We rode past my favorite gate in the world! The Camp Courage gate! Nothing like it. Absolutely nothing. Before we got there, I offered to register myself instead of having my dad stay like my mom does. He appreciated the gesture and I appreciated the independence. I hugged Dad good-bye after meeting Whitney who greeted us. Instinctively, I headed down the paved road to the first step of registering which was picture taking. However, after five years of going this was a chance to unite with my friend, Donny. After hugging and saying, we would talk later, I went to my cabin.
I saw that amazing woman and ran into her arms. Kate, my counselor from last year was my Cabin Leader this year. I waited a full year to see her. We said our hellos and she had to do the formal camper interview. It was pretty comical because she knows everything about me and what I need at Camp. After that, I went to see the nurse. I told her when I took my medication and that I basically needed nothing else. Registering myself was like being under a waterfall of independence!
It wasn't seconds later that Katherine and I were together celebrating the fact that we were indeed there-at Camp Courage! After having a counselor named Jenny unpack me which is something that Mom usually does, Katherine and I headed over to the Camp store. In past years, the store has been about the size of a large storage closet. Not this year! This year, it was this big room of every possible type of camp gear imaginable! I'm not going to lie, I was in heaven. I love wearing a Camp shirt every now and then to remind myself of how I feel up in Maple Lake, Minnesota.
Katherine and I had to have dinner outside instead of the dining hall because of her sensitivity to noise which didn't bother me a bit. It was picturesque outside. Kate, our counselor from last year introduced us to her best friend from outside of school who was Cate. They had met at school and Kate got Cate to work at Camp. Cate had been assigned to us for meals and throughout the week, you bet we got attached! She understood the dynamic between Katherine and me. The dynamic always is: giving all we can of each other so both of us has a great week.
The first full day of Camp, Lauren, my cousin, her husband, Scott and a slew of other people willing to volunteer came. I was a happy camper! The volunteers jumped in quickly! Two of them helped with fishing, two of them helped with culinary activities and Lauren and two other volunteers helped with crafts. It gave me so much joy to see "normal, everyday" people jump into the disability world so quickly and without hesitation. They learn that people with disabilities can do crafts, swim, paint and everything else that others can.
The volunteers especially learned that people with disabilities can horseback ride! Campers always have the opportunity to horseback ride. Lauren, my cousin took me on the horse this year. It is an experience of insurmountable joy! You’re riding this gorgeous animal and they train this creature to carry you. At Camp Courage, they train the horses to be extremely gentle. See, due to my movement disorders, I will kick the horse but Cassie, my beloved horse could care less and we have a magnificent ride with a clear blue sky over our heads!
Whitney, Jenny, Aaron, Quinn, Cate and Kate gave me an incredible week at Camp Courage! It is how I rejuvenate my soul and part of the reason why I succeed in life. If I didn't have a place to rejuvenate, I don't think I would be doing as well at Elmhurst. There is something about knowing there is a place where everyone accepts everyone and everything is ready for you. I expressed my feelings at Camp Courage, I encourage you to watch the video Camp Courage posted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD9PF1CQKoE
I apologize for it being sideways!
Anyway, after Camp, I headed to Lauren’s house because I was going to Keith’s birthday party which was incredible! I learned something from Lauren and Scott that I will never forget. As soon as I got situated on their couch, Scott said that they had a black and white photo of us at Camp Courage. I’m thinking, that was fast to have them developed! It was not a picture. IT WAS A SONOGRAM! I started crying and shaking. They were going to have a baby! This was the best news ever! I kept looking around the room. We all had gotten new parts to play in life. My mom was going to be a great aunt, my aunt Sue a grandma, my Nana a great grandma, and the list goes on and on. This news literally made my entire year! Little did I know another surprise was around the corner.
I had already had a phenomenal week back from Camp. Susan, my assistant from high school took me to the Abilities Expo which is a three day event where vendors that sell anything from wheelchairs to adaptive bikes are there. Then, my best friend Jessi invited me over to her house, then Shanah, my former assistant was coming over Friday to take me out. I was going to have a great week. It was impossible to believe that my week could get better! It sure did! My friend from South Africa had said I'm coming to Chicago to visit. I was excited at the idea but didn't really expect it to happen. She and I met at Camp. She was a counselor and I of course, get attached to the ones who live farthest away! Just the way it is. That Sunday night, I get a Facebook message saying, we're coming! Oh my God. I was like a kid right before Christmas! I didn't expect this to actually happen.
Nicole, Joe and Phil all get out of the car and I am on cloud nine. Three amazingly genuine friends are at my house. Nicole is the one from South Africa who oftentimes gives me advice on how to weave my way through womanhood. Joe is her boyfriend that she met at Camp Courage, he's incredible. And Phil was a counselor in 2008 and he is one of the coolest guys I have ever met. They were all sitting at my kitchen table! Facebook connects us however, having the three of them at my house was a dream come true. You just don't get that lucky! After being at my house, they offered to take me to Ben and Jerry's! It was the cherry on the sundae!
One of the many people who combines my two worlds is my assistant, Valerie. She is helping me around the house this summer. It has been a wonderful attribute for the entire family. Mornings are less rushed; I can take time to do my own thing which is priceless. Mom and Dad have both said they like the arrangement which is so good. They were skeptical at first but I can tell this is a good thing for the Thompson household. Valerie has taken me to friend’s houses and her company is amazing! Additionally, I must say that David and Genevieve are helping out a lot! In past years, my parents had to ask, now, it’s with the attitude of she is my sister and I should help her. Maturity…what a wonderful thing!
Oftentimes, I feel like I have to pick between two worlds which can be burdensome. It is weeks like this that remind me I truly have the best of both worlds. In the disability world, I am readily accepted for who I am. I know the world very well and in turn, it has brought me so many gifts-tangible and non tangible. In the able bodied world, I have to prove myself, I face daily struggles but I see the best in people. When I do prove myself or teach someone about myself, I feel like I own the world, and may on occasion do a happy dance afterward. And when I overcome a struggle, I feel incredibly empowered. The two worlds offer me different things and because of the way God created me, I have the best of both worlds!
Love,
Hannah
