From The Mailbag -
Jody Collins

First, great web site. I can never tire of the sight looking out over Squam.

I had to be one of the luckiest kids growing up spending every summer in the heart of New Hampshire on one the most beautiful lakes in the state.  I met some of the nicest people in my life there and to this day appreciate such an early exposure to diversity.  I was blind towards color, religion or national origin- one of the best attributes I associate with Camp that created a personality trait within me that is priceless.  I started thinking about the memories I have and at this point in my life they are more a series of photos indelibly etched in my mind.  They streamed almost continually in no particular order, and while independently they do not tell a story, collectively they speak volumes.

Here goes:
Eddie Curtis, the donkeys, the cry of the loons, canoe trip to Church Island, climbing Little Red for the first time after looking at it for years, being a camper and being embarrassed that I was homesick even though my folks were never more than a couple hundred yards away, eating popsicles with George V. in the kitchen, fruit cocktail in little green bowls, Saturday night cookouts, did we really all skinny dip and wash Saturday nights?, pie eating contest In Sandwich was there a guy named Moore that could eat them whole?-  I just remember that large smile caked with blueberry, the big softball game, fireworks, catching a 21/2 pound bass off the dock, council ring, Pmac Elah and FINALLY being able to play, awesome games of capture the flag, listening to the echoes over the lake, getting my forehead smashed by a horseshoe (apparently that’s what happens when you walk through a horseshoe pit when people are playing), rain on the tin roof, running scared to death up to the dining hall at night when I was little and heard weird noises, the great story telling and Native American lore, counselors playing guitar and us all singing, going to my first Grateful Dead concert and being surprised they were singing one of my camp favorites- Samson and Delilah- which to this day I can't listen to without being back around the fire, FINALLY being old to be a JC and oh what fun we had, being on B.W. patrol, I vaguely remember the counselors putting one of their own in a rowboat while he was still in his bed, the food fest during parents weekend were I got to eat some great ethnic food, shoe leather, pistachios, even bagels and cream cheese during alumni weekend was a treat, going in the VW to pick up cabins from trips, northern lights, the delight of the buses rolling in with a whole new bunch of friends to be made and crying as the buses rolled out with those same new friends, the buses getting stuck and everyone having to get out and walk up the hill and reboarding, catching salamanders, hanging with Tut, wondering how Mr. Dick could be sooo skinny, Chicky, Jake, Alan and Brian and everyone else who made up my summer family. There were so many people who couldn't be any nicer, and driving up there seemingly taking forever from home only to see all these happy welcome faces was like Christmas morning for me. It wasn't until I was a little older and drove around the South End, Dorchester, etc that I started to realize what a haven camp must have been for so many of the kids going, and being old enough to understand later how hard it may have been for them to return to the city. I have to think the camp experience had to turn many kids around who were at that critical point in their lives when there may have seemed like there was not much hope in mankind, only to see and live what must have been like a fantasy world up in the middle of the woods. I think my first efforts in teaching beginning swimming was the summer Jaws came out and the reluctance of the kids to even go into the water was hilarious. Ya know, I could probably ramble on for ever- like the beautiful wedding my brother had there, but hopefully this will trigger those pictures you all have in your minds. To those I know well and to those I've never met who keep the tradition and opportunity alive, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart - a place where all these memories reside. Reveille, taps,the folding of the flag, proudly saluting...

Jody Collins