Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

Now, tell me who gets the title reference? Flew from DC up to Maine. Headed straight to Freeport to my favorite lobster pound on the water, Harrasekeet Lobster and Lunch, and ordered two trays of steamers: now that’s something you can’t get in Colorado. Yum, Yum, but my eyes were bigger than my stomach and I gave one tray away. Next morning, headed out early and arrived at Fernwood about 7:30 am. It was a lazy morning, so I hung out for about 30 minutes, then walked down to Bunk 1, where the birthday girl was cuddled up between her fleece and down blankets. Woke her up, and amidst squeals and smiles, snapped the picture above. She said she had told her friend Eve that she wished her mom would surprise her, but no way would that happen. Ha! She had her birthday table at lunch, where her whole bunk sat together and they sang a song written just for her, and we had cake. In what has evidently become a camp tradition, I got to use my finger to smear her name on the cake and wipe the frosting on her nose. Then a little singing (see us doing the hand mostions to my favorite song: Find Some Ground. I’d be happy to sing it for you anytime!). Hung out with her at her post, in the Arts and Crafts area, did a little coloring, and made a yarn octopus. They loved it and are thinking of making that the next project for campers! Way tired due to nonstop schedule, so I rested for a bit, then met up in the lodge for lipsync – a new activity. That night was dinner out on the lawn, then counselor hunt. All the counselors dress in costume, then after all are found, there is a court with the Seniors (oldest campers, 14/15) as a jury. Each counselor, or set of counselors, has to explain to the jury why they were “trespassing” on Fernwood grounds. If the Seniors like your excuse, you get a pass. If not, you have to jump into the lake with your clothes and costume on. Tay and her best bud Julia dressed up as exterminators and said they had caught the critter that was in the Senior bunk last week (a possum and a squirrel). The Seniors laughed at their little explanation (done with true redneck accents) and Tay and Julia got off! They were way happy and a little surprised. I guess new counselors usually end up in the drink. Then we all adjourned to the lake, where the sun was dipping below the horizon and the clouds and sky were that beautiful pinkish color. Admist the splendor, all the convicted joined hands and jumped in together. Then the dunkeees chanted for the seniors, and they, too, lined up, held hands and jumped in. Good clean fun. Taps and back to the bunks. But wait a minute, there is shrieking, and all of a sudden 200 girls come pouring out of their bunks in the dark shining their flashlights, and it’s dance party! Never experienced this, but it was certainly perfectly suited to me. Large speakers were dragged out onto the lodge porch and everyone was dancing in the dark for about 20 minutes. FUN!!! And Tay said that those were 3 of the most fun things at camp, all in one day, and all on her birthday. Yeah! Next day was her day off (arranged a few weeks earlier by having had Matt text her to take that day off because he had it. didn’t, but then she could head out with me). Out to breakfast, to visit Matt at Winnebago, into Freeport to have lobster , walk around, head to Portland Mall to check out phones (where she decided to say bye bye to Apple and sign up for the DroidX), then into Portland for dinner before heading back to our bunks. Wednesday was trip day….I had breakfast at her table, then she was off with campers to hike the Ledge and I was off the airport for Newark.