Back to Camp - 40 years later: July 7, 2011 - First day back to camp in season

I was excited about driving up to camp to spend the day there for the first time in many years. I wasn't sure what to expect or how much camp would have changed but I was ready to spend a great day there. As you might expect, some things were exactly the same and other things could not have been more different. I arrived on the grounds and was surprised at how quiet things seemed. Where were all the kids running around and being noisy? It turned out that I arrived in the middle of Maccabean Games, sort of like the Jewish version of Color War. I got to the office and didn't recognize any of the people there. I was warmly greeted by Ruby, the new Ass't Director who knew I was coming. In what can only be described as a coincidence of colossal proportion, I met his father-in-law three days earlier at Manny's Texas Wieners in Union NJ. (You can't make that name up). Ilise and I were at breakfast with our friends from Florida, Noni and Paul, when out from the men's room comes a man wearing a Kinder Ring shirt. I of course stopped him and got the story. These things happen to me all the time!!

Anyway, I met the ladies in the KR office only to find out that they were friends of Danny's and I was now and forever to be known as Danny's dad. As my mother said, it's the natural process of aging. In 1963 I was Bea and Artie's boy and then eventually they became known as Eric's parents. For many years Andrew and Danny were known as my kids and now I am known as their dad. (A name I am very proud to have).

Camp looked great - the grounds have never looked so good in as far back as I can remember. I toured some of the bunks - every one renovated over the winter and cleaner and fresher looking than they have been in 50 years. The lake was bright blue, the pool was sparkling and the grass was as green as ever. I bumped into some old friends and made some new ones.

The absolute highlight of the day was seeing my old Jewish school teacher from 1959 on. Mr. Baran taught me as a 9 year old and eventually taught me my Bar Mitzvah lessons. I've seen him hundreds of times over the years since he has been at camp since the 1970's. When my kids were at camp and needed bar mitzvah lessons he taught them too. My favorite story about him is that my kids always called him Mike. At camp he was Mike. As my teacher he was Mr. Baran and will always be Mr. Baran to me. I learned so much from him. In 1959 I was a 7 year old boy hearing first hand about what living in a concentration camp was like. I saw the number etched on his arm and heard the pain in his voice as he described his life, a mere 15 years earlier. I've never forgotten his words and his experiences - they have left a significant mark on me. To hug him and to spend time with him yesterday was a wonderful treat for me!

I made new friends too - the group leaders for the teen trip. They approached me and asked if I was Mr. Lange? I set them straight right away - call me Eric. I said if you call me Mr. Lange one more time we are going to have some serious issues. They were great kids and I liked them instantly - just like the Emerging Leaders at work that I've hired over the past 8 years - smart, personable and full of potential!

Later in the date I met the only other adult going on the camp trip - one of the camp nurses, Alisa. Needless to say we were Facebook friends within about 45 seconds after meeting and will be best friends by the time we hit Baltimore!

The other thing I did was have two meals in the KR dining room. Frantic doesn't begin to describe the atmosphere there - kids everywhere at the salad bar, the fruit bar - waiters not carrying trays over their shoulders the way I did in the summer of 1968. What's up with that? BUT, the food wasn't horrible, the bug juice was still bug juice and I did enjoy being back in that very special dining room where for the record I NEVER DROPPED A TRAY the entire summer of 1968!!!

So enough with the words, time for the pictures from my day at camp. More to camp on my next trip back in a week or so!