The Mess

My desk is a mess.

My whole office is a mess this time of year, the effect of long days and ecclectic work combined with a natural tendency to clutter… disaster. A camp visitor to my office this time of year will smile nervously when I offer a seat… “and where would you think a good place to sit, Jimboy?”.

I should clean it, but it is hard to take the time and I have to admit that I have grown fond of the place. The mess tells a story. Camera equipment is strewn on various “protected” places. Costumes, hats, boots, flip flops, rain gear, fishing poles, blue prints, battery chargers, flashlights… carefully arranged about the floor in various strategic locations (I will need that). Then there is my desk: piled high (outside and inside the drawers too) with papers and nick nacks. It is hard to “file” any of this stuff right now, each paper represents a work in progress, a ball in the air. I file it, I forget it. And many of the papers do me good… for they are “Thank You’s” from campers.

I bet that directors of Boys camps do not have this pile (or that it is a very small pile)… It is a sign of good etiquite, training, Southern sensibilities. The art of the Thank You note is dieing, has been for some time, but not at camp. Here the girls seem to thrive with the writing of a quick (or sometimes long) note. I see them being passed back and forth in the camp mail (campers put a name on the blank side and we deliver it; the joy of getting a letter at mail call is profound). I get a bunch, they are treasured. They thank me for camp, for the unexpected programs, the give-a-ways, the Ben & Jerry’s. It fills me with hope for the future: if these girls represent the next generation, I can assure you that we are in good shape. Quality through and through. Amazing sweetness in their simple sentences. Sometimes I even get a poem!

The mess shows the passing of days, represent the people and places that are the tapestry of this place. It is a sign that the summer is drawing to a close (not much more room for stuff… must be the end of July!).

I added the program from the Junior Play to the pile last night. It is a bit crumpled and turned up on the ends (the humidity and my sweaty palms combined with lots of flipping back and forth as Margaret and I tried to name the girls on stage). The Play was very good, lines said with sass and confidence… cute costumes… snappy transitions. The girls projected very well (no microphones on this production) and the audience was very polite and appreciative. It was a delightful evening! Tonight comes that most anticipated “Production Night”! I can’t wait!!!

It is sleep late Friday, but I got up at 5:00! Unable to sleep with all the “jobs” floating around in my mind. I will post this update early, facilitating a 9:00 trip to Falling Creek to pick up my younger son John. He is a 13 year old who loves camp… he has spent the last 4 weeks at the wonderful boys camp my father founded in 1969, Margaret and I will drive the 15 minutes and spend some time hearing about it. Yates and Marissa are excellent directors, making their mark on a camp that will stand the test of time. John will be happy to be home, will love the air-conditioning (it is going to be a hot day, temperatures in the low 90’s!), will luxuriate in the quiet comfort of his room, and will gradually tell us all about his adventures. It will make us very happy.

Thank you for reading, it is a pleasure sharing this experience with you. Reading your comments is especially nice: it is a particular strength of blogging vs. simple news letters. Thank you for participating!

Have a wonderful day.

Jimboy