The Place that Changes Lives...also known as Camp Erin

2008 marks the fourth year of Camp Erin in Portland, OR.



To find out how Camp Erin was started, click here



Many people don't believe in coincidences. I am one of them. It was by fate that I got started with this.



I worked at Providence while getting my Master's degree. My friend was out on maternity leave having her darling girls and I was checking her emails with her permission of course! I ran across an email and the subject read: Camp Erin. Hmm...I love me a good camp! So I opened it! Little did I know then, that was the beginning of a journey that would take me places I never imagined. The email stated there was a meeting for a camp that was being started for grieving children. Hmm...I like children and I may know about grieving...I'm just sayin!



SIDENOTE: I don't LIKE to do things alone that are scary...but I often do them anyway! The motto "feel the fear and do it anyway." So



I went to the meeting. As I was signing in I was approached by a lady I sat next to at Orientation for Providence. She was in charge of the entire Camp. Hmm...another twist of fate.



I sat down, kind of scared. It seemed as though most people knew each other. They probably didn't but it seemed that way.



Next, Jamie came to sit next to me. She introduced herself and told me I looked familar and wanted to know if I had connections to the Dougy Center. HELLO!!! I starred in a few of the videos made for that place! People should be asking for autographs! She recognized me from one of those videos...NICE!



As the meeting went on, I got more and more excited to be a part of this organization. This was an amazing place and I NEEDED to be a part of. Within 5 minutes, I decided that MiMi (my mom) needed to be there too.



The rest is history. I just finished my fourth year at Camp Erin as a Lead Big Buddy. Don't forget that LEAD part...it means, Candy and Laura get to ask me EVERYTHING and leave the HARD decisions to me as well as I get to carry the walkie talkie...FABULOUS!



Some things about Camp Erin that I heart...



-All campers get a handmade quilt and bear on their bunks when they arrive to take home at the end of the weekend.

-All campers make a quilt square in memory of their loved one that has passed. The quilt is put together by our very own Camp Erin Quilter and ready for the kids to see Sunday morning. Bless Karen's heart for staying up ALL NIGHT to get it done.

-A luminary ceremony takes place Saturday night in memory of their loved ones. Each child makes a paperbag luminary decorated in rememberance and then set on a raft in the pond. It is was of the most amazing things you will ever see.

-Candy and I are the "feature" entertainers...or at least we like to think we are. We do a "dueling toothbrushes" skit that the kids talk about for hours! Probably days!

-Campers are spoiled rotten by us!

-There is a waterslide to die for! (no pun intended...I HAD TO!)



We usually accept 48 campers. Statistics show that 1 in every 20 kids will experience the death of a loved one before high school graduation. There is a HUGE need for kids to experience this camp. There is ALWAYS a waiting list to get in. The goal of Jamie Moyer is to have one of these camps in AT LEAST every major league baseball city in the US. GO MOYERS!

Little short dude...Little Nicky

So this being my second day in 1st grade, I am still on "stress mode". I got what I needed today...a little "advice". Although the advice wasn't for me. I just overheard it.

Today, Little Nicky and I were sitting at his desk working on the math sheet.

SIDENOTE: BTW, I was sure Little Nicky ) was going to be the smartest in the class. He was coming from the Very Prestigious school down the road and my previous experiences with those nuggets show me they are the smartest kids in town! I was nervous because Lovely MOMS seem to push push push if their kid needs to be "challenged" but most of the time they can't sit on the carpet long enough to listen so we work on that before we "challenge" our prestigious children. Little Nicky did a writing sample for me yesterday...the kid can't write to save his life!!! BEST DAY EVER!!!! Know it all Little Nicky is an L. No need for me to tell you what an L is...you will find out soon enough.

Back to the story: Little Nicky and I are doing math and G-man stands up across from us...marches over to the stoplight and says very loud, "I am moving the clothespin to red, because I am DUMB and STUPID and those people go to red!"
"DUDE!", I say. "Slow down, come talk to me."
Turns out he was upset at his dad because his dad had yelled at him. I have no thoughts in my head that dad happened to mention some of the above words...LOSER DAD!
Little Nicky leans over to G-man and says, "I know THE solution to your problem! Just pray for your dad! It will make it all better!"

MELT MY HEART LITTLE Nicky!!!!

G-man doesn't really know what to think...and walks away.

Good Coffee...

