Reverse Homesickness–#1

Published on December 7, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

“I loved camp from the first day. I never remember being the least bit homesick, nor did I ever see my sister, except in passing,” said Kay Alcorn, who was bunked in Cabin Two (in the forties) closest to the lodge, with a counselor and seven others in bunk beds. “I got a prized top bunk that summer and every summer thereafter until I was thirteen. The other young girls did get homesick and one or the other of them was always in tears– being comforted by a counselor. I couldn’t understand their feelings.”

“The first year I eventually figured out the other girls with their homesick routines were getting more attention than I was. So, I decided to fake it during siesta one day. I put on a far bigger act than anyone before. I lay in my bunk and wailed. My counselor was rubbing my back and offering treats. Nothing worked, so she sent for other counselors and eventually my sister. Still I howled, mostly with a pillow over my head. Finally, I had to give up. I threw the pillow off and started laughing. I don’t remember their reaction, but I think I felt a little embarrassed by all the concern I’d caused, as well I should have.”

Homesickness–#6

Published on December 5, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

“My best friend at the time was going with me to Maqua. It was her first time away from home, a fact I could scarcely believe, since she was already fourteen. Her family was somewhat dysfunctional, as I look back on it. Her parents eventually divorced and her father was an alcoholic, so being the typical oldest child, she felt she needed to be home to take care of them. None of the rest of our friends had anything but Ozzie and Harriet households,” said Kay Alcorn, who had camped in the late forties with a great group of girls. (Her friend had a good time by the end of her session.)

Laurie Cone’s older sister Tally was in Senior Village in 1962 when she attended. One would think she would not have been homesick with a sister close by, but her two-week session turned into one when she got a stomach ache and ended up in the infirmary. “I loved it there and didn’t want to go home, or so I told them, “ laughed Laurie. “My parents had a cottage in Oscoda and they had to come pick me up, but the next summer I begged to go back to camp.”

Tally, of course, remembered camp to be a blast and could not wait to get to Senior Village with the older girls. “My sister looked up to me and she was in elementary school when I was in middle school,” said outgoing and independent Tally. “Ironically, Laurie was the one who ended up going for years and becoming a counselor.”

Homesickness–#5

Published on November 30, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Knowing your bunk-mates or having a friend or relative at camp during the session was often the best security blanket needed for first timers who felt the pangs of homesickness.

Marcia Michelson had three older sisters in camp in the early sixties and made good friends while there. Sisters Barb and Sue Utter convinced Jane McKinley in the mid-fifties to attend. Mickie Kessler’s parents could not afford to send all their daughters at the same time, so at age six in 1941, Mickie sat at camp and cried her eyes out.

For Kellie Moore, who loved camp from day one her first year (1970), she thought it would be double the fun if she brought a friend. It turned out to be the worst summer, because her best friend was so homesick that she returned home. Kellie camped another six summers!

Seventies camper Helen McLogan was the youngest of six girls and one boy and left for camp kicking and screaming, despite her sisters having gone to Maqua. “I was homesick. I did not want to go to camp and leave my friends behind. I loved my summers in my neighborhood. I had seen Maqua when I accompanied my best friend’s mother to pick her up on the last day. Dana Foote, who I ended up at camp with,” she said.

Bonnie Kessler idolized her older sister Judy, despite the year difference in ages. Known as “Tagalong Tulu”, she wanted to be wherever her sister was and followed her to camp in 1947 at the age of nine. “I lacked confidence. I continually followed Judy’s footsteps and her presence at camp prevented me from becoming homesick. Whatever Judy wanted to do, I wanted to do. But, I was never in the same group as my sister and that was probably a good thing.”

Having a friend helped Linda Doering adjust when she was a camper at a different site, which in turn allowed her to draw on her experience of fright and homesickness when she took over a cabin of fifth graders in the early sixties at Maqua. Bonnie Schlatter also dealt with a frantically homesick child in the seventies, but acted like the big sister to handle her situation as a first time counselor in 1975.

Homesickness–#4

Published on November 28, 2016February 21, 2017 by Kathy Baker

Susan Ward managed to convince her parents in 1961 to take her home when she attended camp by herself, but the following years were more enjoyable when her sister also camped. Many of the campers had their fears eased by the mere presence of cousins, sisters or friends, despite many of them not sharing cabins. Just knowing they were at camp quelled that lonely ache of a new place.

That was not always the case. Mary Jo and Judy Rawlings went off to camp together in the late fifties and sister Susan in the early sixties. All three girls shared similar bouts of homesickness. Coming from a close-knit family unit, (where their father loved having his three girls by his side), made it difficult for Susan and Judy, who shared a similar personality that tended to be shy. They both remember Mary Jo crying from homesickness.

“I would get teary-eyed just about dusk, right after mealtime, every night. I didn’t go to a counselor, but dealt with it and each morning I would wake up and it was all okay. Just that time of the night was tough,” said Judy. “We were always taught to keep a stiff upper lip in our family, but honestly even when I spent the night at neighbor’s houses I would sneak back home in the middle of the night.”

For sister Mary Jo, she learned that she could survive anything for a short time. “It was about endurance and trusting people. I wasn’t made fun of or embarrassed or ridiculed when I was homesick. I learned compassion and how to be a team player.”

“Camp Maqua Revisited”

Published on July 28, 2016 by Kathy Baker

Over the years-and there’ve been many since then, At least once a summer I reminisce when, My friends and I would pack up our trunks, and come to this place and Pick out our bunks. “What do you want” bottom or the top? Nobody really cared, We were there, up for the dare, And ready for fun–nonstop! Revelry in the morning—raising the flag, and maybe a bra or 2, Then choosing of activities, Oh soooo many, What’s a girl to do? Arts & Crafts, canoeing, or maybe learn to shoot a gun, Swims in the lake, (don’t forget the buddy system) or stepping on a snake, Or riding a horse, and the singing of course. WHATEVER you chose–it was FUN! I never minded the food too much, I’ll eat pretty much anything to this day, But I do remember a food fight HAHA Much to the directors dismay. The infirmary, the brownie, nature hut and yes, camp store, Our cabin with the little shelf, that held our toothpaste and more, Thad we’d use, when we found an empty space to write our names upon the Rafters, A reminder to all, that we were here, And to all who would come soon after. But the Lodge was my most favorite place, with the cookies and if lucky–mail, And everywhere you looked a smiling face—attached to a pig or pony tail. That place where we got our bellies fed, Sang silly songs that got stuck in our head, Then reluctantly trounced off to bed—Taps and giggled until the last goodnight was said…..Then did it all over again. These are just some snip its of my Camp Maqua memories, With a big heartfelt THANK You to Kathy for allowing this possibility, to go back in time–once again. <3 Written by Ann Niegarth Laskowski as she returned for the Centennial Reunion