Monday July 4, 2005…Paul “Froggy” Warshauer wakes up in suburban
Chicago and fondly remembers this day in years gone by when he would rouse the
staff and campers of Camp Waupaca with the cry uttered by Paul Revere in
1776…”The British are coming!!”…Paul digs out a picture of himself
riding Copper the horse on July 4th some time ago and emails it to
reunion partner Mike Lurie…Mike decides to post it on the Camp
Waupaca website, www.campwaupaca.com…he sends email to all campers and staff on
the database, raising interest in Camp Waupaca once again…”Free canteen for the
first 5 campers to identify the person riding the horse”…guesses come in, many
right, one wrong thinking it’s Craig Fuller…Paul contacts CYJ
director to request a walk-through later this summer…CYJ Director Stephan says
“OK”…dates are set for the walk-through, and Dick Garb suggests a
softball game in Chicago…emails goes out with updated address list and list of
events with dates…many email addresses no longer valid, so a postcard goes
out…three dozen postcards returned as undeliverable – OY!!…emails and letters
pour in from members old and new, excited about the summer activities…”keep me posted,
I want to play softball” says Dan Parker…Glen Spear volunteers to
find a location…website updated again, as Paul & Marc Ringel visit
with Harlan Rips in Omaha…
Sunday August 7, 2005…Montrose & Lincoln in Chicago…”I wonder how many
people will be there” says Mike Lurie to son Adam, who reluctantly
accompanies Dad to a softball game to be played by a bunch of old, bald, fat
men…Mike pulls up and sees Glen Spear chatting with a couple of
other CW alumni, Larry Rosen and Don Kaplan…up walks Jeff
Korman…there’s Larry Lifson with son Michael…and here comes Dave
Korman – hey, he lives in Michigan!…”Here on business” says Dave…Dick
Garb and Don Feinstein round out the main group, though Dave
Kerstein comes later with son Stephen…Adam Lurie and Michael Lifson are
appointed captains and pick the teams…”Pitchers hand out” says Garb…play
begins and so do the laughs (and groans of creaking bones)…Dick Garb
tries to teach the hidden-ball-in-the-glove trick to Glen Spear’s son so
he can tag Dad out…4 innings in the books and all agree the final score is
7-7…reminisce for a while before splitting up…
Wednesday August 17, 2005…Green Bay, WI…a Northwest Airlines
plane touches down with Rick Passman on board – the reunion has
officially begun, because Wisconsin State Law states that the first person from
a reunion group to step foot in the state initiates any reunion
activities…telephone calls between Paul and Mike and Rick
making last minute plans…everyone tries to convince Bob Mowen to change
his mind and come to Waupaca to celebrate our past…Bob sends one last
email, putting to rest any hope that he will come…”Not this year” says Bob,
still recovering from a badly broken wrist…
Thursday August 18, 2005…Rick Passman enjoys visiting old
haunts before the others arrive…at Simpson’s Indian Room Restaurant he runs
into former kitchen staff member Darci Wanty…
Friday August 19, 2005…Lurie heads to work for a few
hours before heading to the reunion…Rick wakes up in Waupaca…Paul
has to close a deal in Chicago…Ed Lubejko emails from Waupaca saying
“See you at the Harbor”…Lurie heads East on I-94 and calls Warshauer
to sync up…”Uh, I won’t be there tonight, have to close a deal today and be in
a photo tomorrow” says Paul…Lurie calls Passman…Rick
and Warren Metzdorff are looking for cheese…”Good thing you’re in
Wisconsin” quips Lurie…Mike warns Rick that cheese will
give Warren nasty gas, to which Warren responds “I already
do”…”hmmm, I wonder if anyone is bigger or smaller than before” Mike
thinks to himself…smaller would mean shrinkage…Mike Lurie arrives at the
Clearwater Harbor at EXACTLY 4:30 PM like it says on the website, but no
one is there!!…Lurie helps himself to a barley pop while he waits, then Rick
Passman, Warren Metzdorff, and Ed Lubejko with wife Sue join him
shortly thereafter…Warren shares some photos and other information…the
boys (and girl) head out to Camp…”Will the gate be open?”…”They said we can
come and go all weekend”…as they pull up to Camp, they notice a trailer on the
golf course near Stratton Lake Road…”Maybe it’s the Directors quarters, to ward
off trespassers”…the gate is up and the caravan rolls in…we park at the office,
get out, and immediately notice the new Rec Hall (old one was razed in
2003)…head to the new building to check it out…Mike and Rick size
it up and discover the new storm shelter underneath…all in all, a job well
done, as the new building fits in very well…”Even I can’t find fault with it”
remarks Rick Passman…head to the lake, then up to Barney Town…looks like
they built a couple of new CIT cabins…”Can’t be” says Mike – “No
windows”…but they are indeed residence cabins…head to the dining hall, but it
appears to be locked tight…”I know a way in” says Mike – “Yeah, right”
scoffs Warren…Mike and Rick know the secret passage, and
lead the group into the mess hall to look around…Ed and Sue have to
leave for Friday Fish Fry at Foxfire…Warren has to go potty before the
boys head to dinner at Wheelhouse…”Try the bathroom for the kitchen staff”
suggests Mike…sure enough, it’s open and Warren does his
business…off to the Wheelhouse for pizza and more reminiscing…”Hey, where’s
that miniature golf course we used to go to?” asks Mike…after dinner,
the boys head out and find Tom Thumb golf course just past the Indian Crossings
Casino…back to the hotel to review the day and make plans for Saturday…”Oh
Look, the group Dusk to Dawn is playing at the hotel tonight” says Rick
Passman…we go into the hotel bar but do not find this group, rather a