Since the beginning of my teaching career (two whole years ago!) I have come down with approximately 8 cases of strep...YES I said 8!!!! Tonsils were ugly! This summer we pulled those bad boys out! I mean...I didn't do it myself or anything! My hottie tonsil doctor did it. It was dreadful, but lovely all at the same time!

Anyway, I have had my share of substitutes in the past. One in particular is a parent from my first year teaching and become a friend of mine. The day after she subbed one time last year she emailed me this note. I have copy and pasted below word for word. She has the kid's name wrong so I didn't change it.

Hi M. - I forgot to tell you something funny that happened yesterday. The (PM) kids were all really excited about painting their pumpkins, doing their best, etc - I'd been keeping an eye on Brandon(?? not sure of his name, he is tall, has very short blond hair, sits at the 1/2 table by the wall furthest from the door) anyway - I'd just talked to him about wrestling with a couple other kids, and wanted to make sure he was on task, but he was doing a great job, painting bright greens and blues, concentrating. I looked back at him a minute later and he was sipping his paint water with an expression like he was savoring a good cup of coffee, with a green paint moustache from drinking it. Ack!!

I hope you are feeling better!

A.

Oh the joys of teaching! This ladies and gentlemen is what keeps me funny!

I want to be the next Mrs. Fletcher!!!

This week it is back to the grind! Well, kind of. No kids, but our butts are in school hustling around those hallways like it is our first teaching job! Does it ever get easier? I am convinced that it will...someday.



We reported back Monday with a lovely convocation as usual provided by the superintendent. Shall I say...Mr. Superintendent of the Year. That's right people!!! I work for him! I felt a tear come on when I heard that...then I realized a dust particle flew into my eye.
It was a lovely little shindig, complete with the choir HE is so proud of and all. It was actually not as bad as the last two years. I am not sure how they pulled that one off. Anyway, we had a great speaker, Aaron Davis that really said some things that were moving. Main idea: family first, you don't need to spend all your life at school. Be great at school, but be amazing at home. I must get better at that. Note to self: I think he was talking specifically to me. Not that I have a family, but really do I need to spend most waking hours in A-7? I don't think so!



Tuesday...oh wait that was today. We had a retreat planned by our fearless leader. I will call him Stewie. I can't disclose all this info and give their name out!!!who do you think I am??? I wonder if he will like his chosen name. I will ask!

So we were all a little apprehensive (I can't think of a smarter word) about this "retreat" thingy. We had gotten lost on the way one time and pulling up to pick up Shuggie and then into the parking lot, Crazy Kindy was yelling "retreat! wahoo! retreat!" She is a nut! Her and Shuggie are a WHOLE post in themselves! More on them later.

Within the first hour of our retreat, Stewie had us balling. Yes that is right folks...MegPie was balling!!! I know I know, BIG surprise right??? (I cry all the time for those of you who don't know me!)

Let me give you some info that Stewie shared today.



1) Stewie's daughter (12ish years old, I think) has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis which she recently (two years ago) had a bad relapse with.



2) Stewie's sister died last year of breast cancer



3) Stewie's father in law was just re-diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and doesn't seem like it will get better.



4) I HEART STEWIE!!! Wait...WE ALL HEART STEWIE!!!



After Stewie shares all of this with us. Wait wait wait...let me tell you that our last year's fearless leader, I will call her "Mrs. Fine is a Choice", NEVER shared any personal info with us, therefore we were in no way shape or form connected with her. It seemed to have caused a lot of communication barriers. Stewie has us share some life things later in the morning which was great to hear about other people. EVERYONE has a story that is incredible...LISTEN!!!!



Stewie's last comment was this:



"I was adopted. When I was seven, my mom and dad got divorced. I had two sisters. We were in court one day with our parents. Judge Green brought me into his chambers and asked who I wanted to live with. As a seven year old, I had to make the toughest decision of my life. I chose dad, and I knew I had broken mom's heart. I had worn my nice "court" clothes and had packed school clothes in my bag, knowing I would be dropped off at school after court. I had forgotten to pack tennis shoes so I had to wear my "shiny shoes" (he didn't know the words, patton leather! so cute, I could squeeze his cheeks!)
Here I was, walking in late with my jeans and "shiny shoes" on. The kids all laughed at the shoes. They also had no idea what I had just gone through. My teacher, Mrs. Fletcher, called me over to her desk and it was like a miracle! She opened her drawer and there were a pair of tennis shoes just my size! I will never forget her."

I will give you a minute to grab some kleenex!

