The Terrible Catsafterme

I remarked at the last campfire that this was my final year at camp – and rather than going out with a ‘bang,’ I went out with a ‘nice quiet week.’ I’m not sure why this was, but I’m sure it had something to do with the fact that I had aged – so to speak – several years once I became a father, and was facing the future of ‘adulthood’ head on. Also, I recall that there were only two groups at camp and smaller somtimes meant less. This was my tenth and final year at Camp Woodland Altars, having consecutively attended every year since the Summer before fourth grade. Read the rest of this entry »

Denise had just left for a week at Camp Woodland Altars on July 1, 1990 – the day before we were notified that Oscar had passed away. Oscar was the second husband of my Grandma Range, having married one another on July 17, 1970, the day before my parents were lawfully united themselves. He had been diagnosed with a form of Alzheimer’s disease, referred to as Sundown Syndrome, a couple of years pror to his passing. This disease struck worse during the evening hours, although as it progressed, he became equally as confused during the day. Read the rest of this entry »

There were lots of milestones in Grandma Range’s life during 1990. The first of these was, of course, her first great-grandchild being born on March 21. The second major one was her first grandchild Lora getting married to Todd Abbott. Lora is also the first of my cousins to take the plunge. The ceremony was held at the Bear Creek Church of the Brethren on Saturday, June 23, which if I recall correctly, was the day I ended my last week at Camp Woodland Altars. Denise was the guest book attendant and handled the job capably. Read the rest of this entry »