“Yeah, That’s Him”
July 27,2023
There is no question but that we are able to post many more photos than in summers’ past. Improved technology and faster Internet make it so much easier to gather, edit and publish our pictures of your sons in paradise.
If there were a prize for best camp photos, Sara would win it, hands down. Just look at her offerings; amazing, eh? Mine are no match for hers, but I do endeavor to offer lots of landscapes that show both the setting and scads of boys. “Yeah, that’s him,” is my reply to you when you ask me if your kiddo is in a particular pic. I have no idea, of course, but you should be allowed to enjoy some vicarious pleasure now and again. Besides, I’ll bet that many of you are indeed able to pick him out of a crowd.
Sara was up at dawn yesterday to be on hand for the start of the Lake Swim event. This is not a competition, but rather every participant’s chance to swim across the lake and back at his own pace. Each swimmer has a spotter and the lifeguards are in various support craft to include the power boats. Calm conditions are paramount to a 100% completion rate, which I think they got but I forgot to verify for certain. Times range from about 25 minutes to an hour, or longer.
Beyond that, both Sara and I were on hand for A and B Block on what was the warmest day in quite some time. Since the tie-dye clinic involved all four of my granddaughters, I had to be there for that one.
Soon, however, I was drawn to the playing fields where the touch football tournament was having its first round of the session. I loved it when counselors Jacob and Dylan demanded a re-take of their team photo with them included. A fair request, actually, since the counselors do participate in this staple of the A Block arsenal. These were exhibition games as the elimination rounds come later on. That way, all 8 teams stay alive.
General Swim at 4:30 drew quite the crowd, the heat being part of the attraction, the smell of the grills nearby being the second reason. During that time frame, B Block, the lads going on the overnight to Pirate Cove were getting packed up. Yes, this haunt was offered for the second consecutive day and this time, the program director himself, Mike Wiff, accompanied the group, which included his daughter Olivia.
It was my idea to take photos of the boys looking sideways at the camera to reveal their large packs. For once, Sara had to copy my approach. Truth be told, we ferried the gear to Pirate Cove via speedboat so that the campers could paddle canoes without fear of catastrophic loss!
The picnic at the beach was terrific, both the food and the atmosphere. “How much would your parents pay for this table,” I inquired and was informed, “Lots!”
Post-picnic we all gathered in the council fire area, where CJ’s birthday was celebrated in fine fashion. The hubbub you see in the pix is the glee from the campers when CJ picked counselor Liam B. to be tossed into the lake.
During evening sponsorships, Nathan and I offered a “Ferrari Tour” of the lake. First we encountered what appeared to be an animal in the water, but it was but a log floating along with the light waves. Then we passed by the gang at Pirate Cove who rushed out to the shoreline to greet us. During First Session it was revealed that the loons had successfully produced a chic this year and we proved it beyond a doubt.
Lastly, at day’s end as twilight deepened, I went on the dock to observe the final tosses of Lutherball, a game organized by Andy Luther where one jumps off the tower, catches a tennis ball, and tries to toss it through the ring buoy on the far dock. No one has ever scored an ace and only a few have even hit the ring. How amazing was it, then, when Andy’s son Drew hit the ring with a strong toss that had it, and me too, spinning for quite some time.