Saturday, August 23, 2008

Camp Herrlich Reunion, -6 days

Greetings:

Well, we've finally made it to the last week before the reunion! Less than a week to go! This sure has been a long time coming! This will probably be my last post before the reunion. Our nation's current economic situation has wrecked havoc on the auto industry. Thankfully, General Motors has seen fit to lay us off for the upcoming week, allowing me the opportunity to drive down to North Carolina to visit my parents and take care of some of their business matters before heading to the reunion. Since I have not yet been able to bring myself to make a decision on which laptop to purchase, I will be pretty much offline once I leave home on Monday. So, if you have any last minute questions for me, please get them to me right away. If you must reach me after Monday, my cell phone number is: 405-413-1634. Please bear with me on this, I'm an old guy and new to cells, I have some real issues attempting to retreive messages and I just don't understand texting. So if you don't actually get to talk to me, your best bet is to call back.

At this point, we have eight people meeting for the pre-reunion dinner at the McCarthy Family Eatery located at 347 Route 52 in Carmel. It's right across the road from the old lumber yard. I suggest using one of the computer mapping services to get driving directions. If all else fails, their phone number is 845-225-6012. There's plenty of room if anyone else would like to join us. Oh, before I forget, I'm planning on arriving early, about 5pm so that those who need to can still get over to the camp and get settled before dark.

I am happy to announce that Pastor Wiker has agreed to lead our Sunday service up at the Chapel, weather permitting.

I trust that I don't need to tell anyone what they need to bring for a weekend at camp but, I must say, don't forget your flashlight. And, please bring your Herrlich pictures. If you have a recent photo for the memory book bring it along.

To those of you who are not attending the reunion, you will be missed and I guarantee that you will be in our thoughts. If your situation has changed and you can get there, please do so. I can assure you that no one will be upset. Otherwise, expect to hear from me in post-reunion blogs and as we work on putting together the memory book.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped make this reunion a success. That goes for those who helped plan, as well as, those who asked the tough questions that helped us cover all the stuff we might have missed otherwise. I'm really looking forward to seeing all of you. Please forgive me if I forget to thank you in person.

Please drive safely and I'll see you all next weekend!

Peace, Love,

Big Jim

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Camp Herrlich Reunion, -15 Days

Greetings;

Just two more weeks, gee, the tensions starting to build. From all indications, we should have a pretty nice event. Sadly, most folks can't spend the whole weekend, but, after forty years, an awful lot of folks have apparently decided to make the effort to at least put in an appearance. In case I don't get to you at the reunion, let me take a moment to thank each and every single one of you who has taken the time to help make this a success. I can't wait! Judy, Norma Olsen Levettt, Tyrone and I are planning to get together up near the camp for a pre-reunion dinner on Friday. If you'd like to join us, drop me an email. Ruben can only make it for Saturday. Hector and Pat Petersen Puchalski will be flying in together for Saturday and Sunday. Karen Kangas Repka and her hubby will be joining us on Saturday. The Duehne delegation, seven strong will becoming in on Saturday. It looks like if you can only spare one day at the reunion, you probably want to make it Saturday.

Those staying at the camp will be bunking in cabins in the Girl's Unit. That's what we all remember as the Boy's Unit, the one nearest to the lake. A number of you have voiced concerns about using the outhouses down in the units. Let me assure you that they are not the same ones we had forty years ago. The rest rooms at the dining hall are still around so, if you don't want to rough it, you can just climb the hill and go in comfort.

The issue of alcoholic beverages has been addressed. We will be able to serve beer and wine. However, this will be very strictly monitered. We're all getting a bit too old to be tying one on. A glass or two of wine most of us can still handle. Consider this as an opportunity for some mood adjustment not an old fashioned attitude adjustment. There will be limitations, every car leaving the grounds will need to have a sober designated driver. This must be handled in a responsible adult manner so that everyone can enjoy themselves and no one ends up getting hurt or in any kind of trouble.

As I think back tothe 1992 reunion, I recall that it was a rather damp and chilly weekend. You'll probably be well advised to pack a sweater, sweatshirt or light jacket at the very least. And, it can always rain, so don't forget some sort of raingear.

