Summer. Camp.

I just checked. The last time we talked was June 9th. That's two and a half months ago. It feels like a millennium has passed. It feels like it flew by in a split second, too.

It's crazy how time can mess with you like that.





Where to begin? Let's start with the basics. I just finished my ninth summer in Maine where I work at a summer camp. Yes, TC was with me. No, we are not camp counselors.

Many moons ago I was lucky enough to spend a few summers as a counselor, but these days we are more on the administrative side of things. We run the waterfront, which means we spend our days making sure that the sailboats sail, the kayaks paddle, the skiiers ski and the swimmers swim. We do a little more than that, of course, but that's pretty much the bulk of our job.





I'm asked constantly why we still do camp. Are you going to go again next summer? How much longer are you going to do this? Aren't you a little old for this?





While I don't have definite answers to any of those questions, I can tell you this a few things. I'd love to go back next summer. I have no idea how long we'll do this. Until we don't love it, I suppose. Am I too old? I sure hope not. Maybe eventually in age, but definitely not in spirit. In my head I'm still in my early twenties. Aren't you? That was a great time of life. I don't want it to end. Sure, mortgage payments are fun and I guess everybody loves paying taxes and cleaning up a flooded basement - so who needs a youthful summer spent playing on the lake?





Our waterfront staff was amazing this summer. Forty college kids who worked their butts off every day - playing, teaching, loving. They did it all - from rigging sailboats to fixing wakeboards to making sure every single life jacket was buckled and every single kid was lathered in sunscreen. I'm willing to bet that each one of them worked harder than they ever have before and also had more fun that they ever have before. Like we always say, it's the hardest job you'll ever love.





I love the theory of working hard and playing hard. It's definitely something we practice at camp. Outside of camp TC and I went on several excursions. You'd think after eight summers we would run out of adventures to entertain ourselves, but we still haven't. We had an exceptionally great group of administration this summer and all spent a particularly fun day floating down the famed Saco River. I'm talking 23 lime green intertubes tied together by orange life jackets, coolers overflowing with beer and champagne, no iphones, beautiful sunshine and three hours of nothing but floating and having a good time.

It was glorious. It was like I was twenty-two years old again.





So, yes. I think I'll go back next summer and do it all over again. Heart shaped sunglasses and all.

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I'm so excited to get back to our regularly scheduled blogging. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I'm still on summer vacation and enjoying some down time in Atlanta and Florida. Don't give up on me yet!