'A special perfume' 

By Susan Quartin Schaffner
( Jan. 18, 2003 )

    It's been a long time since I've thought about camp. Oh yes, there was a moment a couple of years ago while I was watching a local production of "Damn Yankees" when I suddenly pictured Elaine Hanauer as Joe's wife, singing in her lovely soprano. Wasn't it Bobby Weiss who played Shoeless Joe? And Ernie Gutman was the perfect devil. The Rochester ( Minn. ) version was all the more enjoyable because I remembered all the words to the songs, having learned them at camp.
    ( Reunion plans) sparked some additional memories. Remember that simple prayer we sang before meals: "Thank you for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat, thank you for the birds that sing, thank you God for everything." Those were such innocent times.

    I also remember part of a Color War song, sung to Ha Tikvah: "The Israelites go marching, onward to the sea, n'er shall we falter, victorious shall we be. See the Gold Team stagger, see the Gold Team fall, Blue Team will conquer, triumphant over all." And on and on. I remember feeling so excited to be part of a team where everyone cheered each other on in victory and consoled each other in defeat.

     Another memory that stands out is the magical sight of Lake Minnewaska , so blue and clear and deep. Growing up in New York City , I had never seen anything like it.

     The very air we breathed at camp had a special perfume. I remember positioning my bed under a window so I could breathe in that wonderful country air all night. My best memory of camp is of the laughter, so much of it -- the kind that leaves you weak and teary and oh so happy.

     SSC affected my life in the most significant way. Camp was where I met Andy Ribner, whom I wound up dating while attending the University of Chicago . Andy introduced me to his roommate, John Schaffner. John and I have been married for 32 years.