Blue Lakes Fine Arts Camp

It's raining out today and we've been driving for a couple of hours. Blue Lake is on the west side of the state, and after looking at the map of Michigan it hits me just how far from home we'll be. At least Em will be here too. The gray sky dampens my courage though, and I think back to all the preparations we've made. Mom took me to Meijer and we went through the sample isle to get travel sized everything. Bug spray, toothpaste, contact solution, soap containers, q-tips. I have a trunk we picked up from a garage sale and it's filled to the brim with navy blue shorts, socks, pants, sweaters. Navy blue is not my color. At least we all have to wear the same thing. But two whole weeks of blue? Geez. Em's mom made her get thrift store hand me downs, so I don't feel as bad as she does, but still. Silently I watch the rain form tears rolling down the window of the suburban. The whole family is here to see me off. For a two week adventure I feel prepared for a world tour.

We pull into a long line of cars and slowly pull into the campgrounds. It takes forever. My dad can't even talk he's so choked up. I look at my map and itinerary. The tires spin a little before catching in the wet sand. The forest is green around us, dripping wet and sheltering rounds of small cabins. When we finally pull into our area I feel my nerves hit. My stomach is lurching with excitement and I can see Emily already unloading her stuff. The cabin is sparse and cold, filled with brown bunkbeds and stained striped mattresses. Good thing we are sharing a bunk and everything worked out. My mom is teary and my sister and brother are looking wide eyed at this fresh new hell. How is this ever going to be as much fun as we imagined? Spiders and dirt everywhere, nasty communal bath houses smelling foul...
My head is spinning as my dad crushes me in a bear hug and hands me some extra money. "Have a great time kiddo. We love you." My eyes are burning and I don't want to show them how scared I suddenly feel. Mom hugs me tight, rounding up the family and saying a last goodbye. I watch as the grey and black suburban pulls out into traffic and Em and I put an arm around one another. What did we get ourselves into?