calico, Snickers, and kept it as his own. While he started the adventure of taking care of a cat, I stayed in the crafts building to make my last project of the summer with Jenny, who left that night. It was a fiery vase of red, orange, yellow, and gold. The building looked wrong with the windows boarded up, and I hated to leave it.

My last day of work was marked by cleaning out the milk machine, a frustrating exercise as every time I scraped out ice, more would form. My last meal in the dish room kind of made me sad, as I was saying goodbye to so many of the staff I have come to love. I lingered in the kitchen once I had used up my hours, enjoying a fantastic frappucino one of my supervisors had made. Once he got off work, James and I watched Evita on the back steps of the cabin, his girlfriend Rachel joining us towards the end of it. As Buenos Aires went up in flames on the screen, we looked up to see the camp horses being led down the hill in a procession, almost like a parade.

Our boss, Norm, gave the three of us a ride down the hill to the Wawona Hotel, where James treated Rachel and I to a wonderful evening. Just listening to the pianist in the lobby perform "Georgia On My Mind" and "Mona Lisa" would have been worth the trip for me, but it only served to make the meal more spectacular. Sharing a bottle of Martinelli's in honor of a summer well spent, they feasted on steaks while I enjoyed a tasty eggplant dip, also helping them finish off some grilled vegetables and spinach salad they did not have the room to consume. It was all rounded off with delectable desserts--creme brulee, bread pudding, and tiramisu. Even better than the food, however, was the company; we laughed and talked and enjoyed telling stories to each other. We brought back a bottle of Martinelli's for our boss, but unfortunately in exploded in his car. James felt terrible about that, so Rachel and I went to an effort to cheer him up.

My parents arrived at the camp during the night, and although it was late, I was up to greet them. The next morning, my friend Ashley and I watched the staff DVD on Rachel's computer, and it brought back many of the wonderful experiences of the summer. After bidding my bosses farewell, my parents and I headed off to the Ahwahnee for lunc, where in their spacious, opulent dining room we feasted on such deligts as onion tart, gnocchi, and vegetarian onion soup before we took off towards Napa. I t was strange to look out my window and see wide stretches of flat land, then the familiar hills and waterways of the East Bay.

Finally, we reached the home of the Pedersons, where they greeted us warmly, thanking us for the mortar and pestle of banded onyx we gave them from the Ahwahnee. We shared a meal even more spectacular than the one we had enjoyed at the Ahwahnee earlier that day--cucumbers prepared in an Estonian recipe, eggplant with a homemade tomato sauce, shredded zucchini, corn and basil tart, home made potato chips with a light truffle sauce, and a dish of asparagus, green beans, and yellow beets were all among the offerings, rounded off with some tasty blueberry juice. All but the drink had been prepared by Mrs. Pederson, a true culinary artist. Dessert was incredible as well, a sundae made with fresh waffle cone, straight off the iron, a peach custard ice cream, home made whip cream, and caramel sauce brought over from Paris, where the Pedersons went this summer.

Over this, we talked at length, an excellent way for Elder Pederson and my father to touch bases about the coming convocation on September 15. This event will involve the Sacramento Philharmonic, Ralph Carmichael, and a chorus that is beginning to exceed 500 voices as more desire to be in it. Elder Pederson asked me to do the scripture reading on Sabbath morning of the convocation--who am I to refuse my conference president? I gladly accepted. Watching them work on this event fills me with anticipation--it will definitely be a day not to be missed.

Coming home at last, I was greeted vociferously by my beloved cats and a stack of mail that as been waiting for me. It is good to be home, if only for a month before I head off to college; just to hold my oboe in my hands and to play a few clumsy notes after a summer of no practice was an inestimable joy. I hope to see many of you soon, in one way or another, and hope that life is treating you well.

Camp Wawona, Part XII

In the cool of the evening on Friday evening, I was sitting on the front porch, enjoying a small dinner, when I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by my brotherly friend Victor. We greeted each other with joy, and we spent some time catching up before I let him check his email on my computer and listen to some music he has been so homesick to hear.

Laughing and singing along, we had a grand time as he invited me to his camp for dinner, and we attended worship there together. His visit was brief, but something we both needed--to see a familiar face, to share familiar songs, and to enjoy each other's company towards the end of a long summer for both of us.

On Sabbath I received the happy news that I made it into PUC's Honors program. This happy news kept me going through the day, and in the evening, I enjoyed going down to the Pioneer Center for their barn dance. The music alone delighted me; getting to dance enthralled me. I actually found myself, of all people, teaching my co-workers how to fake a simple box step. Then, there was a big circle dance, and with our laundry girl as my partner, we had a delightful time, switching off who danced the part of the man or the woman. At last, the dance was over, and we all parted ways to the enchanting strains of "Ashoken Farewell," one of my favorites. On my way out the door, people mistook me for being one who worked there, perhaps because of my embroidered shirt and long skirt. This amused me to no end.

