Wednesday, Oui? My other "home"

I love camp. Not camping (which I also like) but "camp." For those of you who have that "special place" you know what I mean. Camp is my favorite place in the whole world. It's so rich with our family history and the only place that, no-matter-what, always brings me comfort and a feeling of nostalgia.

My mother and grandfather grew up in the area where our camp is. My Pepe built camp with his two hands. Every May-August and a few times in the winter we, as a family, would spend time at camp.

This year, I have to say, I was not looking forward to going on vacation to camp. My Pepe stated that he would not be going, due to his failing health. For the last 28 years of my life camp, to me, meant uninterrupted and unadulterated quality time with my Pepe- easily one of my favorite people in the world. How could I go to camp and stay in the camp he built with his two hands- if he wasn't going to be there?

I can't possibly get into a whole back story of what my Pepe means to me, how much I love and respect him and how, in so many ways, I credit him for how I live my life. I work everyday to make him proud. The fact that he is dying cuts me so deeply that I fear I will never be the same when he's gone.

This year, Pepe did come to camp. He made it up after all. The whole week there was a huge looming feeling that this will be his last year there, with us, and here, but I am so thankful that I was able to spend a full week in his company.

Camp turned out to be amazing. The weather was gorgeous, my entire family was there (not all at camp but most live in the area) and it was just what I needed. We kayaked, hiked, ate, went to the fair and did everything that happens at camp. This was just the vacation I needed to center me and remind me that my world is NOT; my career, my beautiful home, my tangibles, my structure, my perfectionism, my routine, or my planning. Instead my world IS; my family, friends (old and new) the smell of the water, the sound of loons, the feel of sand underneath my feet, my nephew's laugh, a hug from my sister, eggs from the farm, fair-food, an early morning kayak, jumping into the Kennebec, Pepe's rock, the BB-Q's, 'Schmellie', Dan's "how we doin?", my Pepe's stories, hiking to "our spot", the corner store, a cup of coffee on the porch feet from the water with the man I love--- a puppy on our lap, and my Pepe.

That, my friends, is my world. Oui?