Sacred Item...

Here I am again..preparing for Camp Starlight. Where did the year go?
I will pack my new tennis shoes for my soon to be weary feet, a boatload of candy to bribe my boys with and every article of clothing I own. I learn something each year..this year I will pack the fabreeze. Kids at camp stink up a cabin!
My friend from Maryland will not be going with me this year. This will alter my camp experience. She has been with me every year. She sleeps on my couch the night before, and the night after and I will miss her. We always gear up and decompress together. Not this year.
Once again, we are asked to bring a sacred item to share. How many damn sacred items can I have? Every year this is a task for me. I was looking around my house..is this a sacred item? no. Is THIS is a sacred item? no. Then, I spot it! A picture of one of my girls from my first year at camp. She is the first kid from Camp Starlight that broke my heart in half. A little wisp of a thing. She has HIV and each year you can see the toll it is taking on her. She is the first child I had to take to Club Med to take her medication. I sat with her many times while she took her 14 pills.(twice daily) It took her forever, because she hates it.It was when this disease really slapped me in the face. Why her?
She is so tired and so frail that she sits out most of the activities. She cannot keep up with the rest of the kids, nor does she seem to want to. She is content to just be there. She will sing the same song she sings every year at the talent show.My heart will break all over again.
She is the first child who took my hand at camp and the first child who made me something in Arts and Crafts. I have had her picture in my Living Room for four years.
This year, that picture will be my sacred item.
My one worry this year is that my dear friend will pass away while I am at camp. This is highly probable. If there is a memorial to attend I will have to make the decision whether I leave camp for a day. Most likely, I would do that. I can't think of a more safe place to be if I get the news.
So, that aside, I am looking forward to yet another week at Camp Starlight. Tomorrow, I will take my last shower without shoes on, eat one last good meal with camp buddies at Jakes Grill and then head off in the morning.
A week of paddle boating, swimming, arts and crafts, kickball, dances, talent shows, carnivals,circle ups, riding the pony,laughter,prune eating, late night talks on the front porch of the dining hall, new friends, old friends,being in the morning starlight band, sneaking out at least once to go to Starbucks, more laughter, cabin chat every night with my boys, and sitting on the dock at night after the kids go to sleep, staring out at the lake under the moonlight and being grateful that I am a part of something so magical as Camp Starlight.
jb