I have a confession. I am a memory hoarder. I collect meaningful experiences, stacking them in corners, hiding in special wooden boxes, folding them in books and framing them. It is the thankless job of the sentimental. It is the savoring of the moment.
I blame 19 years of camp for making me this way. You can’t write “warm fuzzies”—epic kind notes delivered to your friends at mealtimes—for that many years without attaching some meaning to them. They were sometimes funny, sometimes colorful but mostly spontaneous outbursts of affection and caring.
“I think you’re wonderful! I’m so glad we’re friends!”
Warm fuzzies are like helium balloons. From the outside they are small, silly looking bits of nothing important, but when they’re filled inside, they elevate. I remember an early warm fuzzy, when I was starting as a counselor, that I got from my camper Erin. She was 14 and had opened up to me about her detachment from her dad. Inside the carefully folded 8 ½ by 11 lined notebook paper she wrote,
“You are one of the top best things that has ever happened to me.”
And the words, like helium, began their lifting. I was never the same.
In the theater, they talk about being bitten by the acting bug. Camp has our version of that. It is an addiction to the real, unbridled embracing of your authentic self and a desire to see each other’s “real” selves. It is wanting to illuminate their greatness so they see it. All I wanted to do was to influence people like that for as long as humanly possible.
I really enjoyed your picture and the memories you shared! I volunteer at a summer camp and I completely connected with you here! I’m new to blogging and I was wondering if you would mind checking out my pictures or stories? (: keep blogging its great btw!
Thanks for reading! And that is great that you volunteer at a summer camp! I’ll check out your blog for sure!
Amazing. I loved every word of this. In fact, I read it twice.
I have a love for warm fuzzies too, there is nothing better than a kind word. 🙂
Goodness! I just saw this response. Sorry for the late reply. I am a warm fuzzy believer for sure. I believe good words need to be said, that is selfish to hold on to them. It is a risk to say them but it is important to say it anyway. So glad you enjoyed the piece. 🙂