We don't play favorites at ESP. I love every single camper there in their own way. Even those that were not my personal campers, I have grown to love through volunteering, pageants, and Facebook.
However, there are some counselors and campers that bond better than others. It's part of the magic really- because my personality may mesh well with M, B, and D... While LeAndra is REALLY great with J and G. It balances well and every camper is equally loved and supported. And those campers that I consider "my originals" are a group of boys and girls that I met and loved from my early years at ESP. They are the ones that I search for at Big Hearts, keep in touch with on Facebook, and know and love their families too. They hold a special place in my heart that no other students or campers have ever been able to replace. They are the group that I have learned the most from over the years.
For me, one of those campers was sweet Bekkah, Or Bekkah Boo, or "Ke-ka Cur-kee" (as she used to call herself in Bekkah language in our early days together). And tonight my heart aches... Because Bekkah was part of my "framily" (friends that are more like family) and today she left this world and received her crown in Heaven. I have no doubt her crown is full Of jewels. She had one of the purest hearts of anyone I have ever known. And I go back and forth between rejoicing she is in Heaven, disbelief that Feb 2013 was the last time I would ever get a Bekkah hug (how much longer I would have held on...
Had I just known), and just sheer grief that one of our earthly angels will not be here anymore. I have spent the afternoon sharing Bekkah stories with my husband-
Most of which he has heads before- and going through old photos of her and with her at ESP. How proud I am of the person she grew to be... How blessed I am to have learned from her.
When I remember Bekkah I will remember these things:
The way she called me "Cake".
The way communication was rarely an issue for us even though in the early years of our friendship her speech consisted of the "k" sound... A lot.
The way she launched herself into my arms multiple times a day at camp- and for years after.
The way I rarely got to be her "buddy" at camp because the counselors in my unit always begged to have her as their buddy.
The way we cheered and celebrated my second summer with her when she would come all the way to the edge of the pool and put her feet in!!!! And then later actually get in the pool!
They way she loved Hannah Montana and High School Musical and always had a costume ready for the talent show.
The way she loved getting "fancied up" for ESP PROM and at the girls' sleepover.
The way she loved the other campers- always quick with a high five or a hug.
Two summers ago I returned to ESP to volunteer for Twin Lakes, after a year away from camp. I had seen the campers at various fundraisers that I had attended but I was apprehensive that some of "my babies" would have forgotten me.
I got to CTL to learn that Bekkah was my night buddy- and she was just as thrilled as I was! That was the last time
I spent "quantity time" with her and today I have found myself reminiscing on that week. Remembering how much i loved getting to spend time with Bekkah and how impressed I was with the progress she had made in the year I had been away. I cried the entire way home from that trip because I missed her, and ESP so much already.
Bekkah taught me so much about being truly joyful. My life is more full simply because of her. A part of my heart will always belong to her. I miss her so much already- and I ache for her family that loved her so completely. They were a blessing to her as much as she was to them.
It's been a hard day- but JOY comes in the morning.
