love, ali.

today was quite magnificent.

i got back from camping with my fellow CITs, and i must say, it was one of the easiest camping trips i’ve been on. everyone was pretty chill with a lot of things; no one had a lot to say, or complain about for that matter, and when the guy leading us everywhere (dave) lead us through the ponds and the trails, everyone complied.

but here’s the exciting bit:

as we were all walking along on the trail, my eyes mainly glued to the ground, a weary eye on risen tree-roots or poison ivy, we all stopped, abrupt, and sudden. everyone was quiet as we walked along the roots of a tree, and found an amazing discovery: a rope swing. it was a sturdy rope-swing attached to a tree that didn’t look insanely sturdy, but held it’s own and others weights nicely. all of the boys lined up to go on it, to swing on it happily and land in the pond. as i turned around, i noticed that all of the girls were wading in the shallow water, watching the boys wearily as they did various tricks off of the ropes. they watched, silently, patiently.

i was determined not to be one of those girls.

boldly, i got into the line. as my turn came, i held onto the rope and slid my hands down to the knot, praying to whatever source out there was listening that i would not hit the tree behind me. i jumped off the rock, and swung out into the lake, hovering, and let go.

the thrill was terrific, and needless to say, every girl was in that line afterward.

i am back home now, in a comfy bed with a room of air conditioning. i am sore all over my body, my arms and torso killing me from what i believe was a combination of the swing and swimming so much. “you were a beast out there, russo,” my counselor told me, and i had laughed along with her.

today, after i got home and showered, jesse came over. we, at first, wanted to make one of our videos, but we got sidetracked and stayed outside and talked, instead. as we laid in the grass, the sun still beaming on our backs at 6:30 at night, i took a moment to feel the grass underneath my hands, how it wasn’t covered by snow, how my face, only after three days of camp, was already sun-kissed and a golden-brown glow. even jesse was tan too, and i was just so happy not to be pale. 

tomorrow i go to camp, and then friday i get to miss. i’m going up to woodstock, new york, to see my cousin and my aunt and uncle, and the fireworks. it’ll be odd, being there when it isn’t a high holy day, but i think it’ll be nice, and i hate to say it, but it gives me some comfort to know that i won’t have to be dragged to a temple to chant hebrew for six hours. call me crazy, but it tends to get a tad bit boring. 

anyway. i’m glad to be back in a bed, and secure from buggies trying ever so desperately to invade my sleeping space. but i’ll be honest.

i’d do it all over again.

love, ali.