A Scrumptious Fruit Basket Is The Perfect Care Package For Band Camp
Thursday, November 5th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
I have an aunt who is one of the most thoughtful, giving persons I know. Let me tell you about a terrific surprise my aunt sent to me. She sent a package to me that truly helped me through a very trying time in my life. I was at Band Camp late in the summer. Her own daughter had attended this same one a few years earlier. Band Camp is a week of rigorous instruction in which performances for football half-time shows, as well as week-end competitions are learned. It is a week of structured activity and, frankly, hard work. It is an extremely strenuous activity, as choreography, music memorization, and fine-tuning skills are perfected.
The location of Band Camp is at a rather isolated, rural setting. Comfort is non-existent. The cabins in which we stayed are old, dilapidated structures which house spider-ridden, musty-smelling cots. They are arranged side-by-side and in bunks, accommodating as many campers as possible. Talk about living in “close quarters”. There is no other furniture in the cabin. Not only did we have to adjust to sharing personal space with fellow band members and their annoying habits, we had to sleep on lumpy, musty mattresses. Even though sleeping arrangements were uncomfortable, exhaustion from each day’s activity made these conditions a welcome respite.
Meals were shared in a cafeteria setting; campers sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on hard benches. The food consisted of bland-tasting, fattening choices. Nothing was fresh; everything tasted like it came from a can…and it probably did. Because we were so active, by the time meals were served, we were so hungry that we really didn’t care what we ate, as long as it was filling.
The week I attended Band Camp, the weather was uncomfortably hot and humid. Seasonal allergies prevailed as pollen counts elevated. Being at Band Camp was both stressful and strenuous. Practices were brutal and the pressure of living in this kind of environment, as well as the mental and physical demands, made me miss the ordinary comforts of home.
One day, about mid-week, I was particularly frustrated. The rigorous activity and the living conditions were getting to me. I was hot and tired. My muscles were sore and I was probably slightly dehydrated. My allergies were making me even more uncomfortable, depriving me of much-needed sleep. My muscles were sore and I was probably on the verge of dehydration. During a short rest break, my fellow campers and I heard the roar of a UPS truck coming down the lane. “Oh great”, I said. “Probably some more of that fattening food being delivered”, added my friend. Imagine my surprise (and delight) when the Band Director called out my name with his megaphone to inform me that it was I who had the delivery.
As I hurriedly tore the heavy box open, while fellow campers stood around and watched, I found a hand-written note from my sweet aunt, whose own daughter attended Band Camp a few years before. “I know how you need to keep up your energy. Enjoy!”
Inside the huge box was a beautiful bushel basket brimming with a variety of delicious, fresh fruit. Sweet and juicy peaches, plums, and nectarines were abundant. There was an assortment of McIntosh and Granny Smith apples; Bartlett and Bosc pears; red and green seedless grapes. Colorful oranges and tangy tangerines were also attractively placed to make an enticing arrangement. Best of all, was a gigantic, ripe watermelon. Sealed packages of dried cherries, banana chips, and boxes of raisins were thrown in; to be enjoyed after the fresh assortment was gone.
My aunt’s note said to share; so share, I did. There was enough fruit for everyone to enjoy. In fact, the colorful assortment was so tempting, we began enjoying it immediately…watermelon juice running down our chins…peach nectar making our fingers sticky.
Due to my aunt’s thoughtfulness, my band-mates and I can look back at our Band Camp experience with fondness. It was one of the more memorable highlights of the week. Sending me the Fruit Gift Basket turned out to be the encouragement (and nourishment) I needed to see me through to the end. It arrived at one of the more difficult times in my life and turned it into a positive experience. In fact, it was such a great idea, I plan to send a delicious Fruit Basket to other band campers in future years. I’m sure they will appreciate it as much as I did.
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