The Sari Diaries - Monday 8/6/18

Dearest Chippies,

Well, this is it. The final week of #TheRanch2018… I write to you this evening with a pit in my stomach. You’d think I’d expect it by now, but it takes me by surprise and hits me like a ton of bricks every year. You know, that inevitable realization that summer doesn’t last forever and our time here is finite. Ugh… I’m mad at myself for even going here.

Let me backtrack for a minute and talk about what an amazing day today was. Then I’ll get all sentimental on you.

First of all, I apologize for surprising you on a day that isn’t Thursday. It’s throwing me for just as big a loop as it is for you, trust me. But if it’s any consolation, today was a seriously awesome day that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to share with you. So at least we have that going for us.

Today was the last full day of regular activities. All across camp, campers were taking advantage of their final opportunities to get across the ropes course, get up on skis and sail around Dam Lake. Throughout the day, many campers came running into the office to share accomplishments with me. Ava L trotted and jumped 2 jumps at riding, Hope F went down the zipline and Ryan S got up and around the lake on one ski. In a full circle kind of way, these last minute achievements act as a reminder of a summer’s worth of hard work and determination. Talk about time well spent!

Tonight’s evening program was Staff Show. As usual, the display of talent was overwhelming, however, what I always love most about this night is the pure happiness that exudes from the theater as counselors are up on stage dancing and singing their hearts out. One of the coolest parts about camp is that in our love for this place and what it stands for, we fall into a level of comfort and routine that can sometimes overshadow the marvel of it all. But at the same time, the contagious energy and genuine bliss that underlie moments like tonight’s program are what we crave during the off-season. I guess what I’m trying to say is that sitting in the audience, looking up on stage at beaming faces of the people whose hard work makes this place what it is, I felt lucky and grateful for everything the past seven-plus weeks have given me. For the “what is going on?!” moments, the “I have too much work to do” moments, to the “this is crazy” moments, the moments of laughter and excitement and growth and everything in between. I think I can speak for everyone who was in that theater tonight when I say that #TheRanch2018 has not disappointed. As we enter into our final days of this summer, we still have many more opportunities to make this summer the best it can possibly be. That is what I will hold onto as I try to combat this pit in my stomach for just a liiiiittle bit longer.

And with this, I close out my 2018 Sari Diaries journey. It has been a blast sharing the past several Thursdays with you all, and I look forward to the many more we will hopefully share with one another in the summers to come.

Sincerely,
Soph Aloaf