Kickball 4th Session

We have this amazing group of people at Sprucelands. What more can I say? Many are well-spirited staff members and CITs who have a heart of gold that swells to bursting when it comes time to play kickball. That's right. It's the highlight of every session.

Just announce we're going to have a kickball game and the cheers rise from all corners of the dining hall. Next thing I know, they're tye-dying tshirts and shouting 'assume the position' so they can look ferocious, overpowering and scary to their opposing team.

The opposing team is of course the campers: the mighty, mighty campers. And let me tell you those campers are pretty unnerving when you look at them. They give our staff and CITs a run for their money. I am amazed at their strength, their stamina, their agility and their sense of humor as they do whatever they can to stump the staff and win the game.

Now the staff rallies themselves. I will say that. Matt gets everyone to put their hands in the circle. There's a rousing cheer and then these 'old folks' spend time stretching with warm-up exercises. Routy jumping jacks let the campers know they mean business. Of course what the staff doesn't realize is how much they look like they need that warm-up. LOL Our campers are good sports though. They get in the spirit and before you know it, the game begins.

Different campers take turn pitching for their team. Subtly they eye the staff and roll the ball so the staff either misses it or boots it out of the park. It's a hoot. I laugh and snap photos as the kids run in for home runs amidst cheers and jeers from anyone and everyone. I just wish you could here the noise! It's better than any football or baseball game in any big stadium!

What is really flabergasting to the staffers is when a camper catches one of their high flying kicks. The ball is caught, everyone runs around celebrating the kicker, and the staffers forget to run. Next thing you know, there are two outs. What just happened? Surprise! Surprise!

Campers always feel as though they've pulled a fast one on the staff; staff members wink at each other and miss a catch or trip and fall. It's such fun to watch.

Suddenly the staff is back in the field and 'assume the position' rings out loud and clear. Everyone on the staff team squats down looking scary with one eye while they laugh with the other. Hannah above did some pitching for the camper team. She's calculating just what she's going to do next. Hmmm.

Meanwhile, Kenny and Emily are losing it to laughter as they hop up and down trying to distract the staffers. They're guarding our hoola hoop first base so no one can easily slide in or pick it up and run away with it.
As the kids wait their turn to kick, they keep abreast of what is happening out on the field. You can just imagine what is going on when you look at their faces.

The antics are ongoing. Matt and Andrew, Jaime and Julie, everyone gets in on the act. Even Jaime's dog Flirty and my dog Lily chase the ball when it rolls to be kicked. My sides hurt from laughing. This could be a comedy routine for the Three Stooges.

Now I have to add something here. In a week's time, this athletic field will be empty of all these cheers and funny carrying on. I will pass by the field on my way to the barn and pause to listen for the sounds of the game. Lily and Pudge and I may even sit in the middle of the field after supper some evening just to recall for a moment the sounds of silly laughter that are so dear to our hearts.

I do have a theory you know. I believe that when every camper and staff member departs, they leave a piece of their soul behind. It is either a little corner of their fun-loving self or it is a memory of how they changed while they were here, handled homesickness, learned how to be a better friend, or became a better leader. Perhaps there are resolved issues that get left behind to blow away on the wind or the ultimate high that lingers after a canter up boys hill. No matter. What I sense every year - and I've been here 30 years now - is the strength of a combined, ongoing presence that stays behind to support me as the new season begins.

Just look at this last photo. The kids are celebrating another completed kickball game and as they pass by each other, you can see their very real, genuine spirits agreeing to leave just a little fun behind so Eileen and Lily and Pudge are not alone. In fact, look at the right of the photo. Aren't those good friends from last year that have come out of the shadows to share our fun? Hey! You never know.