Camps
Camps
It's funny to sit here and savor good times,
Sitting here -- yeah, at Sheridan Camp,
Since camps of themselves have played such a key role
In my happiness (even when damp!)
Au Sable ranks up towards the top of that list --
For four years, (see, I started at ten)
The swimming, canoeing and nature crafts too --
I miss Heather the most from back then …
Who's Heather? The weather girl -- sweet as shu-creme
(Japanese for eclair -- thought you knew … )
My first worldly crush. We'd go out in the woods
Among ferns, holding hands, as they do.
Made "morning watch" something worth watching, for sure!
I would hang on her every soft word
Like Snow White -- so smooth (I was one of the dwarfs),
When she spoke, she didn't talk -- she just purred!
There were twelve of us dwarfs, so we all had to share
I was smitten more so than the rest
We would learn about clouds, sing a song, say a prayer,
But nat'rally she was the best!
Au Sable was number one too -- up until
Adell Haughey, my band teacher, explored
A full scholarship down at Mohaven (down south)
Being free meant that we could afford
The expense of two trips -- both there and then back,
In one week it was said we would play
Three full concerts the following weekend -- (We did!)
It was quite the next weekend, I'd say!
And quite a departure from camp protocol --
In a number of ways, quite unique!
From no KP duties to no counselors --
To date butter and curing the meek --
That's right. I said curing the meek. It turns out
If you're good at your craft, you'll be shy!
So where musical chairs might be good for the norm,
Swap out chairs for girls' arms to comply with
The new socializational norms. Start with girls
In a circle, with hands on their hips.
Start the music, add ten or more boys, then add one
So one arm will be air when he grips --
Which takes place when the music stops often enough
Ten guys each make a grab for their girls --
And the one who's left holding the lack of an arm
Gets cut out from the next set of swirls!
This was prob'ly the first time for some of us kids
To make physical contact with skin.
Encouraged by staff -- what a switch -- it took time
For some kids to let loose and join in!
Paul Yoder was there the first year I signed on --
Wrote more music for band than by far
Any other composer before or now since --
In that sense, you could say he's a star.
If in practice, he heard a mistake, he would stop --
Then he'd glare at the place it occurred
He'd then point to each player -- each one had to play
Then without even saying a word
He would point his baton at the one who played best
And direct him to move up a chair.
I started out last in the tuba array,
But was soon playing first with a flair!
The next year my braces came off so I played
With the trumpets instead of the bass.
The conductor that year -- Simmonelli, or Frank
From the Navy Band, post horn -- first place.
His trumpet was silver. The bell was so thin --
(The less metal, the smoother the tone),
If you touched it on one side, he said through the bell
On the other, your fingerprints shown!
The last night of camp, kids were given a choice --
Both choices were good through the night --
An all-night canoe trip or six-hour swim
Up until they saw next morning's light!