new kid at camp

I got to thinking today that in two days, I will be attending Camp Monterey for the first time without my Mom, coming in after camp has started, working in the kitchen, and staying in Rosa and Johnny's cabin with women I don't know yet. Is this what it's like coming to camp and not knowing anyone?

I do have the advantage of knowing my way around the camp in the dark, having history, knowing how the schedule goes, etc. Do you remember your first day at camp?

From the time I remember, I always attended precamp. Precamp began on the Friday before the campers arrived. The staff would open up the camp, get their cabins cleaned out, work areas set up, have meetings, make work wheels & name tags, and be ready to go on Tuesday morning when the campers arrived. Now I will be one of the campers arriving and everything will be set and ready to go.

The Outback cabin, for those of you who haven't been to camp in decades, is the cabin behind the dining hall where Rosa, Johnny and Cheryl stayed. I am going to share a bit of history staying in there. What great memories of Rosa making the best biscuits in the world, Johnny sneaking me goodies, and Cheryl teasing me in a loving way. (I think I'll have to call Cheryl and tell her I'm sleeping in her old bed.) I hear the cabin has a shower and flush toilet in there instead of using the "Johns".

Remember all the extras you packed that were always left off the list? Here's my list for a 9 day stay: pillow, medium weight blanket, sheets, matress cover, 2 towels, 1 bathing suit, 24 shirts (3 per day working in kitchen), 18 shorts, socks, 2 pairs of tennis shoes, flip flops, flashlight, fan, 3 pjs, stationary, Taboo, toiletries, French press, Cuban espresso maker, espresso, vanilla bean coffee, hot sauce, camera, and laptop. I'm bringing the coffee stuff to share. I hear the staff can use laptops after 3rd bell!

Two more sleeps to go before I head into the woods. This will be my first time on staff since 1994. I was a unit leader for the Sunshine Gang then. Now I will be "senior staff". Wow.