Puppet camp works like this: You arrive, meet your fellow dorks, create characters and a script, make your marionettes, perform it and- in my case- eat a celebration dinner at Planet Hollywood Atlanta (don't judge, this was 1995. If it had been the Fashion Cafe then I deserved to be judged. I only ate there once.).
The Center for Puppetry Arts is located in Atlanta, Georgia. A city known for many names- ATL...Atlanta....I'm sure some others. Anywho- this is the setting for our adventure. In the weeks leading up to this camping excursion, I was tickled pink with excitement. I knew it in my heart of hearts that upon completion of this program, I would be asked to star in television series with a giant puppet (maybe a panda or a tiger or a giant piece of cheese) and we'd go on adventures and sing songs and eat ice cream. I was fat back in these days, so the ice cream was an important factor in just about anything I did.
Needless to say, some of my family members grew tired of hearing me boast about my eventual Daytime Emmy Award speech. But, what did they know? They weren't going to puppet camp.
Suckers.
Ok- so while I was going to be in paradise with felt and strings, my family was to spend the days relaxing at Stone Mountain State Park just outside of Atlanta. If you haven't been there, it's the kind of place where you can get Dippin' Dots. This means its awesome. It also has trees and mountains and shit.
The night we arrived, I simply could not sleep. I was all atwitter. I tossed and turned, just knowing that the next day I would meet people of my similar interests and mindsets. I would finally be with the weirdos.
As the family van arrived at the camp site, I nearly vomited from excitement (or too much Dippin Dots, I don't really remember). I entered the doors and the experience began.
Next time: A profile of my fellow campers and a counselor who was the spittin' image of Animal.
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