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'We were family'

By Lenny Loewentritt

My dream of being back in camp with my camp family came true during the triumphant weekend at camp and the Nevele.

So many memories of the reunion keep going around in my mind:

Seeing Elaine Hanauer Ravich in the distance as I drove up to the Nevele and instantly knowing her.
Seeing Alan Stamm and Ruthie Eisenberg Wouk as I entered the meeting room with all of the photos and memorabilia.
The evening events, singing the Shabbat songs, seeing and hearing Norman yet one more time reading from the Sholem Aleichem story book and then watching us in the movies, reliving the days gone by so long ago. We sat until after midnight, just embracing our memories and photographs.

The return to camp together as a camp for the first time since 1965 and earlier was unforgettable.

Standing around the flagpole singing "God Bless America" and our beloved camp songs brought tears and chills to so many of us. I can't describe the feelings when we saw our old groups stand around one more time as we sang, walked
around camp together and hike to Schmultz's. It was as if time had stood still.
Seeing and listening to Elyce Wakerman sing her old tunes from "My Fair Lady" and Elaine and Dicky Goldsmith singing together from our color war song also were memorable moments.

I don't know where to end this. Playing softball with my campers, counselors and bunkmates was a dream team. Watching Frank Jackson pitch two innings at age 84 was amazing.

I could go on and on. But mostly I was amazed by the same passion, excitement and enthusiasm that virtually everyone had for camp. I was afraid that maybe there would just be a few of us with that love of camp and that most of the attendees had gone on with their lives.

    But was I wrong! You could see by the tears, the hugging and the smiles that camp -- and now the reunion -- was an incredible time for us. We were family. I still see the tears flowing from people as we said good-bye. When I came home, I had that same feeling that I had when we used to get home from camp.
     I am getting wonderful e-mails from campers and counselors who I thought that I may never hear from again. We have
rekindled some very special relationships that I hope continue.
     I keep looking at the photos and I know that I have a smile from ear to ear as I relive the reunion.

[ Lenny Loewentritt, who was at SSC from 1950-65, is a government attorney with the General Services Administration's personal property division in Washington, D.C. ]