Several people have, in my opinion, been going a bit far in praising me for putting this reunion together. While everyone enjoys a pat on the back, I want to explain just how we came to be having this reunion. Through the years I have pretty much stayed in touch with several of you. Tyrone and I both lost touch with Ralph Palumbo for a few years. Then out of the blue Ralph contacted Tyrone, I called him and we spoke for quite some time. In case you are not aware of it, Ralph has faced a number of serious health issues through the years. After talking to him, I got to thinking about Kathy Connelly Lillestollen(1969, 1971), many of you will remember her as "Spot". Over the years, our paths crossed a number of times. Aside from Herrlich, her best friend in college was a young lady that I was dating and had taken to my prom, then she married the son of the pastor of a church in my neighborhood. So, we had ended up running into each other periodically until I moved off to Oklahoma in the mid-70's. I lost track of her until I started looking for people for the 1992 reunion. I found out that her family had relocated to Nashville but, they were off living in Sweden at the time so, she missed the reunion. Well, I set out to locate her and soon discovered that she had passed away. In discussing her death and our own frailty and mortality with Ralph Palumbo and Tyrone Wims, the thought arose that if we were ever to have another Herrlich reunion, we had better do it very soon. Clearly, if Kathy had not passed away, we would not be having this reunion. Out of a tragedy, we are rediscovering each other and the joys we once shared. I really don't remember which one of us brought up the idea of having the reunion first. Guess that's not really important, but I want you all to understand that this was a group venture not a solo act by me as so many of you seem to think. So, when we all get to the reunion, please thank Ralph and Tyrone because if they hadn't helped get it all started and then continued to help and push me along the way, there's just no way we'd all have gotten back together.

If you haven't told me when you'll be at the reunion, please do so as soon as possible.



PLEASE BRING ALONG ALL OF YOUR HERRLICH PICTURES!



Peace, Love,

Big Jim

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Camp Herrlich Reunion, -23 days

Greetings:

I received word from Bob Gentile that there will be campers still at the camp until 6pm on Friday, August 29. The staff will be having a party off site once the campers leave. There will be about 20-25 current staff remaining Friday night with some possibly staying as long as Sunday. We will have the use of the camp once the campers are gone. If you plan to arrive on Friday, please arrange your schedule to arrive at 6pm or later. Breakfast on Saturday will be the first meal available at the camp. I foresee no problems sharing the camp with some of the present staff. As a matter of fact, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to meet some of them.

Area Motels

In New York: Heidi's; Route 22, Brewster, 845-279-8011
Henry Van; Solon Road, Brewster, 845-279-3428
Bellaire Motor Inn; Route 22, Brewster, 845-279-3350
Smalley Inn; Main Street, Carmel, 845-225-9874
In Connecticutt: Hilton; I-84, Exit 2, Danbury, 203-205-2000
Sheraton; I-84, Exit 2, Danbury, 203-794-0600
Marriott; I-84, Exit 4, Danbury, 203-797-1256

Most of these motels have websites and offer lower rates online. I've given you a number of options so, you can select the establishment that best fits your tastes and budget.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could give me some idea of when you might be at the reunion. It would help immensely with planning the numbers for the meals.

How about some more memories?
Do you remember....
** Carving soap figures
** "Cricket"
** Richard Howell's stories
** Endless card games
** Nap time
** Washing windshields at the Mahopac Drive-In
** Watching the first moon landing
** Singing on 42nd Street
** "Dimples"
** "you FOOTLOCKER"
** Playing basketball against Lake Carmel
** The wild collies
** The nativity scene in the goat pen
** water lillies
** Marsha and Jeanne baking brownies
** Ping pong
** Being refused drinks on Main Street in Brewster
** Gerry wiggling his ears
** Larry Bramble waking up
** The luau band
** "People"
** Staff pajama parties
** Palisades Park
** The party at the Girl Scout camp

Just over three more weeks and we're on our way back to camp, I can't wait!

Peace, Love,

Big Jim