karaoke setup as the locals behave like American Idol wannabe’s…”Dusk to Dawn
is the name of the karaoke company, Rick”…Rick walks to JR’s for
a night cap…
Saturday August 20, 2005…9:15 AM, Dan Lyon calls from The
Bagel in Skokie, says he’ll be in Waupaca around lunch time…Mike Lurie,
Warren Metzdorff, and Rick Passman head to the King’s Table
restaurant in King, near the army veterans home for breakfast…Mike and Warren
split a cinnamon roll which is a meal in itself…Mike extols the virtues
of today’s youth…off to camp to continue exploring…park at the office and head
to the lake…the day started stormy, but now it’s another beautiful sunshiny day
at Camp Waupaca…up to the new building which still looks good today…check to
see if any cabins are open, and cabin 1 is open for viewing…”There are 18 beds
in here” says Mike – we wonder what Wisconsin State Law has to say about
that…Warren has to do his morning constipational, and so does Rick…Mike
waits patiently outside…”Don’t forget to flush” Mike reminds the
occupants of stalls 1 and 3…out to where the rifle range used to be…”I wonder
if anyone is trying to reach us” comments Mike Lurie, as he checks his
cell phone only to discover that he has no bars…”I have zero bars too” says Rick
Passman…out to the rugby fields which are now overgrown…”Camp seems smaller
to me”, comments Mike…”That’s shrinkage”, responds Warren Metzdorff…”What’s
that?” asks Mike…”Why it’s Ron Lavine’s old flickerball goal”
answers Rick…a picture is taken to commemorate the survival of this old
relic of a long gone Camp Waupaca program…Mike will send the picture to Ron
for his amusement…more exploration at the far fields before heading back to the
main camp…down to the waterfront to sit and watch the local skiers…it’s 1:30 PM
and we have no cell coverage – better head towards town to get connected…”Let’s
drive around the lake first” demands Warren…”OK, but I’m sure that 25
campers are trying to reach me” hopes Lurie…he wonders where everyone
is, including Larry Rosen and Wayne Towne, who both said they
would be around…a left turn out of the camp onto Stratton Lake Road…turn left
and spot a car coming towards us…”Hey, that’s Dan Lyon – Warren,
back up!!!”…shift to reverse, honk the horn, wave arms out the windows to get Dan’s
attention…we stop, greet, and Dan (who has bars) tells us
that Paul Warshauer IS NOT COMING!!!…disappointment spreads over
the group as we realize that Mr. Spirit may actually miss a reunion…the boys
call to “gently convince” Paul to come anyways…”I’m playing with my NEW
friends today” retorts Warshauer, referring to an Uptown Theater reunion
event and photo opportunity in Chicago…exploring around the lake for Warren
Metzdorff, Rick Passman, and Mike Lurie while Dan Lyon goes
to camp himself to walk around…everyone back at camp, Dan laments the
destruction of a rafter in cabin 8 which held his carved name for over 40
years, the victim of a new roof…off to Clearwater Harbor to quench our
thirst…”Let’s take a Chain of Lakes tour”…onto the Lady of the Lakes for ½ of a
3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour…back to the hotel for a bit of R&R before the
evening activities, but call Paul one more time to guilt him for not
coming…”All in favor of voting Paul Warshauer off this reunion island,
raise your hands”…it’s UNANIMOUS!!…Paul shall now be referred to as “he
who shall not be named” for the remainder of the reunion…dinner of broiled
haddock, steak, and salmon at Simpson’s Indian Room restaurant…lots of
discussion around most memorable movie lines and movie trivia…”The Ten
Commandments” is mentioned, and Warren starts acting like the Pharoah
Seti played by Sir Cedric Hardwicke…”Let the name of Paul Warshauer be
stricken from every yearbook”…”Let the name of Paul Warshauer be
stricken from every web page”…”Let the name of Paul Warshauer be
stricken from every cabin wall (except in the latrines – it’s OK there)”…”Let
the name of Paul Warshauer be stricken from every plaque”…so let it be
written…”Let’s go to the DQ for dessert” begs Uncle Warren…call Paul
one more time, and he takes the ribbing with good humor…Warren Metzdorff
has another idea for the evening activity…”Let’s go to The Landing Strip at the
Waupaca Airport and watch the runway show”…Dan isn’t too interested and
says “I’ll stay for 10 minutes”…head east on highway 10 and miss the turn-off
to the airport because the road has been substantially changed since our camp
days…backtrack to the right turn-off, head to The Landing Strip…several models
are on display, all with slender wings, lean fuselage and sleek tails…one in
particular captures Dan Lyon’s eye…Rick Passman and Mike Lurie
take notice and pitch in to contract for Dan to have the ride of his
life…20 minutes later, Dan returns with a big wide grin…after a couple
of hours of admiring the aircraft traversing the runway, we dub Dan Lyon
“The 10 Minute Man” for thinking he wouldn’t have a good time…time to head back
to town and call it a day…
Sunday
August 21, 2005…Meet at
the Best Western one last time at 10:00 AM…Warren Metzdorff can’t stay
for breakfast, he has to get back home to study for a pre-op exam…”Need a
hernia repair”, boasts Warren…”sounds like you need some shrinkage to
me, Warren” replies Mike Lurie…Mike, Rick Passman, and Dan
Lyon head to the Truck Stop breakfast across from the hotel for a quick
bite to eat and reminisce one last time…Mike has to head home, so does Dan…Rick
doesn’t leave until Monday night, so he’s going to go exploring once more…what
started as a crazy idea by Paul Warshauer in 1996 has just celebrated
its’ 9th anniversary, what started as great memories the first time
we stepped foot into Camp Waupaca continues to bring us together year after
year…or until the Trail’s End…