Dad's Day

Today we went to YMCA Camp Surf in Imperial Beach. It is were I grew up for the first 6 years of my life. I have fond memories of racing with my twin down the main road on our big wheels, eating ice plant just because it was edible, watching the sunset from our deck never realizing how crazy and incredible it was to live less than a football field away from the ocean. We chased bugs and people and dogs. We were nearly always barefoot and covered in dirt and Cheeto dust, especially the Ninja Turtles kind. We got swirlies from camp counselors, respected the ocean and played  to our hearts content, always outside. Growing up at a beach camp is truly all fun and games. I am glad we moved before I got to a grade that assigned real homework or I would have been a failure by third grade for sure.

 

 

It was just fun and games for us though. Today as we gathered with the years of staff and their families represented to celebrate, it was so crazy to hear stories from other's perspectives. It was neat to hear the history of the YMCA and the camp. Did you know that the YMCA invented the sport of basketball? To this day, there is still nothing quite like Camp Surf. It's on land owned by the US Navy and patrolled by Sheriffs, Border Patrol and Naval Military. It's an overnight camp at the beach, with year-round events and a rich history of giving back. I listened to former directors, lifeguards, camp cooks, and activities counselors reminisce and joke.

People told me stories about me that I didn't remember. Stories about my mom and dad. Things they said or did that impacted the rest of their lives to date. On a few occasions I saw tears swelling up in my dad as people expressed their highest gratitude for not giving up on them or teaching them a certain life lesson. A place that he dedicated so much time and energy and passion into, hoping others would catch the vision and carry the banner. He did it. He founded this camp in 1969 and it lives on, housing and serving more kids than ever before. I am so proud of him. Given, a large portion of that life he lived before he had us kids. But even then, he had many kids. Today was a testament to that, and a very fun one too. There were stories of the drama, the begging and borrowing and arm-twisting it took to get a camp started from nothing in the dawn of the hippy. My dad did a lot; he worked hard. I have always known that, but today as we visited something he poured his whole self into, I learned it even more.

Today was cool. My dad was honored and in his element. Sunshine, waves, pelicans, camp songs and sandcastles..Surrounded by people he loves and invested his life into and I am so happy that I got to be a part of that. I am really grateful for the example I have in my dad, as a provider, as a teacher, as a hard worker, as a visionary, as a mentor who gave hope to the wandering and enjoyed every moment of it. He likes to look back at all the seasons of his life and say "Only Good Times". I pray I can walk through life with that mentality.
I also won a George Foreman Grill in a raffle just in time to meal prep for the week... after I do some homework and blog, of course.