He freakin shed a tear and Sally Sad Sack here was balling into my shirt sleeve. I look up and see half our staff stone faced (not surprising really!) and then the other half also balling. I love a good ball in the morning! =) Especially at retreat thingys!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) brings the CHILDREN! They will come with their little tanned faces and their summer attire, with supplies in hand! The parents will complain the supplies cost too much, or they couldn't find this item, or they bought the wrong kind of this...It will be a glorious day! I can't wait to see my little amigos!

Love,
MegPie

The story of who I am...and who I have come to be...

You are about to partake in a journey. One that no one wants to be on, but there are no choices like this in life. We must take what we are handed to us, and handle it the best we can or know how. I think I did that very thing....I think.

November 4th, 2000

I awoke to my cell phone ringing. It was 8:30am Monday morning. I had stayed up extremely late studying for a test with my friend Dusty. "Hello?" I said.

"Meghan! Your sister's been in a car accident. I don't know how bad it is. Nannie and I are leaving now for the airport, we will call you when we get to Atlanta.

"MOM! MOM!" I screamed to get her to stop.

"Mom I can't get there that fast!"

"We will call you when we get there," she repeated.

"Mom, what happened?"

"I don't know, here is the name and number to the hospital. Her nurses name is Lynn. I will call you when we get there!"

I hung up. What in the world had just happened? I was definitely dreaming. Wait...no I wasn't.

I screamed at the top of my lungs. Nothing. I picked up my phone and called my friend Lisa. At the time, she was living in Portland.

"Lisa," I screamed, "my sister was in a car accident and it's really bad!"

"Meghan, Meghan its going to be okay."

"No! NO! It's not! I don't think she is okay!"

That was how the morning started. My new roommate came into my room shortly afterwards. She offered to take me to Portland instead of going to class that day. I declined because I wouldn't make it in time to get on the flight with my mom and nannie. I sat and waited and waited and waited. I am not sure to this day what I was waiting for. But I kept waiting. I soon went into survival mode. I took a shower. I packed a bag. I am not sure what the bag was for. Where was I going? Maybe to Portland, but as of then I wasn't going anywhere. I wanted a nice outfit in there too. I convinced myself I could go take my test and then be back by the time my mom called. My roommate convinced me that was not the best idea I had ever had and offered to talk to the professor.

I had the thought of calling all my sister's friends. They needed to know. Afterall, I am not sure if any of them knew. I can't remember exactly who I had to call, but the one I do remember is Heather.

Heather worked for President Clinton at the time in the White House. How in the world would I get a hold of her? I don't think the white house is listed in the yellow pages. I decided an email would be okay for now until I found her number.

Dear Heather,

Steph's been in an accident. please call me asap!

Meghan

My phone rang 2 seconds later, literally.

I explained to Heather what I knew. I told her I was scared and she assured me she would get some information. She called her sources, my now darling friend AC (from my GA trip) to get the scoop. AC and Heather had spent some time together earlier that summer with Steph in D.C.

Not much of that day is clear to me. I know I woke up at 8:30 and Steve took me to lunch around 2:00...I think. Who could eat at a time like this? I remember sitting there, drinking water...staring at my phone, hoping and praying that it would AND would not ring. I needed an update, but did I want one?

My mom's shop called shortly after returning home. They had fantically called the neighbor to get my cell phone number. Please keep in mind that at this point, I had plans to return to Portland, but nothing from there. Janelle from mom's shop called to tell me they had pooled their money together at the shop to send me to Atlanta. I was very very thankful.

Mrs. Shealy called later in the day. She had heard word that I was scared and concerned so she wanted to reassure me that Steph was okay and she would keep me posted throughout the night. She would pick my mom and nannie up from the airport and have them call asap.

Lisa and her dad came to get me about 4:30pm. The whole ride was quiet. I thought I would be sick. I made Lisa's dad pullover at the rest stop near Canby as I was fearful of getting sick in the car. I made it home and Jason came to take me to get some dinner. Once again, I didn't eat. I answered phone calls and made phone calls. We left Applebee's and went to my grandmother's knowing that my whole family was there. Everyone was concerned and worried. Aunt Sue and Uncle Mike stated they would make the trip to Atlanta as well. Grandma handed me some cash and said, please call when you get there.

Jason had somewhere to be so he dropped me off at Ryan's so I could sit with him and his dad while Katie was getting off work. They didn't want me to be alone.