Since then, I have been working only six-hour days, which has given me generous breaks to do almost anything. I have spent much time at Archery, trying to shoot rotten apples that have been in the back of the fridge longer than I've been working here, and at the top of the hill with my friend Ashley and the horses.

She has taught me much this week--how to groom horses, the rules of the trail, and she helped me find an opening for me to ride for the first time in five years. It was a very enjoyable experience, by and large, and I can see now why she's been spending so much time up there. In turn, I took her to the Archery range, where I taught her how to shoot, despite her shyness.

It is with sadness that I continue to say good-bye to the friends I've made here this summer--to Yvonne and Jenny in Crafts, who have generously allowed me to work on random projects throughout the summer, to the wranglers who have always been so patient with me, to the archery staff who have put up with me going there almost every day to try and hit the stupid apple, and to my beloved co-workers who have made the kitchen such a delightful place to work.

This summer has been like a good dream--but on Sabbath it ends, and I come home. This has marked not just the longest of my journeys, but also the longest I've ever stayed in one place without leaving it. Leaving brings mixed emotions--it will be wonderful to see so many of you when I return, but I will also be leaving this wonderful place. I hope you all have experienced a summer as joyous as mine.

Camp Wawona, Part XI

On Friday morning, I finally hit that elusive bull's-eye I had been trying for several weeks to achieve--twice in a row. This put me into a good mood for the rest of the day, especially when we put out a lavish presentation for dinner, with tablecloths for a change and curry, also for a change. We lit candles for it, giving the campers a proper send-off for the Sabbath. Our last passion play of the summer was even more powerful than ever before. This time, the entire staff sang to the campers as they slowly made their way back to their cabins.

Sabbath afternoon was spent packing to move from Lodge Room 8 to Miwok, a cabin halfway up the hill. It was so sad to take down all the posters Megan and I had worked so hard to create--the heraldry, the ongoing story, the list of words I wasn't allowed to say in her presence, and the welcome back sign she had made for me when I returned from my journey home. The last campfire of the summer was jolly good fun, even including a new skit or two. On my way back from this, some girls tried to use me to play a prank on some of the boys' cabins, and their counselor and I slyly prevented it from happening, to our combined glee. I returned to my room late, but laughing my head off at the intricate plan we had just squashed.

Never has there been such a hectic day of housekeeping as the day that followed. By the end of it, I had worked 6 of my 9 hours in housekeeping. As you can imagine, I was very happy when I got off duty and was able to move into my new home in Miwok. Being the only one who wanted to deal with the stairs, I got the entire loft of it to myself. I decorated it nicely, and one of my windows gives me a view of Wawona Dome. When I returned to work, I burned my arm badly when, as I was carrying the rice out to the hot deck, a door jostled my arm and it stuck to the pan, searing the flesh. The pain of that mingled with the pain of parting with Megan and Brittania, who left that night.

After stopping for bandages at Medical, I was the first non-supervisor to clock in at 6:45 AM the next morning. The scant three of us who were working somehow pulled off breakfast, working frantically to our best abilities and pulling in anyone who showed the slightest sign of wishing to volunteer. It was the beginning of a very long, tiring day whose end I was glad to see when I was also the last non-supervisor to clock out.

The next day was, fortunately, not so bad. Grinning evilly from ear to ear, I took one of those nasty Fuji apples that have been sitting in the back of the fridge since before I came here and walked up to Archery, where I found just one lone girl practicing and the archery director. We had a good time shooting at the apple; after trying fruitlessly to get it from the far target, I finally put it on the lower hay bale of the closer one, and actually managed to hit it straight through the center, so that I actually had to pull it off the arrow. That was very emotionally satisfying after the frustration of the last few days, and became the bright spot of that one. By the time I emerged from the kitchen that night, I was exhausted, hungry, and shivering in the cold of the evening.

But yesterday, the morning came with hope and anticipation as I awaited my aunt and uncle's arrival. When I saw them around noon, I embraced them and they took me to lunch at the Wawona Hotel, the fine fare there a welcome change from the camp food. Then, we made our way to our trail head, and into the woods we went, talking and merrily passing the time as we ventured off the trail and did some cross-country hiking to reach the top of Basket Dome. There, we had a spectacular view of Half Dome as we ate a delicious dinner and took photos of the sunset. My aunt even gave me a brief lesson in watercolors--my painting looked a bit silly, but her's was beautiful. We rolled out our sleeping bags beneath the stars and had a great view of the Perseus Meteor Shower as we shared stories and jokes into the evening.

