In season 8, episode 19 of the show "One Tree Hill," we find out that the popular river court is being torn down to be replaced with condominiums. For those of you who haven’t watched the show, the river court is a basketball court that has been the source of fights, make-ups, break-ups, declarations of love, bonding sessions and of course, basketball. As character Marvin “Mouth” McFadden puts it, “It’s been host to authors, NBA players, local legends, and fashion designers. Notable musicians have played here, both concerts and games of “horse.” And on gentle summer nights as the staccato rhythms of worn leather on fading asphalt mixes with the white noise of the distant nightlife across the Cape Fear, kids have grown up here.”
The river court is the place where Lucas Scott grew up playing basketball, where Mouth first started his dream of becoming a sportscaster, and where Nathan Scott truly bonded with his half-brother, Lucas. It’s where they played a historic game in Tree Hill, which led to the addition of Lucas to the Tree Hill Ravens. It’s where Peyton Sawyer and the rest of Tree Hill wrote messages to Lucas when he was in the hospital, where Peyton later declared that she was hopelessly in love with Lucas, and the place the gang crowded around, spray painting their names on the asphalt after graduating. Tears were shed, friendships were created, and talks were had. Most of all, it’s where kids grew up and where so many memories were made. Mouth says it best, “A lot of lost kids found their way to something better in this park. In a confusing world, at a confusing time in their lives, they found something that made sense here, and they became better people because of it.”
While watching the end of season 8, episode 21, I found myself getting a little teary eyed while hearing Mouth speak so passionately about this place he’d called home for as long as he can remember. I found myself thinking about the places I grew up, and something hit me. We all have a river court. We all have this place that means so much to us, and sometimes we don’t realize how much it means until it’s gone or changed. Close your eyes and think for a moment. Is there a place you can remember? A place where so many of your fondest memories were created, or where your most solid friendships formed? I know I can.
My river court is my camp. More specifically, the campgrounds where I’ve spent too many hours and days to count throughout my life. I’ve been going to the same camp since I was two and a half years old. I’m now almost 20 and a half, and have worked my way up from camper to senior counselor. I’ve been through all the divisions – little bear, Gan, kinderfun, pioneers, adventurers, explorers, voyagers, and even the Counsleor-In-Trainng division. Since the summer of 1998, I’ve spent only two summers away from this camp. I’ve spent 16 summers at this camp, and counting. I have an entire box of photos from my time here, along with hundreds of photos online. I’ve watched this camp grow and change over the years. I may not be a fan of the bugs and heat that come with the outdoors, but every time I step foot on that specific outdoor place, I feel at home. I remember when the campgrounds changed locations (not really, but kind of), and I remember silly things, like having rainy day dance parties under the shelter. I have about 4 or 5 or 6 different versions of the camp T-shirt and the people at this camp are like my family. Up until a few years ago, the majority of the people who worked at this camp when I was a camper were still working there. Others, I’ve connected with on Facebook. At this camp, on the campgrounds, I got my first scar (from a safety pin – don’t worry.) I’ve learned dances, caught frogs, planted watermelon seeds and played countless games of gaga and dry, dry, wet. This camp in its entirety is my river court. It’s a place I grew up in. I have picture proof of that, physically. This camp has seen me through pigtails, braces, my more awkward than now years, and so much more.
I’m now a senior counselor in the early childhood division, with four-year-olds. I tell them all the time that when I was their age, I was just like them. I sat in the same chairs, at the same tables as they do. I've had camp shirts that tiny once too. This camp is a place I can call home. It’s a safe place, and it always has been. So before I finish this up, I want to add another quote from the show. “Somebody told me this is the place where everything’s better and everything’s safe.” Now, this might not be a direct quote about the river court, but it is a quote about a similar place in Tree Hill, Karen’s Café.
On that note, let me repeat what I said before: Everyone has a river court. Where is yours?
