Asher at overnight camp- the end

Benjamin took Asher's hand and stuck to his side

We got Asher today after 25 days apart. In his absence, we received 1 letter from him (he says it was 2, one was sent to Mommy & Daddy, one to Benjamin & Charlotte, and they said the exact same thing), so what he had done for 3.5 weeks was a complete mystery to us. We assumed he was having fun since he'd been too busy to write, and we hadn't received a single phone call from the camp about any problems.

We were so excited to drive up there and pick him up! My tummy had nervous butterflies as we got close because I couldn't wait to see him. When we pulled into the camp, he was standing on the porch of his cabin waiting for us, and he dashed down to greet us at the car. He started crying, and I teared up, too. I thought he must have really missed us! Finally he choked out that he had so much fun at camp, and didn't want to go home.

Asher with his counselors and CIT

Asher was completely packed, and we loaded up his bags, and he gave us a tour of his cabin and the camp. Benjamin and Charlotte were so excited to see him, and they wouldn't step away from his side. He showed us around the campus, and told us about what they did in the different areas. He seemed to love the traditions and the rituals. Asher said all of his bunkmates were nice, and everyone got along. He knew 2 of the boys from his Hebrew school class already, and made good friends with another boy. Pretty quickly after getting to the camp and seeing how much Asher loved it, Benjamin said he wanted to go next year. I am not sure how I will survive with both of my boys gone next year, but I have 48 weeks to prepare. And of course Charlotte is already counting down the years until she can go, too.

When we drove away from the camp, we headed to a Phillies game. The ride was about 1 hour and 40 minutes, and Asher talked the whole way about his adventures at camp. Charlotte would periodically interrupt him and say, "Asher, are you still talking?" We heard about his trip to the state park, to Dorney Park, the color wars they had in camp, what kind of food they served in the dining hall, the night they snuck out of the cabin, and so on.

Sunny at the baseball game

We saw the Phillies play the San Diego Padres, and had thought it would be cool and cloudy. Wrong! Hot and sunny. Eric made us leave in the 7th inning because he was getting overheated. I have to go back again another day, without him, so I can stay. Also without Charlotte, who whined nonstop.

She won't let go of him!

We welcomed him home with Eric's homemade pizza, and a cake I had baked. Asher said he was happy to sleep in his own bed, but I think he missed all his friends and his counselors. He said he was glad to have gotten a vacation from his little sister, but that vacation is over now- she won't leave him alone! We had to peel her off of him tonight at bedtime.

I have very mixed feelings myself- on the one hand, I am delighted that he had such an overwhelmingly positive experience, and that he feels a part of a special place in a way I never have. I could not have asked for a better overnight camp experience for him. On the other hand, it is very hard for him to have an entire part of his life that I will never be a part of. I know that this is how it goes, and as he gets older, he will have more and more of his own places and things, but this is the first. I have always been a part of his school and known his teachers, met his friends and hosted them at our house, but he now has a group of friends I will probably never know, and an important piece of his life that I will never experience. It is one more milestone in watching him grow up- these milestones seem to creep up but then fly past.