On Wednesday, May 25, 1977, a significant milestone occurred in my life: I graduated pre-school from Hope Nursery School. Mrs. Painter and Mrs. Groeber signed off on my certificate, certifying that I was now ready to enter the real world…or at least kindergarten. I bid farewell to my teachers and my friends, namely Jason, my best friend who I loved to tattle on. And I prepared myself for my last Summer of freedom before the perils of real school would begin in the Fall. Life was good and I was off to a rip-roaring start.
The official graduation certificate
That very weekend we departed for Woodland Altars once again. There were at least two things significant about this venture to Woodland Altars. As far as I recall, this was our last Memorial Day weekend getaway to this beloved campsite. We had gone there with my Dad’s family a few times over the previous years including documented trips in 1972 and 1974. If we went in 1975, I have located no pictures to prove it. And it is doubtful that we would have gone in 1976 since Denise would have been less than two months old.
The other significant thing about the weekend is that it is really the first and only trip of this nature that I remember taking. After we moved to our house on Winterset the following year, I don’t recall or have photos of us ever camping together again – so although I would be heading off to junior lodge camp some four years later, this weekend still holds fond memories for me.
At the familiar Woodland Altars pool. I don’t remember that girl’s name in the background, but I remember I had a crush on her
Denise and another Brethren boy, C.R. Weaver
I remember staying in our tent, swimming at the pool, and my Uncle Bill taking me fishing. But what I remember best is that my Mom and Dad, Denise, Uncle Bill and Aunt Dottie, Lora, Robby, and I all got relatively lost in the vast woods. While I find this incredible today since I now know the woods so well, I can recall a bit of fear as we struggled to find our way back to our campsite.
And although I can’t remember the layout of where we were walking, I do remember that I knew my way back to our campsite from various landmarks around the camp. But this particular time, we had lost all of them and didn’t know where we were. I’m sure the adults and even Lora and Robby knew we were in no danger. What I recalli with absolute clarity is coming upon a clearing and happily shouting at the top of my lungs: “EARTH!”
To which everyone burst out laughing, Robby replying “this is earth! the whole thing is earth!”
I don’t remember that lodge in the background of my uncle Bill and me fishing at the lake, but I would certainly come to know it as I would stay in it for a week during four consecutive Summers
Naturally, we found our way back to our campsite and found our way back home and I bid farewell to Woodland Altars for another four years. But I had a whole Summer of fun ahead of me, beginning with our second trip to St. Pete Beach, Disney World, and one of the most memorable vacations of my entire life.
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