Can I borrow your new top?
Which one?
This blue one
Yeah, whatever, get out my room
Byeee
Fuck off
Why fuck off?
Because you never say please or thankyou
I did!
No you didn't
Yes I did
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No No
Yes Yes
Noooooo
Yes I bloody did! Is it easier if I dont wear it?
No...its just that I was going to wear it thats all
FINE! I wont take it
Stop being annoying and just take it
...Thanks
(BITCH)
(BITCH)
Why did you call me a bitch?
You called yourself one!
I was talking to you actually
(Slams door)
DONT SLAM MY DOOR! Fucking little bitch- I'll show her...Ill be taking this and this and this and this is mine anyway and this and this
What are you doing in my room?
Well it might as well be my room seeing as most of my stuff is in here- all of these bracelets and this dress, my Narnia DVD when did I say you could borrow that? And my skirt and this necklace
You gave me that!
Oh yeah. Well I want it back anyway.
Fine (doesnt suit you anyway)
What do you think Im ugly now?
No
(MUM) Will you two stop arguing please Im getting a migraine...Are those my shoes?
No!
They were in her room!
I love my sisters. Someone asked me the other day if I could only take two people to live with on a deserted island with for the rest of my life who would it be. Without even thinking, it would be my sisters. I might try and sneak Summer in my carry on luggage because it would be hard to leave her little goofy toothed smiling face behind. Clearly I'm delluded anyway because if I was in a situation where I was stranded on a desert island I dont think I would be getting on a flight there. Its not a holiday for fucks sake Mia!
Anyway, so I would take my sisters. Josie and Sian. Lovely and lovely.
Anyone who has know me for a long time will know that we havent always got on. Josie and I especially when we were younger used to have the most incredible fights, and when I say fights I mean fights. It was only when she started getting stronger than me, and slightly more vicious that the novelty kinda wore off. We used to fight relentlessly, my poor Mum would cry every time it happened. I always put this down to the fact that my Mum never had sisters to fight with. Because if she did she would know that actually we were just figuring each other out, figuring out how to fight, figuring out how to not fight. Literally five minutes later we would be best mates again, giggling and crying with laughter because I would persuade Josie to stick her little bottom out of the car mooning people as we drove through Richmond Park on the way to school. Or Josie would take a big round slice of ham out of her sandwhiches and bite out the eyes and nose and mouth out and wear it like a mask, snorting as she tried to have a 'normal' conversation. Or she would take off her tights and put them over her face, attaching the two legs to either of the 'oh shit' handles in the back seats. You know the ones you grab onto above the windows as you sit in the back and the car swerves around. Yeah so she would tie the feet of her tights to those and just scream with laughter as her face was all smushed up inside the butt of the tights, like a bank robber, only much cuter.
You could never give Josie coca cola when she was little. She would just go nuts. I get glimpses of the same craziness now at 21 years old when she has had too many red wines. She is hilarious and wild and so much fun. At my birthday party in November Josie came and hung out with my friends for the first time. I loved watching her work her way around the room, not giving a damn about anything, and I would catch her whispering into peoples ears with a cheeky little grin and i would know she was up to mischief. Often watching the person, my friend, next to her not sure what to make of this loud, gorgeous girl at first...but slowly warming up to her and letting the banter flow often ending in howls of laughter.
My friend Nick Clarkey Cat got a fright as they exchanged words over the chocolate fondue- he managed to dribble chocolate all down his chin exclaiming 'ooh thats sexy' (sorry Nick I just made you sound like a real pansie), and Josie picks up a strawberry dips it in hot melted smooth chocolate and rubs it all over her lips exclaiming 'No this is sexy'. Poor Nick stayed crimson for a while after his first encounter of another one of the Gray girls. Or just the other night, Josie calmly walks in to the room, whilst we were all zombied out in front of the TV, having drawn herself a monobrow and painted her teeth black. She just sits down and carries on like nothing has changed. What a nutjob.
I pray to cupid every day that a gorgeous, wild and brave man can sweep her up in his arms and laugh with her for eternity. Lucky, lucky man.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
For Extremily...
Once upon a time there was a very, very, very, very cool counselor whose pansy name didn’t suit her in the slightest….she was called Emily the Counselor. One sunny fall morning Emily the Counselor was driving up to her second home called Windsorlocken- she was driving her maroon buick century, a classic may I add, which she fondly called Doris.
