Even When It Rains We Play

There’s a line in our signature song, “Thank you Lord, for Alpine”, that says “Even when it rains we play”.  This afternoon the skies opened up and we received desperately needed rain.  A deluge, or a toad strangler, as my father in law says.  The rain started about midway through Rest Hour after lunch.

Frankly, it could not have come at a more perfect time.  We have been blessed to not miss one period this entire term for rain.  It’s been really hot the last few days and this afternoon was a timely reprieve.  We have rainy day game boxes in every cabin area.  Boys and counselors played Apples to Apples, Ticket to Ride, Mafia, and various other games in cabins.  Other boys read or chatted with a buddy.  I’m told some of the Chiefs took a long, long nap - one of the joys of adolescence.

Late afternoon the rain subsided and Richard (our program director) announced that boys could venture out of cabins, with counselors.  Each cabin had some free time.  Young boys built dams and played in the water of wet weather streams as it washed downhill toward the river.  Older boys could be found on the fields throwing frisbees and footballs with their counselors and buddies.  Some were having so much fun playing board games that they chose to stay in cabins and finish those out.

This evening we dined on lasagna, buttered toast, mixed green salad.  I love Mrs. Gail’s lasagna - she has just the perfect mix of cheese and meat and it always comes on the table piping hot.

The rain has cooled things off significantly.  It feels like a cool Mountain evening should feel.  After dinner there were some foggy mountain clouds rising up over the canyon created by the river.  Boys participating in Glee Club headed to the gym for a big rehearsal.  Tomorrow night’s the big night!  We’ll have one final rehearsal tomorrow afternoon.  Then after dinner we’ll board school buses to ride across the Mountain (about 7 miles) to Desoto.  The girls will sing first.  They sing in the round, from the balcony that wraps all the way around Desoto’s beautiful cypress and mountain stone gym.  I love watching the boys’ eyes as they hear these angelic voices singing from above.  Then we’ll take the stage and put on our show!

Tonight we ended our day with an age old Alpine tradition, Council Ring.  It is a campfire ceremony that dates back to the start of camp.  This is the night we recognize and honor our 2nd year chiefs for their contributions to camp.  It’s their last year as campers and this is a special way to say thanks.  We also had a little fun at the ceremony, entertained by some of our theatrical staff as the Spirit Men.

It’s been a great day at Alpine with the perfect balance of full blast activity this morning and a nice break this afternoon and evening.

Thanks for reading and good night for now,

Glenn