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
March 18, 2010
The last issue of Newsweek had in it a blurb about the death of Winston Churchill III – grandson of the famous Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II. I was sorry to read of his death but it made me recall a very pleasant memory of meeting him once.
My high school was affiliated with the English Speaking Union and I got to participate in their exchange program that allowed me to go to England for an extra year of high school. It was an amazing year. In one class, we studied Hamlet for the whole year!
There was a special Jubilee celebration that year and Queen Elizabeth invited some of the exchange students to an event at St. James Palace. It was a thrilling experience just to go into the palace. We were assigned to specific rooms and I was sent to the Queen Anne room – one room away from the Throne room. That was when I met Winston Churchill III who was a Member of Parliament. He was so kind to me and when it was time for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to come through our room he showed me just what to do.
We all put down our food and drink and formed a corridor from one door across the room to another door. The Royal couple walked through the room slowly and I managed to curtsy to the Queen and she smiled at me. Then Prince Philip stopped to speak to Mr. Churchill. To my surprise, he introduced me to the Prince and told him I was from Mississippi. I honestly can’t tell you exactly what we said to each other. It was a blur even as it was happening. The next thing I remember was leaving the Palace and meeting up with the other students at the Hard Rock Cafe – a new “hot spot” in London.
Another bonus of that year in England was the good friends I made. Akkie was a friend who came over the next summer to be a counselor at camp. Four of Akkie’s six children have also come to camp and we are looking forward to Helen returning to us this summer.
When you embark on a new experience you never know in advance what you are going to get out of it or what you’ll remember most about it. Hopefully, you’ll make a friend or two – some you’ll stay in touch with and some will just be a happy memory. Rest in peace, Mr. Churchill.
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
