Observations.....post Labor Day

I am so very happy for those who hung in there to have this last great weekend of the summer. What beautiful weather! After an illusive bit of summer days, it's great to get a good Labor Day weekend. It's always a bit sad though knowing that the boats get pulled, the docks will come out soon and the last sounds of the dining hall bell are a distant memory. The dogs are roaming free!!!

I had a great summer. It was interesting to see the place from a couple of different vantage points and from the perspective of a "renter". Actually, can't say I have much perspective there, maybe in time, but it feels the same as it always did. Once a Lakesider, always a Lakesider. I do think our just being there surprised one family on more than a few occassions. Did they really think we'd just go away??? Hmm.

Observations- For one, I thought the Dining Hall did a great job. I've been there in good years and in bad years and for the money... this was a good year. I am certain that if you ate every one of your meals at some local restaurant you'd be complaining after a couple of weeks about the same old thing. Get over it.

My grandmother had a saying; "By mid-August nobody is speaking to anyone and it's time to go home". She was right. Or, at least partly right. It's a long time if you are there most of the summer for everyone to get along all the time. Now, it isn't everyone. It's a few people and it happens almost every year. There are some people who just wouldn't be happy in heaven. Stay home.

The same debate regarding renters is still going on. Some things will never change. The problem isn't so tricky if people would be willing to open their mouth up, go tell the offending party to knock it off, or..politely and specifically tell them "this is not the way we do things"... no, everyone has to huddle, bitch, send a note or drop a suggestion. I know there have been a few tough cases... still.. what is everyone afraid of? Offending an offending renter???? Please. Don't start making more "rules", start educating those who "don't know the way" in a very straightforward way. In other words, don't beat around the bush.

The Board. Well, it's obvious to just about everyone that the leadership is.. well..absent. The board members outside of the prez have been working their butts off and doing the best they can under really rotten circumstances. Someday perhaps the camp will select candidates based on skill sets as opposed to which family hasn't had a "turn" on the board. It's a long term, a reasonably sticky mess usually and the camp needs solid leadership. The pool of fresh blood is VERY limited, without doubt. However, it isn't a popularity contest to begin with and most are dedicated to protecting and preserving Lakeside. Not fluffing up their egos. We should be grateful to have those members of the board who are doing it for all the right reasons. Support them.

Finally, what happened to respect and consideration for others? What happened to basic manners? My generation of boomers did manage to have some fun out there but we still were taught manners. My grandmother made us stand in a closet if we wanted to chew gum. We also popped up and down like bobbers on the lake when someone of "age" came to the table. I still see some of the young ones doing that. I should say, maybe like one or two tables of young ones whose parents have taken this seriously. Kudos to them. What I saw as more obvious this summer is the lack in general of good manners. And, it was NOT the kids behaving badly. Ok, so.. maybe it's my grandmother's philosophy about "too much time and nothing better to do" by mid-August but what I saw was mid-July. One woman behaving badly.. but then... she always has. She stopped speaking to us then. Oh well. (our gain?)

All in all... it's always been the best place to learn how to show respect, use your table manners and practice them. My kids are forever grateful that they know how to behave in any situation and can converse with and feel comfortable with all sorts of people of all ages. They recognize bad behavior from a mile away. I'm not patting myself on the back.. I did my job, it's part of the culture and it's a great training ground. Perhaps we need to revisit this later.

Times are changing, old ways are starting to shift, and it makes me a bit sad to see some of the very good ways start to fall off. It's too beautiful there to let too many things go. For most of the camp, Lakeside was a gift handed down from their ancestors. For that reason alone, show a little respect.

I'm sure I'll have a few more observations to share......safe journey.