Well, actually Rose is back. But she did spend 3 nights and 4 days at Camp Sealth, a sleepaway camp on Vashon Island, and loved every minute of it. There were high stakes here. This is the camp I went to for 10 years and then was a counselor at for 3. One former camper wrote on a website that not a day goes by that something doesn't make her think of camp. I'm not sure it's that strong in my life, but it's strong. Camp was magic, love, the freedom to be loud and weird and constantly singing.

Rose went with her cousin Miriam, so the odds were good it was going to work out. Still it was hard on me not knowing if she was getting enough food (our biggest fear), getting enough sleep, being kind to others, and having them be kind to her. Rose says she was so busy having fun she didn't have time to miss us or poop. So, it's mostly good news.

As my sister will attest, she's been talking and singing camp nonstop since she got home. Tye dye, ridiculous relay races with leaking buckets, repeat after me songs. I love to see the traditions continuing, and I love that I approve of the new songs. I was so afraid the hip kids today would sing pop songs, but Penguins Attention! is classic camp.

About the food, a complete success. I was not worried about the gluten free part. They are very well set up for gluten free food. Rose, and the other kids with allergies and intolerances just go to the options table. They provide plenty of options. It was actually a little embarrassing to see the snack bag Rose brought home. The rest of the kids got a cookie. The g-f food manufactures must see camp kids as a fabulous marketing opportunity because, I'm not lying, there were 20 different cookies, granola bars, chip products etc. etc. in that bag. It was like g-f Halloween.

I was worried that even with all the g-f choices, Rose would be too picky and not eat enough grow food to sustain her. She did. Her favorite meals were the hot dog and g-f bun outside on the lawn, and wail lunch where she got chicken nuggets and brownie and everyone danced around with guitars and sang Let's Go Fly a Kite (just like they did 30 years ago when I was a camper). She liked breakfasts. She ate the steak for dinner even though she didn't like it. Basically, she had it covered.

Her only disappointment? They didn't get to go on a hike, roast marshmallows, go on a night walk, go on a camp out, write a letter to Uncle WiggleBottom. . .there's only so much you can cram into 4 days. So, she's going back for a week next year.