Let me first state that I know many others share, overlap, in my time and memories and that there are differences between what I experienced in the same time as others. Let me also state that I want this conversation to be thematic and positive. I'm really more interested in the network. If you have thoughts and wish to share, that would be wonderful!
I'm building on the shoulders of giants--Irv and Edna Newman, and a host of people who caught the vision, contributed their time, their ideas and energy to make this place "real" as something that mattered to many.
I also have a fading memory and hope that part of this conversation generates more thoughts and memories from others (names, experiences, traditions.)
I not the authority here- really the Newman's children have a greater perspective than I--but I spent something like two years of my youth, my life, at camp. I learned much of what matters to me at camp. To say I miss this world is so insufficient. Like a great book you wish would continue, you begin re-reading...so this is a reading.
And last I must say, I have the greatest respect for many living people I will mention as I go along. These are my memories, as accurate as 30-40 year- old memories can be--please add, correct, and augment! I'll make correction and add as ideas and information comes along. So here we go...
I first arrived at ERN, (camp, El Rancho Navarro) in the summer of '65 , I think (I was seven years old). I first attended for just third session, we were late in signing up, at the suggestion of my Dad's officemate, Ed Lewis, whose kids had attended camp. Ed and his family were Jewish and while camp was mostly Jewish kids, I was not and never felt this was an issue for the next 15 years.
I remember my parents pulling up the car, hot and dusty, in front of what I would learn was Irv's outside office. Colbert Davis greeted us, Irv was down in the city picking up the next load of kids from a parking lot near the Ferry Building, and we unloaded my luggage.
I have a picture I'll try to post of Cole: navy hat, white, shorts, always shorts I habit I still share, skinny, big smile and African American. He assured me things were okay (I wasn't all that sure, and we piled my luggage near the spot where the other kids luggage would land. That year I hat a funny straw hat, my Mom's idea, and an old Navy duffel from my Dad's collection. My folks left and the next things I remember was the sound of diesels coming up the road--how those buses made the trip was a bit of a miracle.
We all got organized, cabin piles and headed to lunch--sandwiches and soup--it held well in the heat and allowed for flexibility in timing. From that moment on I was immersed. I don't remember a lot from my first year (Rob Goldstein maybe) and being in the 8's. I must have been impressed and returned for 2 sessions the next year and 3 sessions for the next five.
So we begin. Oh and the explanation of this picture? I'm the one in the foreground, with the radio, as a camp director. Fun! We're outside the dining hall at the Oregon 4-H center singing a song by the name of "Super Lizard."
No comments:
Post a Comment