Deborah Lipp

So Sunday, July 22, was a shit-ass suckful day.

The original plan was for Craig to get here at 8 a.m. Then he realized he could borrow his father’s roof topper but that he couldn’t fit it in his Corolla. So then I was to meet him at 8 at his place. But Saturday night he still hadn’t packed so we made it 9 and when I got there he wasn’t ready and then it turned out to be a big fat hairy deal to get the roof topper atop the roof and then nothing fit and we had to repack and repack and so we weren’t on the road until noon.

At about Binghamton (which is sort of the halfway point) there was a cave-in. All the chairs that were in the back fell on Arthur. When I told this story later, I laughed, and Arthur said “It’s not funny!” And I sympathized, and he said “It was like the trash compactor scene in Star Wars” and I have to say, that didn’t help me with the not laughing.

Anyway, we pulled over and saved him with bungee cords. Which is to say, we bungeed the beejeezus outa those chairs and BY THE GODS did they stay put.

When we arrived at camp it was just about twilight, but we were descended upon by people happy to see us and determined to have us unpacked and set up before dark. It was like some kind of happy Pagan ant march. So thanks to Charlie, Barbara, Sylvia, Jim, CJ, and Karen. You all rock.

Sunday night we spent time with Eddie & Theresa, Jason & Ari, and the whole Lansing crowd. Not a late night, given the exhaustion and all.

Monday, ah Monday. I arose knowing I was in Pagan paradise, and I had nothing to do. How cool is that? No official Starwood events until Tuesday night, the campground half-empty and with plenty of running water for showers. There was a lot of hanging out, a lot of changing into a different outfit as the weather changed yet again, and Charlie made filet mignon for dinner. Which is just crazy, but that’s how we eat.

Tuesday was another quiet day. I wandered around camp finding where my various friends were and collecting hugs. I found Orien and Orien Rose, hung out with Cate and Frank Dalton, wandered some more, got chilly, took a quick dip in the hot tub to cure my chill, and wandered some more. Craig & Arthur went into town to get haircuts and came back buzzed. Tuesday night was my turn to cook dinner, and I made one of my specialties; rice & beans curry style. It’s black beans, red beans, white beans, a Vidalia onion, apples, raisins, sweet curry sauce and canned whole tomatoes over rice, with a garnish of sour cream and a side of raw baby carrots. This was very popular last year and is so easy to make at camp. It does make you fart, though.

Tuesday night I could have gone to opening circle or one of the concerts, but I hung around at camp and enjoyed my own personal relaxathon.

(To be continued)