I just got back from camp yesterday evening, and I had the best time. I went to Camp SteppingStone, which is a camp for kids with arthritis or other joint diseases, and it was great seeing everyone again, plus I got to make some new friends.
Of course, Nicole Aldape (she's my best friend, as you already know by now) and I spent as much time together as we possibly could, and during our week, we played games, sang camp songs around the campfire, roasted marshmallows (but I didn't eat any; I HATE marshmallows! YUCK!!), told ghost stories (Nicole told one that still gives me the creeps even now; I am afraid to go to sleep at night because of her stupid ghost story; she told one about a hairy and gigantic spider that fed on people's brains when they are asleep, and the thing gave me willies! BRRRR!!), did arts'n'crafts, and wrote letters home in case we got homesick (I did the first day; wrote a letter to maman and daddy that night!).
It was nice going to Camp SteppingStone because even though we kids had arthritis or other joint problems that affected our walking or doing things, we still acted like normal kids, and most of the time we forgot about our troubles. We acted silly a lot of the time, and I even managed to get into the act when I put shaving cream on Michaela Ross' pillow before she came to bed, and when she put her head on her pillow, all she got was a face full of shaving cream. Of course, we all laughed (me, especially), but then she (Michaela) got mad at me when Nicole narced on me and told her, "Ronee' Reaux did it!" She came after me, but I was too fast for her; and I would have gotten away hadn't I rammed my face into the wall. I still have a big bruise on my forehead, and my nose still looks like a potato; it is still quite swollen, and it hurts like hell.
When maman saw my face, she got all upset, but I told her I would be okay; I just ran into the wall was all because I was trying to get away from Michaela. When maman asked me what I had done, I told her about the shaving cream, and she just rolled her eyes and shook her head as she looked at me.
While we may have had a lot of fun at camp, we still had to take our medications, and there were doctors and nurses made available, in case anyone had any trouble, in which a few of the kids did. Tonee'a Bradshaw had a bad asthma attack and had to go to the emergency room when she had a lot of trouble breathing (I could sympathize with her; I have asthma myself, and I know what she was going through), and Ida Evans had a flare and also had to go to the hospital when she fell and couldn't get back up because she was in so much pain. For once, I didn't have any problems, but I made sure I had my Epi-Pen with me, in case a stupid bee decided to sting me (I am highly allergic), but thank God, no bees bothered me. And my arthritis behaved itself for the MOST part (a few mornings were spent soaking in the bathtub, so I could get moving around easier; most mornings I am quite stiff, and it takes a while for my joints to unwind).
The weather was nice, partly cloudy most days, but on the last day (yesterday), it rained a little, and I was hurting pretty good, but I wasn't flaring, and once my pills took effect, I was okay. The temperatures were in the 80's to lower 90's, not too bad. At least it didn't rain every day, like it did last year; last year's camp experience was NOT good for me. I was flaring big time, and I was pretty miserable.
Now I am home, and I think I am going to spend the next few days SLEEPING! But I can't wait 'til next year; I always enjoy camping at Camp SteppingStone, and I always enjoy being with my friends! And besides, I don't feel so alone, because all the other kids there have the same thing I do, and so we can understand just what each other is going through, in terms of chronic pain or their joints (or even surgery, which I had a few months back; I had my knee replaced, and right now, I am doing very well. I am just about healed now).
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Reviewed by Tony Nerone
8/25/2003
Wonderful read of such true compassion, Karen. I truly enjoy your work!
This book was written for children to stress the importance of being able to choose who gets to hug or touch them and being able to say NO if they don't want to be hugged or touched.
