[ These reflections were written Dec. 5, 2000, a month after a few SSC alumni got in touch via e-mail. Linda was a camper from 1956-65. ] 

 

By Linda Hanauer

 

Here are some free associations and memories:

Pledging allegiance to the flag.
Taking the flag down and folding it up in triangles for the night.
Frozen Milky Way bars on a stick that we bought at Vianna Rest, where we'd go on a honeymoon after getting married [by Norman "Marryin' Sam" Langsam] on Sadie Hawkins Day.

 

I was also afraid of bats in the rec hall,

and very fast and hard-thrown Dodge Balls.

I was really good at Dodge Ball because I was so skinny that when I turned sideways, it was really hard to hit me. People liked me on their team at Color War because of this ability in Dodge Ball.

Waiting on line for baloney sandwiches on white bread at Tilson Lake.
The damp aroma and graffiti in the wooden changing rooms at Tilson Lake.
Roller skating in the rink at Tilson Lake -- white, lace-up skates.
Chocolate fudgesicles at Tilson Lake.

Back at camp: The wooden tree bench and the outdoor showers across
from the wooden tree bench where Daddy Long Legs spiders would freak us out.

Husking corn for the evening's mean in between the kitchen and the First Ladies bunk . . . it smelled so good.

Gerry playing his accordian to wake us in the morning at camp.
Earlier, Uncle Gerry playing the accordian and piano at Stern Kindergarten: "The farmer takes a wife / The farmer takes a wife / Hi ho the dairy-o, the farmer takes a wife." 

 

I went up to the camp about eight years ago. The tree bench was still there. It was in the fall, and the place was gorgeous --covered in autumn leaves.

But the camp was much smaller than I had remembered it. The main house was gone, but everything else was there. 

Sheldon Road was almost the same, except for a few more houses.  There were more houses around Schmultz's -- the abandoned house -- and I thought I found its foundation.

I just realized as I am writing this that there may be some connection with my [creative art] collages using old worn papers and the peeling wallpapers inside the abandoned Shultz's house.

Do you remember the circle of rocks and trees on Sheldon Road where we would stop at and sing songs?
On walks up the dirt road, my mother Lilo found a branch that looked like a snake.

My sister remembers that I embarrassed her by dressing in all red clothing, but the reds were all different reds that clashed and Elaine was mortified -- and to this day wonders about my choices of very muted colors in my work.

I remember trying to fall asleep at night in my room in The Main House that faced the Rec Hall and the older kids were having a dance. The loudspeaker was just outside my room ... so instead of going to sleep, I  would watch the older kids dance to "Put Your Head on My Shoulders."

 

[ Linda Hanauer is a Manhattan artist and head of the middle school art department at The Dalton School. ]