Realizations and Reflections

Part two, let's go.

My last post was about the mindset of not talking about a certain life event out of fear of ruining friendships. Two things have come to mind today, though and at one point, they were closely connected. I am just now realizing this, too.

So, I'll keep this brief: last summer Camp Harlow decided to lay me off for covid reasons (I didn't have covid, though.) and it was the first time in twelve years that I didn't even step foot on camp-grounds. I don't think I had time to realize this because I was grieving a job loss and I found myself with a number of insecurities from it.

 In twenty-sixteen, I, unfortunately, lost my grandpa, who was one of my best friends, one of my number one fans, my mentor before I even realized that, one of my heroes, and just one of my absolute favorite people. I was eighteen and still pretty fresh out of high school. Skipping to two weeks after his passing and a week after his service, guess where I was?! Harlow! Because I was loyal (and probably a bit crazy for it. No regrets, though.) and I definitely cried twice because it was the week of what would have been my grandparents' sixty-fifth wedding anniversary. However, I WAS SO LOVED AND SUPPORTED BY MY CAMP FAMILY!!! I actually told my boss later that I honestly didn't know how I handled that week so well, but I did. I worked that week for the next two years for the distraction and it was an age group that I loved working with.  

I mean, it's really no wonder why coming up on five years without my grandpa is reminding me of camp and my dear camp family. When all is said and done, I will forever be grateful to the people that surrounded me in the summer of twenty-sixteen and the year of pretty major life changes that followed. Oh eighteen, you were quite a dramatic one.