The Special Love Blog

If I've learned one thing from the time I've spent at Special Love and Camp Fantastic, it's that sometimes you just have to know when to get out of the way. So it shouldn't be any surprise that I've let wiser heads (and younger hearts) prevail when it came to posting on Special Love's blog, That said, it's now a year and a half later and the stars have aligned to where I feel compelled to finally make an appearance blog-wise. Today is "Giving Tuesday" and I feel the need to give back to an organization that has given me so much.

One of camp's most bittersweet moments is the time when we have to say goodbye to a camper who's passed out of eligability.  In order to make room for new campers facing the challenges and hardship of a new diagnosis we must turn away old friends who've finished their treatment and gone three years without relapse or recurrance.  We hate to see them leave but are glad to know that they can go.  Eligable to attend or not, however, they will aways be part of our camp family.

It is not that "at Camp Fantastic, the checkups just happen to be bookended by canoe rides, archery lessons, dance classes and a carnival," but that, "at Camp Fantastic canoe rides, archery lessons, dance classes, and carnivals just happen to be bookended by medline."

This is my third year of camp and it gets better each time.  This year I’m with the teenagers for the first time and it is a whole lot of fun.  I already have a great group of friends that I love hanging out with.

My name is Tawney and this is my eighth year at camp. Camp Fantastic is a get-away from it all. Here campers don’t have to worry about anything. From the staff to the activities everyday is an adventure, every day is a smile.

Each day is a adventure. Kids laugh and play.  There are many different activities to choose from. It's like it's your family. At Camp Fantastic, it's like you're free. Everyone is a team.

I am a bad singer. Like tone-deaf-nails-on-chalkboard crazy bad. When I was in high school, the family joke was that I was asked to sing solo…you know, so low that no one could hear me. Singing in public fills me with fear similar to sitting at the top of a rollercoaster with no seatbelt.

 

And here I am at a camp where everyone is encouraged to lead songs. Hmmm.