I remember not being able to sleep that night. My thoughts went like this: "If I fall asleep, the phone will ring and it will be my mom saying my sister didn't make it." So in my head it would have been horrible to fall asleep. So I watched TV all night.

5:15am- Tuesday

Aunt Val called to confirm that she had spoken to me the night before. She was half asleep when I called and thought she was dreaming. I confirmed. Aunt Val and Uncle Dave would be in the car asap. They lived in Birmingham so their drive was about 3 hours to ATL. My dear Aunt Pat picked me up at 5:45ish to take me to the airport. I got on the plane and the next 8 hours were dreadful! I had spoken to Jason Miller twice. Once the night before...he told me he was going to stay up and pray all night and he would call again in the morning. When he called that morning, he sounded hopeful. It put my mind at ease for about 5 minutes. He said he would meet me at my gate when I arrived that day. I expressed my concern that he wouldn't know who I was and vice versa. He assured me he would know.

I remember sitting in the black very hard chairs at the airport. I was anxious with no one to call at that point. I called Heather. We cried together. I expressed my concern that Steph wasn't going to be okay.

I boarded the plane shortly after I hung up with Heather.

Over and over again played my version of the accident. No one had told me details, but I had it all played out in my head. I eventually thought maybe I should get some sleep since my cell phone HAD to be turned off. I would doze off and jump every minute in a dream that my cell was ringing again. I think I had that dream 100 times. It's is the truth.

I was anxious yet terrified to get off the plane. I had been out of reach for about 4 hours. Who knew what waited off the jetway? For all I knew, someone (maybe someone I didn't even know) would be standing there to tell me she didn't make it.

I can't remember the walk up the jetway. I do remember seeing my Uncle Scott, my Godfather Uncle Dave, Mr. Shealy and Jason (both I had not met before) I will never forget that Jason held my hand the entire way through the airport, in the car, through the LONG hallways of the hospital and into my sister's room. What a saint he was for me!

I reached my mom in the ICU waiting area and fell apart. She told me to pull it together and she had gotten special permission to take me back to my sister, although ICU visiting hours were long over.

I walked in the room, holding tightly to Jason's hand. I wanted to be sick when I saw my beautiful sister lying there. It wasn't really her. She wasn't supposed to look that way. I talked to her for a bit and we joked around with her for a bit. None of which she responded. Earlier she had responded to some visitors. Ones that were crying, she sensed. Her heart monitor would speed up when someone was crying.

That night my mother, nannie, and I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House down the street.

Didn't really sleep that night either. Wednesday morning walked to the hospital to be greeted by her nurse. She had taken a turn for the worst and they were doing "everything they could".

To Be Continued...

Georgia on my mind...

Georgia on my mind is the official license plate quote on GA plates. Pretty clever eh?

Well peeps I made my way to Athens, GA which I think turns out to be trip #8 there. I think...don't quote me on that. Things have definitely changed as far as relationships go out there, but currently and permanently (i hope unless she boots me!) I stay with my wonderful friend that I am so blessed with, Christie. Her full name is Amy Christie (last name that I won't put on here). =) She NEVER goes by Amy, but I sporatically throw it in there to crack myself up if no one else. She is a great gal and worked with my sister (a WHOLE other post for another time!) at the University of Georgia. GO DAWGS! Christie works in Event Management for the athletic dept. She works like a maniac and is fantastic at what she does.

I flew out August 12th to arrive in HOT-lanta at approx. 4:30. About 1.5 hours late due to some weather warnings that turned out to be nothing. We were told to land somewhere else other than Atlanta and five minutes later we were clear. Whatever! I didn't ask!

AC picked me up and off we went for some good ol shoppin and eating! Two of my favorite things you say? YOU GOT IT! Not only eating, but Cheesecake Factory eatin! That's GOOD eating folks. That night we went to Wally World (walmart) and then home.

Friday was a day of partial rest for me. AC went to work and picked me up for lunch at Chik-Fil-A with the PEEPS!

We met Scottie McScotterton and Keith the intern there. Have I explained what characters these athletic dept. people are? It is like comedy central non-stop...it's a wonder that work gets done around there! (pic of AC and I at Chik-Fil-A)

When AC and SS walk in...it is like the whole restaurant stops to say hello and to give something to them. Anything from ice cream, to milkshakes, to more jokes than we could handle! Mr. Bill came by. Now listen carefully who Mr. Bill is. Mr. Bill is an older gentleman that "works" at The Chik. No one knows for sure if he is on the payroll or what the deal is. All we know is that he leaves for the summer around May and shows up the first day back for the sorority girls...coincidence? I THINK NOT!