Approximately one hour into the journey as Doris was waiting patiently at a set of traffic lights there was a strange noise emanating from Doris’s unmentionables. It went something like this: “Wooooooooooooooooooooo”. No silly! More like this: “Clankity clankity clankity clank”. That’s much better. You should have seen the look on Emily the Counselor’s face!
Of course, when things like this happen in the adult world there is nothing left to do but ignore the strange sound eminating from Doris’s unmentionables and turn up the music “Boom boom boom, clankity clankity clankity clank, boom boom boom, clankity clankity clankity clank, BOOM BOOM BOOM, CLANKITY CLANKITY CLANKITY CLANK…” Suddenly there was a huge explosion- KABOOOM!!!
Stranded and slightly bruised, Emily the Counselor wept her little heart out for the passing of Doris her beloved maroon buick century. The funeral was short, but extremely necessary. “She’s a lady, woah woah woah, she’s a lady, talking ‘bout my little lady, and the lady was mine…lalalaaaa”
After the short, but extremely necessary, funeral proceedings for the late Doris- Emily the Counselor glanced at her watch and gasped: “Oh no! I’m gonna be sooo late for the Reunion- I must dash!”...(running…jogging…walking…crawling...)…“It’s too far, it’s too far, it’s just too far, boo hoo!”
Emily the counsellor was forced to hitchhiking (don’t try this at home kids) by sticking her thumb right up her bum, oh no, sorry my mistake- sticking her thumb out for a passing car who would hopefully take her to camp. Emily the counsellor waited and waited for an eternity…
…30 seconds later a rickety, rickety, rickety, rickety white 15 passenger van made in the 90’s, AAAGGHHHH!, pulled up to Emily the counsellor. Danny rolled down the window: “Oi! Emily the Counselor! What are you doing? Hop in I’m on my way to camp.” The drive was very awkward, and at times like these in the adult world there is nothing left to do but crank up the music- “Shall we put on some music?”
As the night closed in and the bright silver moon rose above the towering pine trees Danny noticed a strange, shadowy shape in his rearview mirror which was rapidly approaching: “What’s that strange, shadowy shape in my rearview mirror that is rapidly approaching?” he asked. “Hold on a minute! That looks like your car, Doris!” Emily sighed deeply: “Yeah, she’s a lady……at least she WAS a lady”. AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH! They were chased by the ghost of Doris under the moonlit sky for miles and miles and miles when Danny and Emily heard a spooky spooky sound “Woooooooooooo”. No not that one, more like: “Hey! It’s not the ghost of Doris, it’s me, George….you left me behind- I was just taking a pee in the woods when you picked up Emily the Counselor and drove off without me!”.
Danny slammed his foot on the brakes and the rickety rickety rickety white 15 passenger van made in the 90’s, AAAAGGGGHHH, screeched to a halt to pick up a sweaty and extremely exhausted George. “Why are you dressed like that George?” asked Emily peering quizzically at his white ghost-like outfit. “It’s Halloween Reunion, Duh!” Emily the Counselor smiled: “Oh now that explains everything!”
Late and very worn out from a ridiculously crazy adventure, the 15 passenger van arrived at camp. The place seemed deserted. The birds were singing sweetly to the stars high up in the trees and the fallen red and gold leaves were rustling and dancing in the soft breeze. Eventually the faint strumming of guitar drifted over from the Dining hall. Danny grabbed his things and hurried everyone over- “evening activity must have just started, quick everyone!” It felt so good to be ‘home’ at last. Emily the counselor breathed a huge sigh of relief: “Man, that was EXTREME!”
Approximately one hour into the journey as Doris was waiting patiently at a set of traffic lights there was a strange noise emanating from Doris’s unmentionables. It went something like this: “Wooooooooooooooooooooo”. No silly! More like this: “Clankity clankity clankity clank”. That’s much better. You should have seen the look on Emily the Counselor’s face!
Of course, when things like this happen in the adult world there is nothing left to do but ignore the strange sound eminating from Doris’s unmentionables and turn up the music “Boom boom boom, clankity clankity clankity clank, boom boom boom, clankity clankity clankity clank, BOOM BOOM BOOM, CLANKITY CLANKITY CLANKITY CLANK…” Suddenly there was a huge explosion- KABOOOM!!!
