How can it not? "Science Camp Leader"? Are you kidding me? That's the stuff lives are punctuated by. This is an experience combining independence and authority. This is pivotal for each of them. This is a core moment of the "Coming of age" experience. It's what films get made about, like "Stand By Me", "Goonies", "Stranger Things" even. But not "American Pie"...., you can drop that camp reference right here and now.
After signing them in and saying "have fun!", on the way back down the hill, it deeply struck me how happy I am to have them, to feel the love I do for both of them, to recognize what a really good person Tommy is, and what a deeply loving, bright and complexly wonderful person Lauren is. How well they have both navigated their own youth and coming into their own characters. In the year ahead there will be Driver's Learning Permits, first loves, and defining moments of high school aged character development and significance.
I caught sight of a child-size down jacket later at Savers. One just like those I would put onto or remove from on a cold winter day. I recognize this garment on the rack from my own memories and the photos I have of them at the ages of 4 and 5 show them in the same coat. And when I saw that coat, my heart stopped briefly. It stopped from the shock of the time that has past between their wriggling their arms through those little jackets with my assistance, to this moment when they're making new friends and becoming leaders, perhaps mentors, and setting examples in their own way, for themselves, of who they are or aspire to be.
And I believe their examples will be good-natured, natural kindness, good humor, and to sincerely convey their own core objective: to simply "Be Kind".
There's so much to learn,
And when you want me
Then I'll show you,
And through the years,
You'll always be
The lullaby in the heart of the child in me
.- Cody's Song- Kenny Loggins