He wanders the lobby getting refills, ice cream for birthdays (mostly fake birthdays) and telling GOD AWFUL jokes that get the girls screamin! It is lovely! So needless to say, The Chik is quite the experience in itself. In case you were wondering, I get the number 5 with Lemonade. It is DANG good!  It's an 8 piece chicken nugget meal with criss cut fries.  Mmmmmm I can taste it in my mouth as I write this!  Oh yeah and guess what else? The Chik is NOT open on Sundays...those peeps are messed in the head down there I tell ya! You also can't buy ANY KIND of alcohol on Sundays...talk about a mess! They are worse off than IRAQ! (that was a joke, relax people!)

Friday night we partook in dinner with AC's parents who are kind beyond words! They are darling little southern people and my favorite word they say is "mutha!" Oregon translation: mother. Example from AC's mumma: "Meghan, you should have brought your mutha here!" Darling darling people! We finished the evening off with some opening ceremonies...can I get a woo woo! It was a fabulous performance, although most of it a hoax...who do those Chinese think we are? I did cry when the little boy that survived the earthquake and saved some of his classmates came out with Yao Ming. Darling darling boy! Wait... everything else was a hoax it seems...I bet that kid isn't even from China!  (again,kidding!  don't get your panties in a bunch!)

Saturday was a day of SHOPPING with AC and Cheryl, a Pi Phi sister of AC's. My purchases were strong and solid. We shopped and shopped and shopped some more. Then home to Loco's for a bite and home to watch my boy Michael in the pool. I love my pool boy! Olympic watching continued EVERY night from 8-1:00. Not even joking. Tired, tired, tired.

Sunday was PARTY day! We walked off some food we had eaten (meghan thought she would die! please keep in mind NO form of excercise, besides lifting her 51 lb luggage had taken place since before the SURG!), power went out, and we shopped for the par-tay!  REWIND...power went out?  YES ma'am!  It was out for 2.5 hours.   Please keep in mind, that it is about 85 degrees when you wake up and about 90% humidity.  When the ac goes out...everyone is miserable!  It was quite funny because the news kept saying it was "cool".  Cool where people?  In your shower maybe!!!  Not outside, that is for sure!  It is like a sauna out there!  You can get cooked just walking to your car.

Party goers came about 5:00. Invite list was as follows: Me, AC, Scottie McScotterton, J-Mill and gf Candy, and JayLowe and wife Courtney. We had a blast visiting and eating. Pics were taken, and peeps hit the road. Scottie actually kicked them out so he could be a ladies man and watch the Olympics with AC and I alone. True story!

Scottie Mc, J-Mill, Me, JayLowe

(check out the hat!)

Represent!

Monday brought another day of nothng else but THE CHIK!  And Mr. Bill! Scottie calls it his community service that he gives Mr. Bill the time of day and even sends him emails with the schedules from the dawgs!  Scottie's such a good guy!

Monday afternoon brought a trip to the Mayfield dairy.  We accidently ran into it when we were on our way to Chateau Elan.  CE is a winery.  Nothing like a good ice cream and wine in a day eh?? ONE of the only wineries in Georgia I might add.  It is a beautiful resort type area with winery, hotel, golf courses, estates, etc.  Very beautiful!  I tasted and bought wine.  Nervous about making my luggage too heavy.  Lucky for me Ghetto air doesn't weigh their bags apparently cause I am sure I wouldn't have passed that one!

Tuesday came way too soon.  The day of departure.  We headed to Hot-lanta early in order to get our favorite breakfast pastry...Beignets!!!    Last year we got Beignets from Huey's so we headed back there.  IT WAS CLOSED FOR GOOD!  Worst day of my life!  We went next door to R. Thomas' and ate a lovely meal.  Nothing like beignets though.  Sad panda =(

That was it people.  My summer vacation.  The best.  I love going there.  I love the peeps.  I hate the heat but love the peeps.

Catch up!

Oh Vey!

I haven't posted in soooo long!

Here is a quick and dirty run down:

My tonsiless mouth is fine. I wouldn't have recommended the surgery about two weeks ago but I am good to go now!

I have been to Georgia and back. (seperate post later)

I report back to school August 25th! Kids come the 2nd of Sept.! So NOT ready!!!!