Stranded and slightly bruised, Emily the Counselor wept her little heart out for the passing of Doris her beloved maroon buick century. The funeral was short, but extremely necessary. “She’s a lady, woah woah woah, she’s a lady, talking ‘bout my little lady, and the lady was mine…lalalaaaa”
After the short, but extremely necessary, funeral proceedings for the late Doris- Emily the Counselor glanced at her watch and gasped: “Oh no! I’m gonna be sooo late for the Reunion- I must dash!”...(running…jogging…walking…crawling...)…“It’s too far, it’s too far, it’s just too far, boo hoo!”
Emily the counsellor was forced to hitchhiking (don’t try this at home kids) by sticking her thumb right up her bum, oh no, sorry my mistake- sticking her thumb out for a passing car who would hopefully take her to camp. Emily the counsellor waited and waited for an eternity…
…30 seconds later a rickety, rickety, rickety, rickety white 15 passenger van made in the 90’s, AAAGGHHHH!, pulled up to Emily the counsellor. Danny rolled down the window: “Oi! Emily the Counselor! What are you doing? Hop in I’m on my way to camp.” The drive was very awkward, and at times like these in the adult world there is nothing left to do but crank up the music- “Shall we put on some music?”
As the night closed in and the bright silver moon rose above the towering pine trees Danny noticed a strange, shadowy shape in his rearview mirror which was rapidly approaching: “What’s that strange, shadowy shape in my rearview mirror that is rapidly approaching?” he asked. “Hold on a minute! That looks like your car, Doris!” Emily sighed deeply: “Yeah, she’s a lady……at least she WAS a lady”. AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH! They were chased by the ghost of Doris under the moonlit sky for miles and miles and miles when Danny and Emily heard a spooky spooky sound “Woooooooooooo”. No not that one, more like: “Hey! It’s not the ghost of Doris, it’s me, George….you left me behind- I was just taking a pee in the woods when you picked up Emily the Counselor and drove off without me!”.
Danny slammed his foot on the brakes and the rickety rickety rickety white 15 passenger van made in the 90’s, AAAAGGGGHHH, screeched to a halt to pick up a sweaty and extremely exhausted George. “Why are you dressed like that George?” asked Emily peering quizzically at his white ghost-like outfit. “It’s Halloween Reunion, Duh!” Emily the Counselor smiled: “Oh now that explains everything!”
Late and very worn out from a ridiculously crazy adventure, the 15 passenger van arrived at camp. The place seemed deserted. The birds were singing sweetly to the stars high up in the trees and the fallen red and gold leaves were rustling and dancing in the soft breeze. Eventually the faint strumming of guitar drifted over from the Dining hall. Danny grabbed his things and hurried everyone over- “evening activity must have just started, quick everyone!” It felt so good to be ‘home’ at last. Emily the counselor breathed a huge sigh of relief: “Man, that was EXTREME!”
2010...
1. Drink lots of water
2. Play more games
3. Read more books
4. Sleep for 7 hours every night
5. Walk every day. And while you walk, smile
6. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
7. Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive and present.
8. Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does.
9. Don't waste your precious energy on bitching!
10. Dream while you are awake.
11. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
12. Forget issues of the past, make peace with it. Dont keep reminding your ex with his/her mistakes, it will ruin your present happiness.
13. Life is too short to hate anyone. Don't hate, just be kind :)
14. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
15. Life is like school- you are here to learn. Its not all about play time. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away- like algebra- but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime! ha!
16. Smile and laugh more.
17. You don't have to win every argument. Its okay to agree to disagree.
18. Call your family more often.
19. Do something good for someone every day- a random act of kindness, just cos.
20. Forgive everyone for everything (this one I will struggle with!)
21. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
22. Smile at strangers.
23. What other people think of you is none of your business. (Even if you are smiling at them weirdly)
24. Your job wont take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
25. Make good choices.
26. Get rid of everything that isnt useful, beautiful or fun.
27. However bad or good the situation, it will change.
28. Get up. Dress up. Show up.
29. BE HAPPY and love with everything you have.
2. Play more games
3. Read more books
4. Sleep for 7 hours every night
5. Walk every day. And while you walk, smile
6. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
7. Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive and present.
8. Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does.
9. Don't waste your precious energy on bitching!
10. Dream while you are awake.
11. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
12. Forget issues of the past, make peace with it. Dont keep reminding your ex with his/her mistakes, it will ruin your present happiness.
13. Life is too short to hate anyone. Don't hate, just be kind :)
14. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
15. Life is like school- you are here to learn. Its not all about play time. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away- like algebra- but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime! ha!
