Lessons From the '90s
We celebrated the 1990’s last night with a themed dinner and Gameshow EP. The girls dressed up for dinner, we played 1990’s music, and the entire camp won a super cool t-shirt when the campers beat the counselors in the final trivia contest. Ellen-Anne and I represented the counselors which made the camper win even more impressive. We, who lived through the ‘90s, didn’t remember many of the details. The final score: 60 to 0… I paid with three buckets of slime poured over my head.
In preparing decorations for the night we made enlargements of some photos from the 90’s that we knew the campers would enjoy. Merrill, Victoria, and Margaret enjoyed the photo that had their moms; EVERYONE loved seeing JB and Margaret’s engagement photo in Central Park, the Head Staff photo with JB and Laura, and the cabin photo with Sarah. We looked very different thirty years ago!
As we age our perspective changes in some ways but remains the same in others. I experience moments in the same way now as I did when I was camper age. The sound of rain on a tin roof still delights, the sight of the mountains still inspires, and the touch of a loved one still comforts. But I think of myself as much more insightful now than I did when I was a teenager (when I thought I knew all the answers). My confidence is greater but interestingly, so is my humility.
Age shows us how the opinions of our youth are often ruefully remembered ten years later. Our 20-year-old self looks at our 10-year old self and smiles… and this happens at 30, 40, 50, and 60. When my children “lecture” me on something that I (and my generation) should be doing, I hear it with open ears and with the expectation that these strongly held opinions are likely to shift. Likewise, when I find myself lecturing my children or about to go on about something that we just watched on the news, I temper my confidence with the memory of past foolishness.
Today is a nice “chill” day… overcast, mild temperatures, light breeze, and the promise of afternoon thunderstorms. The kind of day that reminds me of summer’s past. All of you Greystone girls know what camp feels like at this point in the summer and those memories are sweet. Not to say they are all “sunshine and happiness” memories (childhood is not easy and our emotions are often all over the place), but all memories turn sweet in time as God works all things for the good.
Tonight will be our first Council Fire. We will gather to consider “important things” in a beautiful new place. Due to social distancing, we are unable to gather at the Council Fire Ring but will instead gather at the Meadow. This is a wonderfully scenic spot next to the lake facing Camp Green Cove. Most campers have never visited this meadow and we are looking forward to introducing them to the place. The sunset will be filtered through the surrounding trees and the lake and mountains lit with a golden light. Sometimes the campers from the other camp will be out doing some kind of program or a pontoon boat will idle past on a cocktail cruise… needless to say, it is harder to keep everyone’s attention but the girls always surprise us with their passion for this traditional program.
Council Fire is intended to provide a moment of reflection. We marvel at the time that has past (eleven days has never passed so quickly) and the time that is left at camp (in three weeks we will be going home). As we marvel we assess what we are doing well and what we can improve. It is good to include such moments in a camp experience. So much is happening in such a short period of time, if we are not careful it will just slip through our fingers. It is a lot like life.
When you pick up your girls in three weeks’ time you will be struck by how much they have grown. Part of this is due to their age (we all know how quickly our children grow up but only truly appreciate it after a separation). Part of this is due to their experiences (they will have experienced so much, the combined effect is noticeable). And part of this is due to their newfound confidence… they will have experienced this “time shift” in minature (looking back at their pre-camp selves with astonishment) and this perspective improves the way they relate to family and friends… they will shine in every setting and you will marvel.
Thanks for checking in. Thanks for caring enough to read (I know about TMWDNR… too many words did not read) and am not offended if you skim the ramblings. We are entering the middle part of the camp experience where days are very similar to each other but the granular details varied in amazing ways. Describing camp is an endlessly interesting challenge for me. Know that the blog doesn’t even scratch the surface of the truth of this place!
- Breakfast Sweet Rolls and Sausage
- Lunch Chicken Sandwiches (our version of Chic-fil-A, featuring Chicky Chicky Yum Yum sauce) and Sweet Potato Fries
- Dinner Taco Fiesta Night
- EP Council Fire
- Weather Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, afternoon showers
