Slight Delay

This photo was taken yesterday before the "rush" to lunch. We had intended to pack and leave last night but got delayed. I decided to wash the cabin linens at the Reynolds and leave them as opposed to bringing them back. We packed some last night and watched a movie. I looked over and Keri was crying. I thought it might be about the movie, but she managed to tell me that the cabin has been our home and she didn't want to leave. As the saying goes, "You don't have to go home but you can't stay here!" As it is, TJ has locked the gate and had to tell me the code to get out!

Sunday Goodbyes

I thought I had finished with the tears, but this morning has been difficult. Mike Howlett, Tonia Breeding, Gayle and Garry Hayney all said special goodbyes. They all can see what is happening. Keri also had a rough morning. The worst was during the hotdogs for lunch. That was not what she wanted and, after eating her Fritoes, marched into the dining hall. I asked her where she was going and she said "I'm going to get me something to eat." I headed her to the car with the promise of making her something for lunch at the cabin. She almost ran down the hill. She calmed down after I got her something to eat. 

Last Night at Scout Camp

Tonight is the last night of the 2016 Camp Rockefeller season. The Boy Scouts all pulled out last Saturday and the Webelos Resident Camp participants pull out tomorrow. We had to have the final campfire in the dining hall because of a rainstorm. 

This is the view as we crossed Cove Creek headed for our cabin. 

It truly has been a blessed summer for Keri and I. As I have mentioned before, we were able to spend all of our time together. We saw Ian frequently (although he seldom came by the cabin).

I guess we will pack up and head back to Searcy tomorrow. Neither Keri nor I want to go back. Searcy represents the "real world" which we have pretended did not exist. Who knows what we will face in the next several weeks!?! I would ask for prayers, but I think this blog is no longer followed by anyone and it now serves as my outlet. People who know Keri are praying and a whole group of friends here have added her to their player list. 

Stream of consciousness

I think I mentioned, several days ago, that Keri now has a stream of consciousness verbal discussion going on most of the time. The one that is going on right now deals with our decision not to eat the hummingbird eggs because they were too small. She is also linking in comments about the robin she raised from a chick. A great deal of her talk deals with true events but there are shreds of fantasy linked in. Yesterday, as we drove to Memaws, she was talking about David Howlett and highland cattle. Some of it was what she discussed with David but she had actually put herself on his farm petting his cows. She was also convinced that she saw highland cows on several different occasions. 

Social Security Insurance

We are sitting in the SSI office here in Searcy. We've been here before but today, it is certainly a slice of life. 

Rough day...

Keri fell getting in the car today and couldn't get up. When I finally was able to get her up and clean the dirk off, I found myself so emotional. That resulted in a tour of the camp with Keri in the golf cart with photos of her at all of our sites. Tonight at the closing banquet, she struggled with her food and panicked as we tried to hike to the Wood Badge fire circle for a special program Tony had planned. We had to turn back and come home. Keri and I just sat on the couch and cried. Tony brought by a couple of 2016 staff coins afterwards. It truly has been a blessed summer. The future is so unclear!' 

.........?

Camp Rockefeller is well on the way to getting cleaned and packed away for another year. David Howlett has announced that he will not return (after 21 years) and a new Program Director will take his place. Keri must also be feeling the "loss" that our departure will bring because I saw her hug David and both were crying. I constantly feel ready to burst into tears. This has been such a safe haven for us during the last six weeks and I am terrified about the future. God will provide, I know, but I'm still frightened. 

It's Been a Good Summer

We've reached the end of the Summer Camp season and this morning, the troops check out and head home. Today will be a flurry of cleaning and packing away followed by the staff banquet tonight at Reynolds. I'm looking forward to a calmer schedule but I'm not ready for camp to end. I will miss my friends and the support I have here. Keri loves it here and will miss all the attention. I don't know what our future holds but this last six weeks has been an oasis. 

Voices in the dark...

There seems to have been a change with Keri today. She has tried to talk to people more but seems to have a harder time coming up with words. People here are so kind but we can't figure out what she is trying to say most of the time. Around noon, she began talking to herself. I can't follow most of it but it seems to be a stream of consciousness. The language is better but it seem to becoming from her thoughts. I've still been able to make her laugh however. 

Buonanotte, buonanotte amore mio

It has been a rough day. Keri is continuing to digress but we are determined to make the most of each day. She had an accident in the A-Building this morning that was so bad, it was noticed by some. I took her to the bathroom, cleaned up as much as I could, changed into the cloths I always carry, and then came back to the cabin for a shower. This embarrassed her and she has been down all day. We only have a couple more weeks here and I have no idea what we will do. I no longer have her to talk to and I miss my best friend. We try to laugh whenever possible but it is getting harder to get her to laugh. 

I said that I would not let this slump into depression so I need to stop writing tonight. One of our favorite Italian songs is "Buonanotte Fiorellino" by Francesco De Gregori. We first heard it in Vernazza, Itally, sang by one of Robbie's friends. Keri and I then went out on the dock and watched the full moon over the harbor. It was a magical evening which we remember every time we hear the song.