16. Smile and laugh more.
17. You don't have to win every argument. Its okay to agree to disagree.
18. Call your family more often.
19. Do something good for someone every day- a random act of kindness, just cos.
20. Forgive everyone for everything (this one I will struggle with!)
21. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
22. Smile at strangers.
23. What other people think of you is none of your business. (Even if you are smiling at them weirdly)
24. Your job wont take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
25. Make good choices.
26. Get rid of everything that isnt useful, beautiful or fun.
27. However bad or good the situation, it will change.
28. Get up. Dress up. Show up.
29. BE HAPPY and love with everything you have.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Living on a Sofa
I got really excited thinking about camp again today. It will be so nice to go back one day- hopefully this year! Its strange but even though I haven’t been there for a few years now I know what everything feels like physically to the touch. How the air smells. Where everything is in the kitchen. The temperature and texture of the surfaces. The colours of the trees. The sounds of the bonfires. The mist on the lake when everyone else is asleep and you are all alone in the peace sitting on the dock. Its weird because I feel like I know that place more than anywhere else, like a home. And I only spent three summers and three falls there. My Mum has moved house literally every three years since I was tiny, so I guess in a way it makes sense therefore. I haven’t ever really been able to call one house ‘my home’. It’s a shame really- I was always envious growing up of friend’s houses that were real family homes. Filled to the brim with junk, and things, and books, and photos and pictures and memories. I’ve never had that. I hope one day I will be able to find a place I want to be for a long time. A place I am happy to stay and bring up my children and my pets and fill with my own stuff. A place where I will know where everything is and yet know where nothing is. A place where I can imagine the smell as you walk in and the creaks on the stairs and the little cubby holes- even when I’m not there.
I already have ideas of what I want in my house ('when I grow up'). I have kept posters of everything I have ever worked on- film and theatre posters- that I would like to frame and put up around the house. Like a collection of things I have worked my butt off on. Prized possessions include a humongous RocknRolla poster that I love and will cost the earth to frame and beautiful photos of my gorgeous friends in Dog in the Manger last year, Helen looking beautiful as ever in her moment of angelic grace and Margeret Thatcherness (yes apparently it is possible to achieve this). Maybe I won’t work in the industry forever- but it’s been one hell of a ride so far and I’m proud of the past three years or so. Speaking of which I need to get a Sherlock poster if anyone can help! I have huge paintings I have done that I would like to have somewhere to hang. I want my friend Krista to paint me a few more too- she is oh so talented. I have boxes and boxes of books I can’t bare to give away simply because I imagine having somewhere to put them all later in life, and re-read them at leisure, and pass them on to my kiddos. Like my Mum I would love to have a library...wishiful thinking but wishing none the less. God my home is going to be like one big scrap book! I’m really looking forward to all that. Although there is soooooooooo much to come before then. I’m in no rush. I guess I’m just thinking about all this stuff more now that I have nowhere to live at all! ARGH. I think I have so far, since xmas, made three different sofas my new home. That’s okay though, it gives me some freedom this year which I wouldn’t have otherwise. I’m already enjoying the idea that I don’t have to pay rent this month- it takes the pressure off a little I suppose. Next up- job please!
An Absolute Treat
Utterly subliminal like the best bits of a black and white film
The mistakes in the background that not everyone has found
You are
treehouses and stuck in the mud
House of fun, steptoe and son, spaghetti
train journeys with a friend, 2CVs, Mercedes Benz-
Milkshakes and runaways to Peru,
Airwaves, softmint, juicy fruit.
The best ever cartoon
sunrays, breakaways, play days, computer games, bustamove,
party tunes, peteit filous and Timbuktu- make believe and
Fancy dress, hideaway den,
a crows nest, tea in bed.
My favourite song on the radio- the volume, the fastforward, the time to go.
Punk Music, RnB and electro,Pop, rock and roll, 2 step and disco-
lets go-to museums and waterparks
have a picnic in the park- in the dark,
play connect 4 on Tower Bridge or just walk through mazes...
or have you seen Labyrinth?
David Bowie- oh my gosh- he is sick yes?
Grapes from the fridge and mini-eggs,
3D glasses and Right Said Fred
French films, red wine
or Stars in Your Eyes-What would you sing?
What would you sing?
Rap, maps of the world, hot sand,
our land-before time-that bit when the mummy long-neck died
I cried.
