Since last weekend I have been completely addicted to watching the Olympics – I can’t even begin to think about how many hours have been spent watching sports that I never knew were more exciting than watching grass grow!
I have seen alpine, curling, biathalon, short track speed skating, long track speed skating, all sorts of speed skating, luge, snowboard cross, half pipe, pairs figure skating, men’s figure skating, alpine jumping – long jump and short jump, cross country…and the list goes on and we aren’t even half done yet…I assume I will spend many more hours glued to this once every four years event.
Anyway, so as I was sitting there last night watching Lindsey Vonn take the gold and the Shawn White catch more air than any human should, I starting thinking to myself, why am I so compelled to watch this – why I am so addicted to it?
And then it hit me – the Olympics…it’s just like camp!Let me explain!
Sitting there, watching the Olympics makes me feel like I am a part of it – like from my couch, I am part of Team USA…it’s really cool feeling like I am a part of something bigger than myself – that is exactly how I feel about camp. All of us at camp are a part of something bigger than ourselves – it’s pretty great feeling knowing that fact!
Ok but beyond that, what are the comparisons…well let’s start with the opening ceremonies…that’s like the first day of camp, ok we don’t introduce countries but we introduce bunks…and we even have a torch presenting moment where we present the torch to our seniors!
What else…well the campers – they are like the athletes, they have many goals they want to achieve by the end but without their coaches, or in our case – the staff…they wouldn’t be able to get where they are or achieve these goals. Our campers rely on our staff just as much as the athletes rely on their coaches. Ok so I have campers and staff…so where do I fit in? Good question – and don’t worry, I have an answer. I think that I am one of the producers of the TV portion of the Olympics – so you won’t see me on TV and my name won’t be up in lights, but I am the reason that everything is running so smoothly and why we are able to get all the bits that make up the Olympics on TV and for the viewer to see exactly what he or she wants to see. I would put Alicia in that category as well. So Jim…Beigette…who are they? Clearly they are the master of ceremonies…or in this case, they are the Olympic Committee…the IOC – they are the brains behind everything and the reason that we are all there!
Have I taken this too far yet? There’s more. Watching all the different events and having so many things going on at once – that’s like us at camp. We have tons of activities going on at the same time and there is always a story to be told someplace…it’s a controlled chaos in a way. But we love it.
I seriously could go on…but I think you are starting to see the comparisons and probably coming up with some of your own.
What I am now realizing is that in the Olympics – we can find comparisons of what we do at camp…the feeling of being a part of something that is bigger than all of us, the great sense of accomplishment when our campers achieve their goals, and as the athletes are all good friends…so are we …that sense of community, that sense of family – we feel it at camp just as it can be felt at the Olympics. But more than anything, I think I am glued to the TV becuause I long to be back at camp – I am tired of the cold and the snow of winter and just wishing the summer to come sooner. I want to have that feeling that we get when we are at camp, sooner…I am ready!
In the Olympics they said, “Let the Games Begin!” Well I say, “Let the Summer Begin”
Bring on the Games of Harrison 2010!!!
-Marran
