Well strangely I'm writing this from a computer in a 9'x12' platform tent, located on the side of a mountain in the Blue Ridge foothills. This is the "staff lounge" and I am constantly tempted to say "Well back in my day we didn't have..." about all the perks and amementies that they have here today. I started working for this camp in 2001 and have been connected to it ever since. They called me two weeks ago and, in short staff desperation, asked me to come work a few days of day camp. And so here I sit, finishing up my coffee and prepping for my 11-14 year old kids to show up. Observation about this week: Sunday I taught a seminar about how to fit a man for a suit. Today I'm teaching friction fires and debris huts. Hilarious.
Most of the staff has left to go back to college and/or other adventures and those few of us remaining decided to have a campfire last night. The sky was cloudless and bright; the air suggested fall in its crispness. I sat at the fire by myself for a long time, unable to really take my eyes off of it. What is it about fire? In this culture of ADHD and attention spans smaller than our vehicles, why is it that fire is still so...well...stilling? In a culture that has browbeaten us into not being "human" this instinctive quality remains fresh. It is visceral in a rather carnal way, this ability to stare into fire and have honesty spew forth. I have rarely been around a fire and not had a serious and personal conversation.
And there is little in the world I love more than going to bed smelling like campfire. It makes the day feel complete.
1 comment:
Great post. Loved it.
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