When I first met Darin Anderson, he reminded me of one of those guys from the fifties boys series fiction books, like one of the Hardy Boys maybe. He was straight-laced, lean, fit, and athletic – and he greatly enjoyed the outdoors: exploring, hiking, sporting, you name it. It was fitting that we first met at Camp Woodland Altars at the Eco Adventures camp the week of July 14-20, 1985. I, on the other hand, was un-athletic, chubby, and had the world’s most warped sense of humor. This somehow appealed to Darin who recalled recently that I had “a unique and off-kilter view of the world.” That was really all it took for me to latch on to someone – they had to understand and appreciate that. In the picture from 1985 above, I am trying to make an Ed Grimley face – just for the record.
Darin, too, was very funny in his own right. We watched a lot of the same comedians and television shows. We were both terminally smart aleck. And we enjoyed making fun of or (if you prefer the politically correct version) ‘teasing’ others. We stayed in contact after our first year at camp by exchanging letters nearly every week. One time Darin had the audacity to spell my name “Brad Farrel” – lopping off the final ‘L’. I responded in kind by addressing his next letter to “Darin Anderso” – hardy har har.
The next year we both returned to Eco Adventures Camp, and this time he brought along one of his school chums Eric Hubble. We all hit it off instantly and subsequently they both made visits to my place and I traveled far up north to Upper Sandusky and Bucyrus to visit both of them. We had planned on continuing with Youth camp, but alas, as 1988 rolled around we all fell out of touch…
…Until earlier this year. After locating and meeting with Eric who was living near my sister in Westerville, he referred me to Darin’s website Little Mountain Living. I was immediately impressed by the far-off places that Darin and his wife were traveling and the things they were doing: climbing, hiking, camping – all of those things that had appealed to the younger Darin of twenty years ago. He had kept in tip-top shape and appeared to be living his dream.
I had nearly hooked up with Darin during our March trip to Myrtle Beach, but plans got stymied. He later decided to fly back to Ohio from Washington D.C. where he is currently working most of the month. Original plans were to meet up with Eric as well, but unfortunately Eric was unavailable that weekend. As fate would have it the way things turned out was even more interesting.
We ended up actually meeting up back at Camp Woodland Altars where we had first met almost exactly twenty-two years ago. My family and I were staying in a chalet there on the evening of June 9, 2007 so I invited Darin to stay with us. It worked out just right. We got along swimmingly as we reminisced about our weeks at camp, hiked the trails, went swimming, and exchanged humorous stories and anecdotes. It felt great to be back in the same place, hanging out with the same guy.
This is the dorm room where we stayed in ’85 and ’86
I for one had a blast as I was spiralled into this timewarp vortex and sincerely hope that we can meet up again whenever Darin makes his way back to Ohio. He’s still the same good ol’ boy and still funny as hell. And as for me…I’ll have to wait to see if he comments, but chances are he’s still going to think I am still ‘unique and off-kilter.’
In front of the Sugar Grove Lodge, our lodgings for two weeks of our lives
Continue with the next reunion…
Wow…. back at Woodland Altars after so long. I was expecting not to recognize the place after so many years but ironically it was pretty much the same! One thing can certainly be said about the staff, they are extremely ‘helpful’! (Inside joke, and wouldn’t be that funny if I even tried to explain it, but I know Brad’s laughing as he reads it). Catching up was great, even learned a new dice game called ‘Frackle’ (but pronounced ‘Farkle’ 🙂 ). Maybe next time we can coerce Eric back and the 3 musketeers will ride again! Or perhaps just the 3 stooges…. 🙂
Darin Anderson
June 14th, 2007
My boyz are all growed up! Thanks to YOU TWO, I am having flashbacks to 1985…
Bruce Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she’s uncool
Cause she’s still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985
Woohoohoo
(1985)
Woohoohoo
Scott Sliver
June 13th, 2008