It’s that scene in the movie. The flag waving over the boat house is blowing northward. There’s a pause in the breeze, the flag comes to a rest. And then the wind switches and the flag sputters up again, this time to the south. A change in the air. A new direction.
As this first term comes to a close, I can’t help but think about what will happen to these fierce boys who’ve often been plucked out of their nice, cozy nests and plopped right down in the middle of nowhere without screens on the windows or electric in the cabins. No doubt they’ll be logged into their Facebook accounts, watching a DVD and texting with a vengance before they even hit Highway 51 on their way home.
However.
There will be moments in the next few days and weeks when they will stop in their tracks and be transported to Highlands. It might be a cool evening storm that brings on the memories. It might be as they lay in bed and try to conjure the magical call of the loon on a moon-mirrored Plum Lake. It might be when they are helping mom and dad with dishes and laughing just like during cabin chores each morning. I wish I could bottle those moments. I’d make them into a snow globe so I could shake that magic up on demand.
I just snuck out of the final banquet early to work on tying up loose ends for second term, and I had a catch in my throat. It could have been exhaustion, or the fact I have been talking for three days straight. But the truth is, the wind HAD shifted direction and intensity during the evening. There WAS a change in the air. Utter quiet, save for the bursts of applause coming from the orange-lit dining room windows, combined to create a special calm in camp and in my heart. A bit of a snow globe moment of my own.
I’m overwhelmed with the bravery of the four boys who stood in front of a crowd of hundreds of people and confessed their love for Camp Highlands. First time Cubbie, Erik Anderson, who talked about all the amazing activities at camp. Colt, Christopher Russell, who was nearly swept up in emotion talking about overcoming his homesickness and his new Highlands family. Junior, Ian Pratt (great-great-great grandson of Doc Monilaw) who wrote his speech on the back of a riflery target. Senior, Diego Casas, second generation camper, who recounted his memories of the many summers he’s spent here at Camp starting with Kent Overby as his counselor, “The Best.” He spoke of the feeling he had when finding his father’s name written on his bunk. He said, “What I definitely won’t forget is what camp teaches us every day, to be Worthwhile Men….I am proud to be a Highlands Man.” I agree.
I’m sure I missed lots of good silliness during Tin Awards, and I know I missed moments of parental proudness for Honor Camper awards. But I think hearing about Camp in the words of those bold young men was the perfect way for me to usher out First Term.
I can’t wait for these guys to be struck with moments of pride in themselves for their accomplishments small and large. I can’t wait for them to live out the “I’m Third” philosophy in their everyday lives. I can’t wait for them to be more in tune with the natural world around them. I can’t wait for them to have that snow globe moment – slow motion, sweet and perfect. But mostly, I can’t wait for them to come back next summer.
And on that note….
I ❤ CH // tracy b.