The familiar feeling of anticipation gathered in my belly. A small grin crept on to my face and I couldn't shake it away. Nor did I want to. We were so close to camp (Medeba) and I could feel it.
Lucas and I visited Medeba this last weekend. Yes, the place where we met. But for both of us, it had a different kind of meaning attached. I attended camp for 9 years as a camper or an LIT and then worked on staff for one year. Lucas had worked there for five or six years, two of those years as the program director. So though it was fun to go back and reminisce in the place where we met, we also realized that this place had different meaning to each of us.
Every year there is a pretty big staff turnover, so I unfortunately didn't know a lot of those working there this summer. But either way it was fun to say hello to the few that I did know and simply soak in camp. I loved waking up in the morning and stepping outside the cabin and simply feeling the fresh air.
Strong emotions surged through me. I miss camp. I wonder if there will always be that pull, beckoning me to come back and spend a summer at camp. I definitely felt it that weekend. I wanted to spend the summer in cabins, counseling girls, running activities, giggling and making memories again. I wanted to be there again.
I love places that are capable of conjuring such strong emotions in me. I love places that captured a part of my heart, and in some way, will always have a little bit. I love feeling "home" in a place simply because it is familiar. Colombia has this feel for me. Medeba has this feel for me.
And though I love that feeling, it always makes me a little sad. The reason these places have such a strong emotional effect on me is because of the power role they played in my past and the plethora of memories associated with these locations. And often, the role of these places in my future is so uncertain that I wonder if soon my memories will be the only thing linking me there. There's always a hint of nostalgia during these visits.
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