Saunter

Today is the last full day of classes. Tomorrow will have classes until lunch, but the afternoon is spent doing end of camp assemblies and team meetings. Today will have a languid pace, arising from our desire to make it last.

We are having a regular day of classes, but the girls are taking their time getting there. Lots of slow walking and deep talking!

The weather is cooperating. Blue skies (not one cloud) and warm temperatures (highs in the low 80’s). Perfect ending to a perfect summer. I honestly think that camp has gone astonishingly well, better than I ever experienced nor ever expected. Especially considering the rain! This “perfection” carried over into the details of yesterday’s Derby Day celebration and Senior Play.

The horses and riders did an amazing job… we began the jumping early this year due to the likelihood of rain showers. By starting the stadium jumping at 4:00 rather than 5:00, the girls were not rushed in their warm ups nor in their time in the ring. About 200 campers skipped their afternoon classes to watch the show from the benches set up beside the ring. The barn staff had prepared the horses beautifully (braiding both mane and tail, polished hoofs, shining coats). The girls were dressed in their show gear (looking like Ralph Lauren models). The girls rode beautifully and were able to relax after the show and change into something more comfortable for the Derby Day Reception.

The food at this reception amazed me. The first camper I met as Margaret and I approached the tent had a plate quite literally “piled high” with chocolate dipped strawberries. There must have been a dozen large fresh berries covered in Belgian chocolate, it was unexpected. I was certain it was part of a display that was “raided”… nope. We served thousands of these little treats. We had hundreds left over at the end of the evening. In fact, we had lots of leftovers from every single station… all kinds of pasta, Prime Rib, Chicken Tenders, Smoked Turkey, Salmon, Casa Dias, humus, pimento cheese, crackers, veggies, punch, cup cakes, bread pudding… everything! It was an amazing food effort, all presented with grace and with style under massive tents. I loved it.

One of the funny things… we asked the girls to wear their rain boots, for the field was sopping wet from a huge rest hour rain storm. Even though the weather during the picnic was lovely, we found the ground turning to mud as we grazed and visited during the two hour reception. Anyone who did not have boots on found it easier to remove their shoes and walk barefoot… it was really funny. As we cleaned the tent out later that night, the entire area was nothing but mud except little 5 foot circles that marked the locations of the various food tables. Amazing.

The Play was fantastic. Two hours long, amazingly good stage craft, great work on the technical end with the microphones (the campers ran the sound board, a first as far as I know). With 16 audio microphones, keeping it all straight was no easy feat. The actresses knew their lines without a glitch and the singing was spectacular. The campers did a wonderful job sitting quietly for the entire production… the whole night was worthy of the standing ovation!

Thank you again for checking in and for investing in this experience. What a summer it has been!

Jimboy

THE JOKE: A Kentucky Gentleman was in the market for a new riding horse. He heard of a nice one for sale at a farm located on the side of a huge canyon. He arrived to find a beautiful horse that looked like a good prospect. The farmer said that it was a very nice horse that had been trained by a local minister… the gentleman decided to take the horse out for a ride. The walk was smooth, so nice that the man muttered to himself “praise the lord”. Immediately the horse picked up the trot… smooth as butter! The gentleman was shocked at the sensation of this butter smooth gate and he said louder “Praise the Lord” and the horse picked up the canter. Fast and effortless, this was a REAL nice horse and the man smiled in triumph and said “Praise The LORD”. The horse moved into a gallop that was faster than the gentleman had ever experienced. In terror, he saw the canyon lip just ahead… he tried to stop the horse, but the horse would not slow. He pulled as hard as he could, but the reins broke! He said “I commit my soul to you God… AMEN” and the horse skidded to a stop at the canyon lip. The man was shivering with fear and crying with relief as he turned his head to heaven and said: “PRAISE THE LORD!”