We watched the sun rise over Half Dome, casting about its brilliant rays, then we hiked out gear over to North Dome, where we ate breakfast--a mandatory feast, as we did not wish to pack out all of our food. I ate so much hummus, it felt like wet cement in my stomach as we made our way down the trail. We also saw the only natural stone arch above water in the park--a beautiful rock feature. We enjoyed lunch at a grill on the way out, and I bade my aunt and uncle good-bye after they dropped me off here at Wawona. This expedition was one of the timeliest, most memorable, enjoyable experiences of the summer, and I am truly grateful to them.

I am also grateful to all my readers--this posting marks a record for Jillian's Journeys. There are now over 100 subscribers, a number I had never anticipated when I started these letters a summer ago to a group of concerned friends and family who were having a hard time keeping track of what state I was in. Thank you if you have been with me on this journey all along, and if you are a new subscriber, I hope you truly enjoy it.

Camp Wawona, Part X

Waking up the morning after our Half Dome escapade was difficult, but soon enough overcome. After all, I had something to look forward to for that afternoon--my long-missed friend Ryan, whom I had not seen in three years, came for a visit. It was a very joyous reunion, and it made me impatient to wait for my shift to end. He kept me company as I swept the cafeteria, then we walked up the hill, talking as we went. We had so much to catch up on--he's one of those people where, no matter how much time has elapsed, always seems easy to pick up right where we left off.

We rested in the lodge, and played cards like old times, teaching each other new card games. I treated him to some Inca Cola, which had him making a series of very priceless faces. After a few hands of cards, he played a piece or two on the piano for me, and I showed him some more recent pictures of his former classmates. He was quite shocked at how some of them have changed. I was very sad to see him go. Almost my entire shift afterwards was spent making cookies for the outposts, from baking them to packaging them. It was a pleasant but time-consuming task. I enjoyed going over to the Chalet to watch the Phantom of the Opera--that film has the most intoxicating effect on me, helped along by some wonderful butterscotch brownies and nice, creamy milk.

The next day, I went up to Archery for the first time in a week since scraping my index finger open with the bowstring. I wasn't shooting as accurately as I had been before that, but it was still not too bad. In the play that night, thanks to the absence of a few cast members, I got to sing the lead for "In the Jungle." It was fun, and I enjoyed the guest pastor's talk afterwards.

Tuesday was the long-dreaded American Camp Association (ACA) inspection. I had the good fortune to be in two facilities that were being inspected--in the kitchen, where luckily we were all taking breakfast break when they came and in the craft building, where I was making a vase for my mother. It was a surprisingly simple process for a surprisingly beautiful effect. Megan, my room mate, was kind enough to bring me a Jamba Juice in the afternoon, and it put me into good spirits as I headed home that evening with my father for the first time all summer.

When we arrived home at around 1:00 AM, my mother was awake to greet us. I ave her the vase, which she accepted warmly. Then, I took a look around the house, enjoying my reunion with my three cats. It was evident to me that my parents had been working hard all summer on the house. I slept in long, and attacked some of the clutter in my own room. I enjoyed one of my father's excellent fritatas, and spent the rest of the morning doing paperwork and helping Mom with her online class.

Then, my beloved friend Caroline and I went out to lunch at Daphne's Greek Cafe, and I dearly enjoyed being with her once more. We strolled over to Border's, where we rifled through a beautiful book on Princess Diana and I bought a book of speeches that changed the world. It was wonderful to converse with one who has a fully fleshed-out vocabulary. Dad and I went to Bank of America to take care of my finances, then we picked up Mom and went to the house of the McMillans, Caroline's family. There, Mrs. McMillan made a wonderful meal for us with ravioli, green beans, salad, and a delicious cake. It was great to see all of them--their house is almost as much home to me as my own.

We went out to the movies, where we saw No Reservations, a wonderful film about two chefs falling in love, much of the humor of which I appreciate much more deeply now that I have spent time working in a kitchen. Ratatouille was a delightful complement to it--the mouse Remy had the most wonderful, heartwarming expressions that were not possible a few years ago. I retired late, but very happily.

The journey back to Wawona was made quickly, punctuated only briefly by a visit to the Stoneridge Mall, as there was an elaborate pirate banquet here tonight. I donned my pirate jewlry, black boots, embroidered shirt, and jeweled dagger with great anticipation, and was not disappointed. When I walked into the cafeteria, it was completely transformed--candles shone from every surface, barrels and bric-a-brac were piled in various corners, artfully ripped and torn fabric hung from the ceiling, and at the end of the cafeteria was a magnificent captain's table. All the staff wore pirate garb, and the night was filled with good food, good company, and excellent entertainment.