photo by nina weinberg doran
OK, I confess. I did something no introvert in his or her right mind would do… I attended a camp reunion with friends I haven’t seen for 38 years!! Temporary insanity, right? I had reconnected with a dear friend on Facebook, and she convinced three of us to attend. We were bunkmates.
Thirty years ago the camp was sold to The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. It has since been transformed into a well-known holistic healing/retreat center. All of the camp buildings and grounds were preserved, as was the original character. It was as close to going back in time as I could imagine, right down to the Dining Hall and tetherball court.
As people arrived one by one, I heard the familiar voices of my fellow campers: HI! HOW ARE YOU? YOU LOOK THE SAME! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO? And so it began: Two days of schmoozing, reminiscing and socializing.
It shouldn’t be a total surprise when I say I wasn’t exactly an enthusiastic camper. After all, camp is about 100% group participation in every way – we ate, slept, bathed, sang, swam, romped and played together. My favorite activity was… you guessed it, rest time! That’s when I could hang out with my girl friends; write letters, gossip and nap. Camp absolutely exhausted me, as did this reunion.
It was wonderful to see my old friends who had travelled from as far as Seattle, Toronto and Western NY. We connected deeply and shared stories of our grown-up lives. But what struck me most was that in spite of our full, poignant lives, complete with tremendous loss, challenges and celebration; each one of us was pretty much the same. I was still the faithful (and somewhat sarcastic) friend. Susan was the ethereal artistic type. Sharon, the boy-crazy giggler and Beth, the extrovert with a personal connection to every one in attendance.
I was astounded by this observation. How could all of this time pass without monumental transformation? What about years of education? Personal Growth? Therapy? We were parents, professionals, athletes and artists, but the only change I could detect in myself was a better understanding and acceptance of who I am. That’s really it.
I returned home from the reunion with one foot in the past and one in the present. I straddled that place for a while, feeling a bit tender. I imagined how much easier my childhood would have been with the awareness of my introversion. Instead of wondering what was wrong with me for not wanting to attend evening activities, I could have excused myself and explained that introverts need to manage their energy (ha ha!). Oh, but then I wouldn’t have needed all of those years of personal growth and awareness training! I haven’t changed much from the camper I was, but I am grateful I don’t have to go back this summer.
Cheers!
Comments
Joan
I really like your blog. And, in addition to being “spacey and artistic,” I am also an introvert. These days I also am more comfortable with who I am which is why on Saturday night at the reunion, I retreated to my room, went to bed early so that I could wake early and have some precious time to myself to write in my journal.
I had established this routine during past visists to Omega so I had an advantage over you regrading surviving a camp reunion…..
Susan, I hope you read this in the loving spirit it was intended. You were very much an inspiration for this post. XOX
Absolutely. Your blog articulates my own thoughts and feelings…
HAHAHAHHAAH the part about not having to go back this summer!! As i read your remembrances i share every feeling you had.. i didn’t want to go to camp.. i was forced.. two weeks always of homesickness and crying. then another 6 week where i managed just fine.. had good girlfriends.. etc.. but i wasn’t really the groupie camper type.. but i kept the rhythm of camp activities.. and i did the same thing.. went back last summer. sat on the bunk beds.. went to the dining hall where the counselors were leaving for the summer.. last few days and they sang to me.. i sang my old songs.. felt everything i felt when i was young there.. even standing on the roots in the earth.. i remember them all like old friends. trying not to trip on them…… inside we are same deep down in our recesses.. externally we have been transformed with life experience … same different.. this experience is one of awakening to that child inside of us.. for me it was tender too… nice reading this joanie.. and it your words i can see why were are the bestest.. man oh man I’m glad i don’t have to go back too. five years.. two months every summer!! my claim to fame… fencing champion of the camp!
Nina, I love this comment! Did you say fencing champion? We would have been camp friends for sure.
Beautiful post Joanie!