To Making It Count

I haven’t been missing Upward Bound, until the summers roll around. There is something enticing yet unexplainable about the summers at Upward Bound (UB for short). When I look back on my four years spent in that program, I can’t think of a better way to spend my summer. The UB summer of 2010 was perhaps the most rewarding.

Each summer we take a “cultural” trip. Imagine, sixty teenagers and about ten adults on a bus (or in 2010’s case, a train), cramped, for hours at a time. Some trips reaching 18 hours. Even in those conditions, I can’t remember a single complaint. Just laughter. Upward Bound isn’t your typical educational program; it is a family and nothing less. And laughter is much expected when this family is together.  In the summer of 2010, this brood went on a cultural and absolutely no fun (wink wink) trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. Take some time to put this thought together: sixty kids on an eight hour train ride to the Big Easy.

Our trips start days before we actually leave. It begins when we get our itineraries and room assignments because that is when the anticipation sets in. We all go home and pack our bags slowly in fear that it all will be over too quickly. Our trips could last a month and it would still feel like too short of time. The itinerary gets given first and the room assignment second (for a surprise effect). Little did I know at the time that being in the group that I did, was going to make all the difference.

As for my chaperone, I had Mrs. Arnold, or just plain Arnold as I refer to her. It was her first summer in the program and I had only known her a few short months; However, I knew her well enough to know that personally, I had a superlative make for a superlative vacation. As for my team members, I had Ana, Jenna, Mini, and Carmen (Mini and Carmen are also sisters). Ana is sweet and kind and a tad bit reserved. Jenna is also sweet and quiet, yet she is nothing shy of fun. Mini is all play and no work. She is quick to make someone, ANYONE, laugh even without the slightest effort. Her sister Carmen is the same way. Her laugh is unbelievably contagious. All of them plus me equals the “A TEAM” (“A” standing for Arnold of course).

Our voyage began on a bus that led to the eight hours on a train. On the platform, a group of us were searching for the wall between platforms nine and ten, also called platform nine and a half (a Harry Potter reference). When we finally got to Louisiana, our itinerary immediately felt overwhelming, culture shock as most call it.  I can’t recall much, and what I can recall, is from my own group. I recall the nights in the hotel where Ana, Mini and Carmen’s room felt like eighty degrees and mine, Jenna, and Arnold’s seemed below zero. I recall Carmen always being twenty paces behind. I recall Arnold letting us five girls raid the Redbull truck of all it’s energy shots (which all went to Carmen and I); the only evidence of what happened in the hotel last night is this short video.

And let's not forget our ATeam bracelets that Arnold bought us at the Riverwalk Mall. Kept and treasured forever.

The first morning...

Carmen and me. This was taken in the sliding glass door on our balcony.

We only spent an hour in the oven, but we came out steaming hot! Sweating out our curls and sinking in our heels, but we still know how to strut and pose. 

Our chaperone knew how to create a good quality group time. While other groups paired up for supper, we flew solo to a place called the Gumbo Pot. We hardly touched our food, instead, we laughed until the tears ran down our cheeks and our stomachs ached. Carmen, being the bearer of many laughs, shared with us that she would like to try popping the tires on the train. She'd be so embarrassed if she found out that I wrote that. It's two years later and that's still an ongoing joke.

I guess my point of this blog is to inform others that the best moments in life become memories, and like most memories do, they fade. Yes, even the good ones. So visit them often. And if you ever find yourself  cocooned in the warmth of laughter and good company, make every second count. Chances are, you'll never have that exact feeling back.