So by popular demand (from one of my two readers). I am going to tell y'all a little about my wonderful summer. Forgive me if I repeat since I have not read my old posts recently. So this summer I had the privilege of working with five amazing girls. It was a very hard summer, I think my hardest yet but in so many ways my best summer. My first girl Chani whom I think I have written about before was the only girl that I had had during previous summers. It is so funny cause I was looking at pictures the other day from my first summer (as a counselor) and though it was only four summers ago she has grown so much since then. This summer she was calmer and more mature. She actually focused for a few seconds before getting bored of something. Her giggle was the same though (I tickled her a few times to make sure) and her smile still melts my heart. Miri, my youngest new addition could have been Chani's little sister, therefore she was dubbed junior for a short time till we decided it wasn't right to compare her so back to Miri we went. She is the cutest little thing. All legs and freckles, with a "HI"that makes you smile and a smile that makes all the bad things in the world disappear.
Ok, by now you think I am crazy but you can't call me insane until you spend five minutes with my beautiful girls, you will fall in love with them also.
Next comes Balie, I think she was my most challenging but in so many ways she was my inspiration. It was not easy to fall in love with her even though she is as beautiful as the rest. She is autistic and this lends itself to difficulties from the start. For it is hard to fall in love with someone who doesn't want to have anything to do with you most of the time. But when she wants your love she will let you know by cuddling up on your lap or giving you kisses. She was a workout (and still I gained weight which I am currently losing B"H) and at many times a trying child but I learned so much from my darling Balie that I wouldn't take back a bruise.
Rivky, was my fourth girl, she slept in my cubicle but unfortunately I got little time with her. That is how camp is sometimes, you usually get to know some campers more then others, sad but true. Rivky, was I would say our easiest and as veteran that meant I got little time with her. Still I learned so much from her as I watched her journey her way through the summer as a girl in a wheelchair, blinded to the world around her and basically unable to communicate outside of her use of gestures and noises. How can you not learn from a remarkable girl like this.
Last but definitely not least was Gitty, the only girl I actually knew before the summer save Chani. Gitty is such a character I don't think even the rookies missed out on her happy/sad game or her chicken dance. I have been in Gitty's bunk house for about five summers (dating back to when I was not even a counselor) and I had no clue that she was so verbal (when promted). Gitty also loved to walk slowly which got me cheering (Here we go Gitty, Here we go) and learning to slow my own steps down every once and a while.
My co's were also amazing. They really got in there and gave work their all. They fell in love with the girls and really wanted to make the summer great for them which they did.
The rest is really indescribable. I mean how can I describe a smile that would take your breath away. Or a laugh that makes you all smiley. Or even a struggle that eats at your patience and your mind. How can I tell you about jumping up and down in front of the girls in the dining room knowing that is your cheer that is going to get the campers smiling. How can I describe to you the feeling of going to bed feeling like you wish you could break barriers that can't be broken in seven weeks. How can I explain to you how it feels when a girl with autism looks you in the eye for one second (even if it was just to get your attention). I can't explain it all which is why I go back for more every summer. Some things are only understood when they are experienced.