Popcorn- salty or sweet? Mix in the maltesers as a treat
Four poster bed, you are a mansion, a house boat, a cave,a waterfall, you are glitter,
a looking glass, a know-it-all.
Popping bubble wrap, rearranging shelves and finding seashells,
old park bench and jellied eels,
You have made up your mind there is no going back.
You are soft seats, late night TV-walks on cliffs
and trampoline drunkness and fruit and good smelling shampoo
Pomegranate seeds, and crap tattoos
A-Team, strong tea, I'm proud of us
to see is like the relief of seeing the nightbus
Flowers that last much longer than you expected and
the pillow day so you dont ever have to go to work again!
The English language- I would say youre a good read,
Your mothers cooking, planting seeds
Hammocks, snow, thunder, hail,
Beetle juice, Thunder Cats, christmas, ale,
The Beatles, scooters, colouring in and Spring, Hours, birthdays, dates
and pads that cover the shin
when youre rollerblading.
Acrobatics, dramatics, foodfights, my bedside light
Oh my God you make me laugh
My warm bath with plenty of bubbles that crackle like rice krispies
SNAP!
Ice cream, on the roller coaster
Picking the cheese off the inside of the toaster
coca cola with a marshmallow floater
dance for me- tap, anything ballet
float away like drunk from champagne-then drink to piss the night away-
then sleep in hands the whole next day
Sunshine in May, come to stay
ONE.TWO.THREE.Four.
Happy Days
You are the reason that I am weak.
Why I cant speak.
Now I sound like a fucking freak, I'm not, its just that
for the mind- you happen to be an absolute treat.
The mistakes in the background that not everyone has found
You are
treehouses and stuck in the mud
House of fun, steptoe and son, spaghetti
train journeys with a friend, 2CVs, Mercedes Benz-
Milkshakes and runaways to Peru,
Airwaves, softmint, juicy fruit.
The best ever cartoon
sunrays, breakaways, play days, computer games, bustamove,
party tunes, peteit filous and Timbuktu- make believe and
Fancy dress, hideaway den,
a crows nest, tea in bed.
My favourite song on the radio- the volume, the fastforward, the time to go.
Punk Music, RnB and electro,Pop, rock and roll, 2 step and disco-
lets go-to museums and waterparks
have a picnic in the park- in the dark,
play connect 4 on Tower Bridge or just walk through mazes...
or have you seen Labyrinth?
David Bowie- oh my gosh- he is sick yes?
Grapes from the fridge and mini-eggs,
3D glasses and Right Said Fred
French films, red wine
or Stars in Your Eyes-What would you sing?
What would you sing?
Rap, maps of the world, hot sand,
our land-before time-that bit when the mummy long-neck died
I cried.
Popcorn- salty or sweet? Mix in the maltesers as a treat
Four poster bed, you are a mansion, a house boat, a cave,a waterfall, you are glitter,
a looking glass, a know-it-all.
Popping bubble wrap, rearranging shelves and finding seashells,
old park bench and jellied eels,
You have made up your mind there is no going back.
You are soft seats, late night TV-walks on cliffs
and trampoline drunkness and fruit and good smelling shampoo
Pomegranate seeds, and crap tattoos
A-Team, strong tea, I'm proud of us
to see is like the relief of seeing the nightbus
Flowers that last much longer than you expected and
the pillow day so you dont ever have to go to work again!
The English language- I would say youre a good read,
Your mothers cooking, planting seeds
Hammocks, snow, thunder, hail,
Beetle juice, Thunder Cats, christmas, ale,
The Beatles, scooters, colouring in and Spring, Hours, birthdays, dates
and pads that cover the shin
when youre rollerblading.
Acrobatics, dramatics, foodfights, my bedside light
Oh my God you make me laugh
My warm bath with plenty of bubbles that crackle like rice krispies
SNAP!
Ice cream, on the roller coaster
Picking the cheese off the inside of the toaster
coca cola with a marshmallow floater
dance for me- tap, anything ballet
float away like drunk from champagne-then drink to piss the night away-
then sleep in hands the whole next day
Sunshine in May, come to stay
ONE.TWO.THREE.Four.
Happy Days
You are the reason that I am weak.
Why I cant speak.
Now I sound like a fucking freak, I'm not, its just that
for the mind- you happen to be an absolute treat.
15 minutes is all it takes.
