The Sari Diaries- Monday 7/13/15

Dear Diary,

Today has been a fun but wacky day at #TheRanch2015. It was supposed to be UN Day but it rained all night and was forecasted to thunderstorm through today so it got postponed until tomorrow. It ended up being great weather though and we got to have regular activities! I was up on the ropes course, got around the lake on one ski for the first time (I have been trying for two years!) and played on the Splashmat in swimming.

The real excitement started this afternoon during announcements after lunch. Cliff was telling us about this tennis tournament that he was playing in and his opponent was Sarah S. He told us all that he had been practicing and that we should come watch the match after fifth period. Sarah S is a camper in Trailriders and I knew she was a really good tennis player but I had no clue what was in store after fifth!

I headed to the tennis courts to find Cliff, Sophie and Sari all out there playing against Sarah, Jessi F and Lily S. Their tennis skills were impressive and it was cool to watch them play! About halfway through the matches, Hannah Simon called Cliff, Sari and Sophie into a huddle. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about but the next thing we knew, Hannah announced that if all three campers won that the whole camp was going to get to go to Cathy’s. With Cathy’s on the line, everyone was cheering for Sarah, Lily and Jessi. First Jessi won, next was Sarah and as the rain started to come down, Lily pulled through for the entire camp!

As soon as the matches were over, the rain really started. We all ran to dinner and had tacos. At the end of the meal, Cliff got on the microphone and explained that he thought he should have won and because of that, Cathy’s was off. We all started screaming, “Cliff in the lake!” The male staff ran to the front of the lodge, grabbed Cliff and we followed them outside towards the lake. He was thrown in but still wasn’t giving in to the All-Camp Cathy’s. He told us that Sari and Sophie agreed that we shouldn’t go and then they got thrown in the lake too! It was so funny to watch them swimming in the rain. As they jumped off the green raft (before giving in to Cathy’s), a huge and bright rainbow came out behind them. It was a beautiful sight and may have even been a bigger highlight than getting to go to Cathy’s.

Overall, today was incredible. Yes, I was happy to get my Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream, but more than that, I felt constantly cheerful and privileged to spend my time in this weird but accepting and entertaining environment for the summer. I honestly cannot imagine that there is anywhere else in the world that a day can consist of all of the pure joy that happens here!

Okay, that’s all for tonight diary. I am sad that some of my cabinmates are leaving in a few days but I will write more on that later.

Love,
Your Happy Camper