A Postcard from Camp Recess!
A big portion of our Camp Recess crew.
A few weeks ago Holland and I made the journey to northern Minnesota to spend a long weekend with some of our family there. We coined it Camp Recess as many of my family members wanted to embrace the spirit of Advanced Recess and…UBETCHA…we did just that!
It was a really special time considering that we hadn’t been together as a group since before the pandemic. My mom was the youngest of six kids and, in particular, she grew up with a very close relationship with her brother, John, who is just a bit older than her. Because of their close relationship, we all grew up together as a little herd of cousins. Seven of us total. There was only one boy in the loot so when we met at the family house for weekends together, my cousin, Jeff, got his own bedroom and then six of us girls shared one room. We packed in like sardines in a row of sleeping bags! We were all like siblings so our time together has always been precious…even the time when my cousin, Jenny, and my sister, Amy, were arguing so badly at a game of mini golf that Jenny took a pretty big swing and was within a couple inches of whalloping Amy in the head. It was among the most intense arguments that I’ve ever witnessed. Needless to say, no one said even one word on the drive home from the putt-putt course.
Back to Camp Recess. Most of our time there was spent…at Recess! We biked a ton, fished even more, went on walks in the woods, played a bunch of games, ate cheese curds, drank blueberry malts, spent hours (and hours) around the campfire and spent a good chunk of time with our camp dog…Frankie…a little petite golden doodle who was definitely the MVP of Camp Recess 2021.
On our last night, a good many of us went down to the dock to do some fishing. Many of the little cousins were catching great fish, hooking worms and it was just a wonderful time. What made it all the more special was that we also got to take in an absolutely stunning sunset and we spent a good hour taking it in. My uncle John - who was part of our group on the dock - and who has unfortunately been experiencing some dementia especially appreciated the sunset. While we were enjoying the time on the dock and the sunset, it seemed like every few minutes, John would say, “I’ll be darn…look at that sunset”. He said it with deep heart and enthusiasm and this really touched me. It was a reminder to see every moment as it is…the most precious gift and something that we should be completely invested in. Mind, body and soul. Sometimes this is difficult because our mind can play tricks on us and have us leave the present moment. But, sitting there with John enjoying and taking in the sunset again and again…this is the kind of reminder we all need in our lives. To be right in the moment. And to realize it is a gift. And to approach it like we are playing. Because in the grand scheme of things…we all are.
Be in the moment. And, play on!
On that note, here are a few more shots from Camp Recess…
Biking around the lakes with my girl!
Holland and her cousin skipping around Camp.
Little cousins organized a spa. They made $50 total and split it equally! A great approach to Advanced Recess!
Our camp dog, Frankie!
Successful evening fishing!
What a sunset.
