May 10, 2010
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the happy couple
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the bride's parents
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the groom's parents
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the groom's cake
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Matt and Darby
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Corey and Sarah Katherine
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Back when I was a young counselor it made a big impression on me when several former counselors I really looked up to brought their boyfriends and girlfriends down to meet Tay. I wasn’t sure exactly why they wanted her opinion of who they were dating. Looking back on it now I realize two things – #1 they could count on her to tell them what she really thought and #2 she was a great judge of character.
She frequently told the staff “Don’t marry anyone until you’ve gone on a canoe trip with them”. What I think she meant by that is that you see someone’s true character when they are on a canoe trip – you know if they do their fair share, you see if they appreciate the same things you do, you learn if they are a complainer – basically you see them in a real-life situation and not in the artificial setting of a date.
At camp, we discourage romantic relationships and encourage friendships. Even so, over the years, several counselors who have become good friends at camp have gone on to get married. Guy T. helped Lele get her supperhike fires going, Eric and Anneleis were both from Holland, Alex from Denmark and Cristina from Spain married in Pamplona several years ago and Tay and Dr. Guy were there. Several weeks ago it looked like a Strong River Reunion in Lafayette LA when Corey and Sarah Katherine got married. William read the Irish Blessing we sing at our final breakfast at camp as part of the ceremony. Most of the bridesmaids were counselors. The groom’s cake was several tiers of Strong River Banquet cupcakes. The whole event was beautiful and Tay and Dr. Guy and I were so pleased to be a part of it.
Tay’s advice still makes good sense. First, be a friend and next, make sure to go on a canoe trip with someone before you marry them. Best wishes to expert canoers Corey and Sarah Katherine!!!
Meet you at the Orange Mailbox… Sarah Dabney
December 29, 2009
What do these 3 photos have in common? They all depict a repeated event here at Strong River.
In early December we had a repeat of last year’s snowfall. Then we had a wonderful visit with Greg Thomas from Oregon. Greg was a counselor the first few summers Strong River existed and even spent a winter at the farm one year as he prepared to enter medical school.
Yesterday several counselors gathered at the farm to wish Tay and Dr. Guy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Meet you at the Orange Mailbox… Sarah Dabney
May 18, 2009
Today was Tay’s 85th Birthday! We had a great day at the farm with lots of phone calls and cards from friends and family. We started celebrating yesterday with a luncheon with a dear friend and then a visit with out-of-town relatives. Today we had birthday cake and we recycled candles from a previous birthday – very true to form as Tay has been a recycler for eons. For the photo she added the extra five years by holding up her fingers…
Somehow we got through the day without spankings, Russian ear-pulls or the Bumps – perhaps because none of our International staff are here yet. But they are on their way! This year we hope to have Denmark, England, Scotland, South Africa, and Taiwan represented at Strong River.
Meet you at the Orange Mailbox… Sarah Dabney
March 30, 2009
Baton Rouge, Dallas, Ocean Springs, Atlanta, Oxford. Y’all are keeping me busy with your applications arriving in each day’s mail. How fun it is for us to see how far the news about Strong River has travelled. While I am looking at the postmarks, Dr. Guy is eyeing the variety of commemorative stamps on your envelopes. He adds to his collection regularly and sometimes he even tears the stamps off the corners before I can open them!
Last week there was a big tornado that came within 12 miles of us. It made national news and I started receiving emails and telephone calls from all over the country. We are fine here at the farm and didn’t have any damage from the storm but we are grateful for all of your concern. The town of Magee was hit hard and we are trying to support our neighbors to the east. It is nice to know that we have friends near and far who are keeping up with us.
The Strong River has earned the name “Strong” this week and I will post some photos of the high water soon. In the meantime – tell your friends to go ahead and register – the waiting lists are starting on some sessions and we hate disappointing our old campers.
Enjoy this beautiful blooming season and we will see you SOON!
Meet you at the Orange Mailbox… Sarah Dabney
