on being missed

so i got a phone call today from a friend at camp. a friend who was new on staff last summer, which happened to be my last summer on staff. she has called on and off needing someone to talk to about troubles at school or problems with classmates and now with camp staff. she even called wondering where certain props where or files on the computer, and even though though i'm over a thousand miles away, i still can come to the rescue. the call today was in the category of needing someone to talk to about the hecticness of camp and all the new staff. "i really missed you at camp. there are all these new staff and no one seems to know what to do. we had cookout today and we were all in the kitchen and couldn't remember what we needed to get ready. even (name omitted for anonymity but who happens to be the camp manager) said 'i really miss ken being around' because you would just take care of all these things." well, those may not have been all the exact words, but that is the jist of it.

it's quite weird not being at camp for the first time in 5 summers. and hearing from staff that they really miss all my help makes me feel sad yet appreciated. i wish i could be there to help, but i know that i'm supposed to be where i am now. this is the opportunity for the staff to grow and take on my, and for me to try something new. my thoughts and prayers will have to be with those at the camp.

the conversation ran through my mind and even out my mouth this evening as i was at a going away party for a staff member where i work. we were all sitting around having fun, i actually had just gotten desert, a rhubarb crisp with whipped cream, when i felt the fire pager start vibrating. "that's not good," i said, and turned up the volume to listen. a few people started to hear the noise and wondered what was going on. through the garbled message i explained to those who didn't know that i was on the fire department here, and then the address was rattled off, fairly close to the place where the party was at. "right there," someone said, and we followed his finger to a plume of smoke rising a few miles off.

being so far away, and having not driven my car i thought i would never get there in time to help. i continued to listen and updated people as the information came through, again that feeling of being needed, and soon the pager went off again, they were asking for a standby crew, and finally decided i should get going, and someone volunteered to give me a ride. i got to the station and weighted a while, but then people started coming back, though i was still needed as backup.

each person has a purpose, sometimes their purpose may be so someone else has a purpose, but they are still here for a reason. it is not always clear, but it does feel great when we are appreciated, whether it is in being missed one place or needed in another. we are who and where we are for something.