Hello blogger world!
It’s been a long while.
Things have been busy but I’ll recap the best I can.
So, February to June I was teaching as many of you know. I
was teaching Spanish which was right up my alley and so much fun. Not only were
the kids great learners but also the rest of the staff that I met beyond my
very first day were amazing people. I wish them nothing but the best for the
future and I will always remember the fun we had along the way.
Why do I say that?
Well, things are complicated when it comes to getting a
teaching degree in a pinch Things are complicated when you go to get a teaching
degree in the first place. I now have much more sympathy for all of my friends
who graduated with a teaching degree. The hoops you have to jump through border
on the ridiculous side of impossible. So to make a very long, very complicated
story short, I couldn’t make the certificate that I needed to teach happen over
the summer.
Which brings me to what I did this summer.
It all began with an accidental friendship with a guy named
Greg. We had been texting for a while and he generally seemed like a good guy.
So when he offered to ask about getting me a job for the summer with
Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind, I didn’t hesitate to accept. The
surprises kept coming though, because I was hired as the camp secretary and
camp started the next day. It was a rather comical conversation to have with my
parents.
“I got a job and I’m leaving tomorrow.”
The best part was not having any idea what I had got myself
into. I had no idea what to expect from a camp for the blind and low vision. I
had never met anyone who had this condition and I was terrified of making the
wrong move at every turn.
As it turned out, the staff was an amazing group of people.
I really, truly, feel that I can call them family and that’s a great feeling.
We spent six weeks together in tents, singing the same camp songs over and
over, herding kids through obstacles, overcoming fears, trying new things, and
battling the worst mosquito infestation in the history of the planet. Things
never went the way you thought they would; even when you expected the worst. We
are the surviving soldiers though and I think that our family bond is that much
stronger because of what we went through together.
My job as secretary was to try to help make sure camp ran as
smoothly as possible. I will admit that there were times that I didn’t think
things would work out but generally, things went smoother than anticipated.
Being one of the few people at camp who could drive, I did a
lot of it. I drove a big white van which we named “The Beast” and a smaller van
which we named “Goldie” in order to organize our sometimes chaotic van loading
times.
I will never forget the kids because they were the best part
of camp for me. I know that sounds cheesy but the kids left an impression on me
that will last a lifetime. The struggles that they have been through and
overcome are so inspiring. One story in particular left enough of an impression
that I want a tattoo to remember her by. She has a brain tumor that took her
eyesight but she is so bright and vibrant about life that you can almost forget
that she can’t see. She told me a story about sea turtles that made me cry it
was so beautiful. Apparently, sea turtles can get tumors too and for this
little girl they were a sign of hope because of their otherwise very long
lives. When I admitted to her that she made me cry, she hugged me and told me
not to be sad because it was a happy story not a sad one.
Every day since she left camp, I keep reminding myself about
how she was so vibrant and loving. It makes me want to be a better person for
her; to live up to how highly she thought of me. I can only hope to one day be
worthy of her.
The last week of camp was an adventure. It was crazy, really.
We packed up everything in the vans and the trailer and
dropped everyone off at the Amtrak train station in Kalamazoo. They took the
train to Chicago then into Michigan City, Indiana where we set up camp for the
week.
Upon arrival, things were challenging for the nurse and me
who were charged with setting things up for the group. We were plagued by high
winds, driving rain, and the trailer hitch that wouldn’t come off the van. In
the end everything came together spectacularly and the kids had tents to sleep
in.
Chicago was pretty fun when we were there. We went to the
Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry and I hope that someday I
will be able to go back to better explore what the city has to offer.
We also went to the South Bend Chocolate Factory and to a
South Bend Cubs game, both of which were amazing. Then again, how can chocolate
not be amazing?
After camp and the tearful good-byes with my new-found
friends, I made my way to Detroit on Friday July 24 to pick up my lovely uncles
from Florida. The airport coordination I may have once had was thrown out the
window when I let my phone die, so I had a slight panic moment as I arrived and
had no information about their arrival other than a time that their flight
landed. Due to some amazing intuition skills, however, I managed to be in the
right place at the right time and if I hadn’t told them, they would have never
known about my small scare.
A short drive later and we arrived in Hicksville in time for
pizza by the pool at Deb and Tony’s.
The original plan was to spend the weekend there and head
back to Michigan on Monday July 27, in time for Zac’s birthday. Plans changed
though, and I think that life changed for me as well. I know that sounds
terribly ridiculous but just keep reading.
Grandma Welly had knee surgery before I arrived. I don’t
remember the exact date but I knew that her mobility wasn’t going to be 100%
yet. She and Grandpa were supposed to head to Kelly’s Island on Monday which is
why it would have made sense for me to head out that day as well.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t feeling well enough to make the trip and asked me if
I would stay and help out around the house. Without question, I said yes as any
good grandchild would and thus began my adventure even if I didn’t know it yet.
I spent a week with Grandma during which time the idea
dawned on me that I should stay in Hicksville to take care of my grandparents.
In the beginning, I wasn’t sure about it but as the week went on I felt like I
needed to.
There was of course a little push when I met up with a
friend who turned into my boyfriend a week later.
So I went home for a few days and gathered up my things to
move to Hicksville and live with my grandparents. After a week with them, I
have a part-time job and I feel like I’m all settled in for the most part.
Grandma had surgery on the other knee the other day and I
would say that she is doing well. My mom came down to spend the weekend with
us, keeping tabs on Grandma and just being extra help since I just started my
job. I am really proud of her. She's being a real trooper.
I think I've run out of things to say now. I'll try to keep this better up to date than I have been. Hopefully I'll have some pictures of some sort for you all soon. I'm really hoping to go out sometime and take some somewhere pretty.
Until then,Blessed Be
