Camp dreams

Well, the camp dreams have at last kicked in...a week or so later than usual...I was begining to think I might miss them altogether. For those who don't already know, part of my job as the 4-H agent in Gloucester involves taking 180 youth ages 9-13 and 26 teen counselors to camp. I am not completely alone. I go with our Program Assistant, Jackie, and ten adult volunteers...and camp has great summer staff and a wonderful Program Director...but still, as the person in charge of our group, it can get a little stressfull...and I find myself going through the potential issues in dreams leading up to camp. In a strange way I am thankful for these crazy dreams because they sometimes take the edge off, and they are certainly preferable to dreams of correcting the disaster that is my house.

So last night it was the first night at camp, and I was surprised to discover that I had too many adult volunteers. Yes, too many. If you were a 4-H agent you would be laughing hysterically about that last statement.  I don't think anyone has ever had a problem with too many. Most people just don't relish a week with 200 kids in fairly rustic cabins (they do have air-conditioning now...didn't when I went all those many years ago). Anyhow, you'll just have to trust me...you don't get too many people wanting to go to camp.  I am going to ask if anyone has had this issue when I get to Jamestown on the 9th...because now I am wondering... It usually goes like this: I think about someone who would be great to have at camp, and when I finaly muster up the courage to ask, he or she looks at me like a deer caught in the headlights and then laughs...and it is the "You Must Be Crazy" kind of laughter...yep...nine times out of ten, that is how it goes.

So, back to this dream. There are too many volunteers so there is no place for me to sleep.  I go to find my friend Marlie, the Program Director.  I tell her about my problem and she turns into this completely insane monster, day glo-green and all (this is would be so uncharacteristic of Mars, I can't even explain). She tells me I can't borrow the tents because they are needed for OLS II (Outdoor Living Skills) for the Thursday night camp out. I plead for the tent, because it is Monday for crying out loud! The Marlie Monster tells me she wouldn't want me getting used to sleeping in a tent that wouldn't be available the full week. She points her little glowing finger toward the canoe shed and tells me to sleep there.

 I drag my blankie and pillow across the field to the dark canoe shed.  It reaks of musty old life jackets, but I arrange them to make a bed, and I try to sleep. It is too hot. There is no air. I can't believe I am sleeping in the canoe shed. I struggle to even breathe. I toss and turn on the ever shifting pile of life preservers.  There is a mouse or maybe something bigger in the far corner. I really can't believe I am sleeping here. After a few hours I leave the shed. I find a nearby canoe, put my pillow and blankie in, watch the bats flap their wings across the full moon, and I fall asleep. 

Then the dream goes blank for awhile. Nothing.

When it returns, I am awakened by a loud honking sound. I am completely disoriented. I sit up in my canoe and realize I am about to be run over by the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry. Then it ends.

Camp starts August 9. I have 9 more nights of camp dreams.