camp - chapter 1: in which we deliver him

We left in the dark.
I had written his name, in Sharpie, on everything he brought with him.
I had a large plastic zip bag full of medications for the infirmary, and the nebulizer.
He had bedding and towels and a tiny trunk for valuables.



As the sun rose, he was sleeping.

The landscape was very Pride and Prejudice (I watched it with K the other night).


We realized that the only other vehicles with us on the last stretch of the trip were from Tuvalu.

We arrived and were greeted at skate camp - and instructed to park...



The staff and visiting pros were already there.



Obviously.

We got Youngest signed in (the fellow who signed him in broke his hip skating last weekend, oddly enough, it occurred in the "hip bowl") and he elected to add some go kart driving and paint ball shooting to his curriculum (my delight was overwhelming) and then proceeded to meet with one of the nurses in the infirmary. She and I devised a plan of treatment/action for Youngest's care. (She seems to have things well in hand - and if not well in hand, then she has 4 phone numbers with which to reach us.)

And then...it was time to bring Youngest to his cabin.
We met his counselor (I don't think they are called that)and I liked him, we set up his bed (the second storey of a three tier bunk) and stowed his stuff.
We met one of his cabin mates (who was kind of an asshole)(and I TOLD Youngest that if anyone was an asshole to HIM that he should tell the counselor immediately)and Youngest pretty much dismissed us.

Well, Mom, I'll miss you...but I'll see you at the end of the week...
Don't lose the key to your trunk!
I KNOW, MOM.
Don't shallow-breathe if you don't feel well!
OKAY, MOM.
Don't let anyone be an asshole to you!
I WON'T, MOM.

I was very brave and strong and got in the car.
Wherein I had a little break down and then ran back to tell him to call me from time to time.
I kissed him and left again and we drove around the camp.

It really is quite something, the camp...



You know, for lounging.



For swooping and sliding and making your mother queasy.



For 'dropping in.'



For international competition/when it rains...
It is a stunning place - set in a valley, with incredible music blasting through it, and skateboarders everywhere. And they all look like Youngest.

We departed the camp past this sign:



and headed home -
passing this:



and doing some of this...



stopping for a fabulous lunch -
watching planes and helicopters fly over the highway in formation -



and trying not to miss him too much too soon.


He called last night to say that he was "sitting around, drinking a Red Bull and listening to the girls from across the camp tease him."

It sounds like it's going to be an interesting week.