Sweet Shoppe Designs

When I head up to Washington to visit my parents, sometimes when we are running around Tacoma, we pass by the local YMCA. When we do, I always get a little wistful because growing up that place was like my second home. I learned how to swim there. As I got older, my parents would drop me off for their kid’s over-night program. We would play in the gym for hours-games like snake in the grass, rover, and organized sports. We would swim in the big pool, sing songs, have snacks and then watch movies. We would go to sleep at midnight, exhausted. My favorite counselor at these overnights was Cleve. He was this huge guy (tall and meaty), and he used to let me sit on his feet while he walked around. His hand was
as big as my head. When I became too old for the overnights, my parents began sending me to daycamp during the summer. She would drop me off at TempleBeth-el where they had a daycare, and the campers would walk over to the YMCA
and get into our camp groups. We would get on the bus and head to Pt. Defiance Park (to the Madrona Camp) and play games, do crafts, skits, sing songs, play more games, eat and just be crazy. My favorite counselor at this point was Laura-I always managed to be in her camp group every session I signed up for, every summer. We would visit different parts of the park, learn about nature and animals (it also has a zoo). At the end of the day, we would come back to this building to swim (which was my favorite part). Once I hit middle school, I was too old for day camp, so I started in Adventure Seekers-our day would begin and end in this building. In highschool, I even became a camp counselor, because I had such an enjoyable experience. So, when we drive by
this building, all of these memories come to the surface, and I vividly remember looking forward to
coming to the YMCA. I get a little sad because at no other point in my life can I remember having so much fun all day long, on a daily basis.

Credits: kit elements and paper by Krista. Vellum letters by Audra Little at My Digital Muse. Stitching by Doreen Stolz. Lined paper from Heather Roselli's Dayplanner kit.

Font: Times New Roman