We arrived twenty minutes early for the train. It was freezing cold. He waited with me for 5 minutes, and then left. So I had 15 minutes alone in the cold with no one to talk to and shivering. I know it sounds pathetic, and believe me I have had to endure far worse of course, but it is just another reason why I love 'camp' people. I'm not even sure what that term really means, and it is often impossible to describe what a 'camp' person is like to people who have not experienced it first hand. And it is not like we are all similar people at all, God you couldnt get a more diverse and crazier car crash of personalities if you tried...
Tommy with his love of trucks, trees, cutting things up and making new things out of them. His love of beer, snowboarding, biking. His hard and genuine hugs, his unshifting opinions. Locko, the grown up, who has never grown up. Who is the wildest person in the world when drunk and the kindest, quiet observer when not. A true motivator who is probably the easiest person in the world to persuade to do anything no matter how ridiculous it is. Sam- the most gadget loving, toy loving of the bunch. He loves his kitchen things, lollies, cake making, his coffee, his familiar comforts. Sharp witted, hilarious, fun, creative and silly. Has always wanted to settle down since I have ever known him, beaming from ear to ear now that he has with Nat (aah Nat). Cat- an adventurer, a lover of the outdoors. A carer to all and organiser of a chaotic bunch. Generous and sensitive. Taya- disconnected from reality pretty much all the time, and this makes him either the most magical person in the world, or the strangest. He is the true camp survivor, and embodies all of the camp experience. It has shaped him to be who is is in the truest sense, more than anyone else who has ever been there. Tepper- the genius amongst us, a number cruncher whose New York world will forever baffle the rest of us. But who dives into everything head first with a sparkle and adventure in his eyes even if he cant see the bottom. Who will be the first and last to make a million, thats if he hasnt already. Emily- Emily Emily. the girl who has probably touched more lives than I can ever fathom. Who makes friends with every person she passes. Whose sense of fun and laughter and affection and thought for others, leaves the greatest of impressions that people can never be released from. She is most 'extreme' and unforgettable. There are more wonderful people, I could go on all day. But this is a bunch of people whom I love so much- and all their traits are perfect, I have not intended to highlight their positives and negatives, just who they are to me as a diverse and complex person. I love them all... and I am forever trying to figure out why we all get on so well, why it works, why it feels so wonderful to be together when we are. Yet above all else... I know that it is for simple reasons....reasons such as the fact that every single one of those people would wait 15 minutes with me in the freezing cold for a train they werent going to catch.
I am truly blessed to have these people in my lives.
I think the thing that makes me so happy is to know that all these people and more will always be in my life- I will always be a part of them and they will always be a part of me. Our experiences with our friends will forever bind us, camp will always be engrained in my heart. I always dream of the days when Katy and Jon and their fun, humourous, ridiculously cool kids; Sam and Nat and their cute australian accented sproggs; Ems blonde water babies; Tayas sensitive and musical children; Locks wild and nutty little uns; Teppers mini geeks; Cats adventurous fire-building offspring; Toms wood-chopping mini muddier versions of him in plaid shirts; Sticks cool, calm and collected but oh so popular babes; Kent's little sensitive eco warrior rug rats with a fooked up London/NewJersey twang; Kovatch's curly haired, bum chinned Chicago Bear lovers (Bears or Cubs? argh cant remember); Tony's little curly haired sweetheart of a girl too- the one who will never leave his side because he loves her too much; Rachel Krol's ballerinas dainty and adorable; Danny's blonde, athletic, mini man-city supporters...are all at camp together creating their own memories whilst we 'adults' all play gatorball together on the sports field ignoring all of the rules, heated matches of shit talking cribbage in the kitchen, raiding the walk in and getting drunk at the wine and cheese nights singing songs and reminiscing by the fireplace. Dancing together in hideous costumes to the embarrassment of our children.
I am blessed to have you all in my life more than ever and I am so glad of any opportunity to get to spend with you. Camp, Seattle, Australia and whatever comes next. You are all amazing and I cant wait to know you forever.
And by the way- I will always wait 15 minutes for you.
