This past Saturday night, we were able to put on our boots and cowboy hats for something other than a gymkhana event. Instead of going to the barns, everyone was showing up at the Pergola in flannels and jeans to enjoy our very own Thacher Southern Night! The activities included a cook-off, bobbing for corn, a pie eating contest, and a performing country band. There was so much energy and excitement and I think the band was quite impressed by our attempts to line dance, two-step, and swing dance. After the Southern festivities, my junior classmates and I hiked out to Diamond Hitch for our class camp-out. There, we sang songs and told scary stories around the campfire before heading off to bed under the stars. Although this trimester has been a busy one, it is fun moments like these that keep the Thacher spirit and enthusiasm up!

Usually, when the dark clouds begin to gather and roll in over the hills, I inwardly and selfishly hope that rain will not follow. However, as the rain came pouring down this weekend, I did not stay huddled up inside to keep dry and warm. Instead, I joined a group of my friends and two teachers down on Upper Field to play a game of Ultimate Frisbee. For, even though we were playing in the mud and rain, we were able to get in quite an impressive game. I even think that our unintentional slips in the mud in the midst of plays added to the excitement of the whole game. At the end of our play, we were completely covered with water and dirt and loved every bit of it! That is Thacher Ultimate for you: come rain or shine, we’ll be out there playing!

With the current onslaught of second visits, it reminds me of my own. The ability to see the campus and meet all of the kind students made me like Thacher even more. Aside from the physical beauty, everyone welcomed me and said hello.  While I never toured Thacher, I can imagine it’s not the same as a second visit. Spending the night with another student, who you’ll be able to already know the next year, and shadowing classes gives a true look at what’s happening. By the end of my second visit, I had decided Thacher was the place I wanted to be. So, my advice for people coming for second visits is to enjoy it. Being a part of the Thacher community for a day is just a sneak peek of the way of life at Thacher.

Patton’s cabin is a quaint, one room cabin in the middle of the Sespe wilderness. It is one of those places that the majority of the Thacher community has been to at one time or another, whether it be on an EDT or weekend camping trip. It is obvious that the small cabin holds many memories and stories of the friendships and adventures of the Thacher family over its many years. Now, I am going to share with you a bit of my story.

We walked along the dirt path with nothing but the moon shining brightly in the night sky to direct us. The air was crisp and cool against our skin, encouraging us to quicken our steps and move close together as we hiked the trail. I had heard so many stories of weekends spent at Patton’s and was excited to experience it for myself.

When we arrived, members group that had gone earlier than us had already prepared a dinner of pasta and salad for everyone. The inside of the cabin was so cozy with a fire in the corner to warm us. After dinner, we decided to build an additional fire outside so that we could enjoy the beautiful night. Gathered around the dancing flames, we sang songs, told stories, laughed, and, of course, roasted s’mores late into the night. Once we all started to get tired, a decision had to be made: do we sleep outside or not?

Somehow, we all decided to remain outside for the night. All I can say is that I was so happy when I saw the sun come up in the morning because it gave me some hope for the coming warmth. The night had been much colder than we had expected and when we woke, we realized that our sleeping bags had layers of ice on them. After warming up inside with pancakes and a fire, we packed up and headed back to campus. Although the camping trip was brief, I had a blast and am glad that I now have my own stories about Patton’s cabin to share with others.

Whenever I used to think of turning seventeen, I always imagined that I would feel so mature and much older. I can’t say that I have noticed much of a difference in that regard, but I do want to thank my friends for making it one of the best birthdays yet! First thing in the morning my friends surprised me by bringing breakfast to my room. They sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and made sure that everyone knew it was my birthday all day long. I couldn’t even pass by one friend without her exclaiming, “How’s the birthday girl?” The fun didn’t stop there though. It was also my friend Shelby’s birthday and we came up with the great idea of dressing up in crazy outfits for soccer practice. We put on ballerina skirts, tied our hair in pigtails, and hit the soccer field for a fun filled practice. Finally, before the night was over, Shelby and I were surprised by a huge crowd of our friends who had made us cakes, brownies, and cinnamon rolls and bought ice cream to add to the feast. We piled into one cramped dorm room and enjoyed each others company. From sun up to sun down, I was constantly reminded of how lucky I am to be surrounded by such great friends. I can’t imagine celebrating my birthday in any other way!