eatthefrostingfirst

Spent a few hours today at the beach. Feet in sand. Collecting my heart shaped rocks. Basking in the sound of the waves and the conversations surrounding me. To my left was a couple; middle age (shit- I AM MIDDLE AGED) not talking to each other. All good. Just enjoying their silent time was my guess. To their left was a large group of 30 something's with their young children ranging in age from 5 months- 4 years (you know, if I had to take a guess). Oh I miss those days. The snuggles with the 4 month old who only wants to sleep on his mom's shoulder. But this mother would not leave the 4 month old be. Every time he started to snooze she took a towel to his face to wipe off the sand. Cry. Cry. Sleep. Until she had to rearrange his sun hat. Cry. Cry. Sleep. Nope. More sand on the face. New Mom- have you not heard of never wake a sleeping baby? 4 year old twins cute as can be. Playing in the sand together. Giggling up a storm. Until brother twin wailed

Dear Youngest Son It was so great seeing you on visiting day at camp. I remember our first visiting day when I dropped my bag to run to hug you and you ran away from me. The counselor literally chased you around the bunk to have you come say hello to me. I promised you I would never do that to you again and I have held up my end of the bargain but throw your Mother a little hug after 3 1/2 weeks, would you? I'm glad you were happy with the loads of junk food we provided you. It's unimaginable how you go 24 days without consuming that much sugar on a daily basis so I know your growing teen body is craving the gummy worms, bears, snakes and cherries that we provided you.  Thank you for thanking me but "letting" me change your sheets for you. It was comforting to know that you had already changed them at least once this past session. I found it interesting you said you had no room in your cubbies for your clothes. I totally got it once I opened them up and saw

A few years back someone wrote a hysterical blog post called "the running of the jews". It was an amusing and sadly, real, view of what visiting day is like at jewish overnight camps. Back in the day (yes, I'm totally and officially old) we remained in our bunks until the whistle blew. And not a moment before. We were not allowed to roam free throughout the camp while our parents lined the road (not passing the imaginary barrier) in anticipation of the whistle. Flashback to Bunk 11(age 11) and Donna Summer was blaring on the radio. Pre- whistle. My friend S and I totally remember what happened next... Toot toot..ahh..beep beep Donna Summer blew the whistle and a bunch of 11 year olds started to run. DO NOT PASS GO- THIS WAS NOT THE OFFICIAL WHISTLE. We waited like caged animals, staring out of the grid screen door seeing if we could catch a glimpse of a parent. The real whistle would blow and 250+ kids would go running out from their bunks. Parents li

My babies As much as it pains me to say this (gulp) my babies are growing into young men. I cant even say men and my kids names in the same sentence but clearly father time isn't listening to me so .. they continue to age. I miss their chubby thighs and the way they used to do the penny dance at bedtime (a made up version of a dance when they filled their piggy banks with pennies) I miss snuggle time while watching Mr Noodle. And my silliness which made them giggle. (Now my silliness just makes them roll their eyes) But there are advantages clearly to the aging thing. Mainly. no more wiping their butts and noses (Who am I kidding? I often still need to remind them of their noses) And I dont need babysitters. So as my boys turn into young men I have so much I wish for them. (I would love to hear your hopes . Please add them in the comment section!) I hope... I hope you c

It has been nearly an ideal perfect weather week here in Boston. It would've been nice if ideal perfect weather week would've been last week when I was working at camp. Because although camp week was perfectly amazing I perfectly stuck to my clothes for 5 days straight with the extreme humidity. But okay. This week. Near perfect. I sat on my patio today. Dog by my side. Freakin black crows not shutting up in my yard. (Adorable dog even annoyed) Slight breeze. All was perfect in the moment. (Other than the crows) And I thought how crazy it is that 365 days ago  my life was far from perfect. I had peach fuzz filled spikes of hair (with gray) (lots of gray) growing back slowly. I was mentally and physically spent from chemo. I was in the midst of radiation, covered with radiation burns. I had no energy. And was sad quite a bit. Which, of course, made sense. But today, in my perfect moment, I'm feeling a bit perplexed. Some say it's called survi

Man talking loudly on cell phone. Annoying all surrounding him (assumption) (Because I was annoyed)  Sign directly in front of him, of course; reading : "please refrain from cell phone use" Beautifully dressed, well manicured woman in long black sleek maxi dress. Took off shoes and tucked feet under her on waiting room couch. Feet were definitely NOT as clean as the rest of her was. #barefeetdontbelonginwaitingrooms Man on cell phone making call number 2.  Am I seriously the only one annoyed by this? Surely you can excuse yourself into the hallway. Back to school supplies being advertised. It's July 12th. Please just let me at least enjoy July. My back yard looks like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. We have been attacked by black crows. Who sing. Or talk. A  lot. Dog and I have a new summer game. Chase the chipmunk under the basketball hoop stand. And then sit there until it comes out. Fun for days. (Wish she would chase the crows) I can almost ma

When I was a new parent... Online pictures are up on the camp website. I know this because I have been checking every hour. Or maybe every 5 minutes. I flip by them quickly looking for my kid. No kid. I then go back and observe each one. I am certain I found his left knee. I know this because I honed it on it via my phone and saw that it was his shoe. I then saw their friends. Why isn't he in the photo with the friends? Entire age group photo. Searching for his shirt/hair color/colored bathing suit. I am certain I found him. Yes that is definitely my kid kicking a ball. Looking as big as an ant. What is with that look on his face? Is that an unhappy look or I'm so freaking hot look? Day 2. Midnight. Finally the photos are up! I've been waiting all night. Who could sleep? A picture. Smiling. He looks sunburnt already. I hope he is being reminded to apply suntan lotion. Day 3. Group picture. Smiling kid. With friends. OMG they look so ha

I've posted numerous times how much camp has meant to me through the years. How I've met my most bestest friends there (not even a slight exaggeration) How I can remember more memories from my summers at camp than I can remember the reason why I went into the next room. How it really formed so much of who I am today. And youngest; following suit. I love that he couldn't sleep the night before he left to be with his summer family. That leaving his school friends wasn't the least bit sad because he knew what was in store for him in the upcoming 7 weeks. I love that I'm seeing him make life lasting memories. LIFE LASTING. But today Today was a different camp experience for me. Today was day one of volunteering as a co-director of a week long day camp. I have been fortunate enough to have found another camp which has already tugged at my insides. For the last 9 months I have been involved in planning and organizing 5 days of awesomeness for a non- profi