Trek

This morning for the first time this summer, we didn't have anything to get up for.  The six weeks of dance camps the girls were teaching ended yesterday, Xanthe's French was cancelled, nobody had a lesson and Golda and Ruby are away;  no band practice or babysitting gigs.  So nature abhors a vacuum, right?  Tziporah thought this empty morning would be a fine time to wake up at 6:45 and be delightfully curious about the world.  With a big family, any down time gets filled as swiftly as a leaky raft.  I can't tell you how many times I have sunk into a chair and read five words of a novel, only to spring back up to manage some unforeseen occurrence.

And I'm not complaining.  6:45 was late compared to yesterday, when Golda had to be at the church at 6:00 to turn in her luggage for Pioneer Trek.  She along with half the kids in the stake, as it turns out, didn't realize they were supposed to have their stuff turned in last Saturday night.  That resulted in a little panic on Golda's part.  She called me during the concert at Deer Valley.  When I answered, it was like a Chipmunks version of Charlie Brown's mom.  High-pitched and unintelligible.  I told her not to worry and proceeded to launch apologetic texts to the leaders.  One leader said, "Tell Golda not to worry."  I jokingly said I would pass that along to Golda when I delivered her horse tranquilizer.

The day before Trek, we buckled down and got all of our sewing, packing and purchasing done.  I thought I had been so prepared!  That last 10% of a task will kill ya.  It seems like I always procrastinate that part.  Not to fret, though.  We received a tender mercy in the form of a trip to D.I. that yielded two perfect blouses and a pair of scrubs, which Coco's nimble sewing fingers turned into bloomers in minutes.  We had one last rehearsal of the songs Golda and her friends had been assigned to learn for a fireside.  I was asked to prepare the girls and their instruments (how's that for a sweet church calling!), but they deftly arranged their music and practices with minimal input from me.  I was proud of them.  Everyone in the house gathered when they practiced, eager to hear the beautiful pioneer hymns.  They are going to sound sublime around the campfire.  (My camera ran out of memory on the recording, darnit.  Notice how Golda counted off 5, 6, 7, 8.  Hee hee.  It's not dance, Golda.)

Finally, Golda was ready!  That wasn't to say that she was stoked about it, however.  The night before and the morning of were full of anxiety.  How would you feel if you were about to venture into the Wyoming wilderness with all your supplies in a five-gallon bucket, wearing pioneer garb and expected to pull a handcart?  Stories of youth breaking ribs on the Women's Pull or coming home dehydrated just fueled the fire of trepidation.  Bill invited Golda to go to Sun Valley with he and Coco instead.  She regretfully declined the pool, alpine village, shopping (with Coco!) and treats.

There was an air of anticipation at the church as the kids were assigned to their "families." My heart sank when Golda's closest friends went to other families.  Golda looked miserable.  It would have been so nice to have a trustworthy friend by her side.  But one of her adults, whom they call aunts and uncles, was a woman I knew to be wonderful.  I know she will be in good hands and come home filled and inspired, even if she is exhausted, dirty and hot.  And she will build new friendships with her assigned group, I'm sure of that.

Scott and I were annoying parents, urging Golda to put her bonnet on and drink some water.  She was probably relieved when we reluctantly walked away.

Golda and Lexie putting on their happy faces.  Both of them were about to burst into tears.  And I was pretty emotional, too, having read some of our ancestor's stories the night before.  The youth were asked to choose a pioneer to "be" on Trek.  Golda chose her ancestor, Patty Sessions.  I hope she is able to feel and understand the immense sacrifice it was for her forefathers to come here.  What kind of people were they, I wonder, to lead out like that?  Terribly faithful and terribly adventurous, I would think.

Ruby won't have to be quite so faithful and adventurous at Beehive Camp this weekend.  She left two hours after Golda did.  Unlike Golda, she packed makeup and craft activities and yummy treats and met up with her best friends at the church.  I'm sure she is having a great time, but I miss her.  I miss both of them.  The house is too quiet without their music, their dance students, even their squabbling.  Well, OK, I can do without the squabbling.  But it makes me sad to think that all too soon, they will pack up and leave for college and hopefully never return.  They will be launched.

For now, I'm grateful they come back this weekend.  And soon we'll have this tale to tell - All is well...All is well.