Blind Butchers & Petrified Pigs
July 29, 2023
“Do you have two weeks left in the tank?” is a question I have been asking staff, especially those who have been here seven weeks, including orientation days.
The answer has been a resounding “yes,” as evidenced by some very energetic and creative activity offerings happening out there. You can go to my photo album, last pic, and see what is on tap for right now, Saturday morning. If I were a child, which I am at heart, I’d be delighted to have two “stations” plus a B Block on my agenda before lunchtime!
But, back to yesterday. I think Sara’s photo album is her best one of the summer. It being a warm day, she spent most of her time on the water and captured boys in their most exuberant postures. I loved those sunset paddleboarding pix and would love to be that age again and HERE at this camp.
Sara loves the Ferrari boat (the Ski Nautique) and nearly always takes pictures that I think you should get framed and hung in a prominent place in your home. Andrew S. was the birthday boy and that is he making an enormous growl while jumping off the middle tower during general swim and later in my photo set belting marshmallow home runs into the crowd of enthusiastic campmates.
Other after dinner sponsorships had me chasing the campers up the hill to Pines Field. I had to find out what “Blind Butchers & Petrified Pigs” and “Gibbet Trading” were all about. One look at Jesse crawling around with his popsicle in hand was all I needed to know about the former and the assemblage of crock-wearers bearing weird doohickeys left me chuckling anew. “Would you guys buy a Kingswood gibbet?” I inquired. Their cheerful response left me planning a new capital venture.
Lastly, back to the “two weeks left in the tank” remark. As is most natural, after just one week, many boys, especially first-timers, are still being a tad cautious about their activity choices, appearances and making new friendships. Most do not know this, but their very best days of camp are to follow.
Some boys and their parents make the mistake of contending that “three weeks is too long,” and assume that preliminary hesitations only get worse as time goes on. Nope. Just the opposite in 99% of all cases.
I’ll leave the thought right there for now and come back day after day 14 more times with corroborating evidence. Have a nice weekend.