Tommy with his love of trucks, trees, cutting things up and making new things out of them. His love of beer, snowboarding, biking. His hard and genuine hugs, his unshifting opinions. Locko, the grown up, who has never grown up. Who is the wildest person in the world when drunk and the kindest, quiet observer when not. A true motivator who is probably the easiest person in the world to persuade to do anything no matter how ridiculous it is. Sam- the most gadget loving, toy loving of the bunch. He loves his kitchen things, lollies, cake making, his coffee, his familiar comforts. Sharp witted, hilarious, fun, creative and silly. Has always wanted to settle down since I have ever known him, beaming from ear to ear now that he has with Nat (aah Nat). Cat- an adventurer, a lover of the outdoors. A carer to all and organiser of a chaotic bunch. Generous and sensitive. Taya- disconnected from reality pretty much all the time, and this makes him either the most magical person in the world, or the strangest. He is the true camp survivor, and embodies all of the camp experience. It has shaped him to be who is is in the truest sense, more than anyone else who has ever been there. Tepper- the genius amongst us, a number cruncher whose New York world will forever baffle the rest of us. But who dives into everything head first with a sparkle and adventure in his eyes even if he cant see the bottom. Who will be the first and last to make a million, thats if he hasnt already. Emily- Emily Emily. the girl who has probably touched more lives than I can ever fathom. Who makes friends with every person she passes. Whose sense of fun and laughter and affection and thought for others, leaves the greatest of impressions that people can never be released from. She is most 'extreme' and unforgettable. There are more wonderful people, I could go on all day. But this is a bunch of people whom I love so much- and all their traits are perfect, I have not intended to highlight their positives and negatives, just who they are to me as a diverse and complex person. I love them all... and I am forever trying to figure out why we all get on so well, why it works, why it feels so wonderful to be together when we are. Yet above all else... I know that it is for simple reasons....reasons such as the fact that every single one of those people would wait 15 minutes with me in the freezing cold for a train they werent going to catch.
I am truly blessed to have these people in my lives.
I think the thing that makes me so happy is to know that all these people and more will always be in my life- I will always be a part of them and they will always be a part of me. Our experiences with our friends will forever bind us, camp will always be engrained in my heart. I always dream of the days when Katy and Jon and their fun, humourous, ridiculously cool kids; Sam and Nat and their cute australian accented sproggs; Ems blonde water babies; Tayas sensitive and musical children; Locks wild and nutty little uns; Teppers mini geeks; Cats adventurous fire-building offspring; Toms wood-chopping mini muddier versions of him in plaid shirts; Sticks cool, calm and collected but oh so popular babes; Kent's little sensitive eco warrior rug rats with a fooked up London/NewJersey twang; Kovatch's curly haired, bum chinned Chicago Bear lovers (Bears or Cubs? argh cant remember); Tony's little curly haired sweetheart of a girl too- the one who will never leave his side because he loves her too much; Rachel Krol's ballerinas dainty and adorable; Danny's blonde, athletic, mini man-city supporters...are all at camp together creating their own memories whilst we 'adults' all play gatorball together on the sports field ignoring all of the rules, heated matches of shit talking cribbage in the kitchen, raiding the walk in and getting drunk at the wine and cheese nights singing songs and reminiscing by the fireplace. Dancing together in hideous costumes to the embarrassment of our children.
I am blessed to have you all in my life more than ever and I am so glad of any opportunity to get to spend with you. Camp, Seattle, Australia and whatever comes next. You are all amazing and I cant wait to know you forever.
And by the way- I will always wait 15 minutes for you.
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
So my Dad told me once that life is like a trip to Thorpe Park- and that to have a good life you have to learn to enjoy the queues as well as the rides. Jeez- what a cool thing to say. Dads arent usually cool but I think thats quite a good way to try and live. Whatever direction I take, or decisions I make I should try to enjoy it all- even the boring bits standing in line waiting for something exciting to happen.
So I suppose my way of doing that at the moment is to try and write a blog. I say 'try' because Ive never really written pubilically. And I think Im probably really quite boring! But I dont care right now- Id like to document my thoughts and feelings whether people are interested or not. And Im not going to excuse my inane ramblings again after this ( I have been known for my waffling!)...I just like the idea of exploring little moments, day to day life. And I think my main problem is that I'm always searching for whats next, next next next rather than just being at peace with the now- dwelling on and relishing the now. I think it will be my forever struggle. But at least Im trying.
So I suppose my way of doing that at the moment is to try and write a blog. I say 'try' because Ive never really written pubilically. And I think Im probably really quite boring! But I dont care right now- Id like to document my thoughts and feelings whether people are interested or not. And Im not going to excuse my inane ramblings again after this ( I have been known for my waffling!)...I just like the idea of exploring little moments, day to day life. And I think my main problem is that I'm always searching for whats next, next next next rather than just being at peace with the now- dwelling on and relishing the now. I think it will be my forever struggle. But at least Im trying.
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