Simon had to head to New Jersey for business..... It was meant to be a day trip but he couldn't resist being that close to our old house, work and camp without making a visit. (Debi, you were on your honeymoon, otherwise he would have scheduled a visit) He was also unable to get together with our wonderful friends Vicki and Tony who became more like family to us over the years in Jersey. I believe they were in Florida visiting family as our many calls were unanswered and hope that all is OK.
He was able to meet up with our good friend and my old roommate Ken, and they went to dinner with our old boss at one of our favorite places of all times in Jersey The Brew Pub. We spent many of nights there while we lived in Jersey. They have nachos that rank in my top 3 of all times.
The next day, they did not have anything planned and decided a trip up to camp was in order. Since camp is only a 2 hour drive from where we lived in Jersey it was a no brainer. They first stopped at the Trackside Grill which is a breakfast, lunch place on main street owned and operator by the one and only Jeff and Sue. Jeff and Sue are dear, friends of ours. They both spent their entire lives at The Fireside with Sue in the kitchen and Jeff as the best bartender ever. We have manged to stay in close contact with them over the years since we have been at camp and they have now started their own place right in the middle of Honesdale. Simon got to surprise Jeff and visit with Sue and even had the opportunity to visit with an old bartender "cupcake" who just happened to stop in for lunch.
On to camp, Simon said he was overtaken by nostalgia as soon as he drove up the camp road. The last summer that Simon was there was the summer of 2001. While I went back for the last 2 weeks of the summer of 2002. In Simon's words "Camp looks amazing, there have been many, many, improvements and the place looks awesome." He said while all has been updated and looking great, that time stands still and that if you asked him to go to the maintenance garage and get a screwdriver, it would be in the esact same place. Ken was completely sick of Simon crying like a baby all day remembering all the many wonderful memories of his 7 summers there.
Of course, camp is the beginning of our story as we spent 6 summers there together and 4 of those years working full time in New Jersey. We met, fell in love, had a fake wedding with campers as our attendees (debi's blog of pictures). For me, it was the best job I ever had, while it was the most demanding and exhausting, it was by far, the most amazing one. I found so much joy, and a sense of accomplishment with every successful summer it will be hard to ever find a job that can compare to it. Camp will always hold the most special place in both of our hearts and I look forward to getting to walk down memory lane with Simon and visit camp. It is hard to believe that we met on the fateful night 12 years ago while playing the evening activity scrabble scramble. Simon and I were both vowels and in true evening activity style you could make an activity last an hour and a half or 20 minutes so they made all the vowels. (What were needed for the cabins to spell their assigned words) hide in the woods for the first 20 minutes. There were a whole bunch of us hanging out in the woods behind the office getting to know each other. That and we had the same day off. Key to all your friends at camp.
.....Total freaky thing happening right now, as I am typing this blog, Cheryl and her partner from dancing with the stars are dancing to one of the songs from our camp video. As if I didn't have goosebumps to begin with. ...............
Well, last but certainly not least, to end the trip down memory lane Simon went to the Fireside for dinner and a drink. Simon has not walked through those doors in 7 years and upon walking into the place everyone starts hooting and hollering and it is like a time warp as if it were just yesterday at 10:30 pm after a long days work at camp and snuck out to get some food, he walked in and ordered: mozzerella sticks, a Club with no tomato, and a beer in a frosted mug.
Simon always wanted to be Norm from Cheers and I think he realized that he has achieved that goal in Honesale, PA.
3 comments:
how sad that i was not in the area to see simon!!!!! and to venture to the brew pub! ben's parents live right near there and i visit frequently. just reading this post made me really miss you guys! and camp, and all the camp people... one day when we all have kids should all go back and work there for a summer and let our kids live in the cabins so we can go out partying and sleep in our clothes!
yup. that one made me tear up. like, a ton. what a great visit and write-up.
aww man. that was great.
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