Hey everyone!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.  I hope you all are doing well as we fly into 2012.  Everyone in Boise is doing great, which I will fill you in on presently, but as the new year came, I started thinking more and more about the upcoming summer of 2012, so I thought I’d jot down a few thoughts…

 

First, I want to fill everyone in on how things are doing out here in Boise!  Suzi, Ben, and Max are doing really well. The highlight of the fall came when we were the recipients of a wonderful birthday present celebration for Jacob Fried from Mary.  Suzi and I first brought the subject to Mary this summer, and then again in the fall, about the possibility of Jacob coming out to Boise to see the boys, and get to see Boise State’s football team play on the blue turf.  So it seemed to all work out for them to come see the last regular season game.  Unfortunately, the Bronco’s had lost earlier in the season, so the possibility of playing for the national championship was gone, but it still was a blast.  Those three boys, who are constant companions throughout the summer, picked up where they left off.  It was wonderful for Suzi and I to have Mary out here visiting us, and you may not believe it, but there was very little camp talk.  Ah, the off-season.  Of course there was some, and one of the most exciting things for Suzi was Mary asking her to go recruit our staff in Australia.  Suzi’s been wanting to go there for some time, so all you past, present, and future Agawakians, hop on Facebook and set up a time to meet and say hi to Mama Suzza!!!  She’s dying to see all of you!!!

As for me here in Boise, the transition has been easy.  I miss popping down to HP to see everyone, or even the occasional trip up north, but I love being here full-time.  Suzi and I did get to go to Chicago one weekend, and that was to see Becker get married.  We stayed with Nagel and her husband Stephen, which was great.  There was a nice representation of Agawak girls, including Mary, which made the weekend like a mini reunion.  The wedding was great!  Suzi and I had loads of fun: We dined, we danced, and we had lots of fun!!!  And even better, we now know our newlywed and esteemed Asst. Director will be back again this summer!  Yea Becker!!!

As fall turned to winter, Suzi, the boys, and I spent the New Year cruising in the Caribbean!!!  Oh my was that fun!  On the way to the ship, I said to Suzi, “think any camp girls will be on the cruise?”  And wouldn’t you know it, before we could even board, there was Schlecter and her family!  How funny!  We saw quite a few other girls, the most surprising being Nadine (one of our international staff), from this past summer.   We all had a great time.

So now the time is getting close for Suzi to head off on her adventure.  Brandon, who had been doing the recruiting, but is now a newlywed himself, is happy to stay closer to home.  So I started thinking about the upcoming summer, too.  And as fate would have it, Kevin, from skiing, lives about 2 hours away from Boise in Sun Valley.  He is training daily in Nordic skiing, and is competing nationally and hoping to compete internationally.  But don’t worry girls; he has assured me he will be returning this summer.  I keep hoping Wes will be returning, too, but he’s busy student teaching, so our paths haven’t crossed yet.  Yes, my mind has really been in camp mode, and the more I think about it, the more I find myself thinking how I really am one of the luckiest guys in the world.  My first summer away at camp was when I was 9 years old, and this summer I will be 49, and I do believe I have spent over half of those 40 years in between at camp, first Timberlane, now Agawak.  I can’t tell you how many parents are in my boat during parents weekend, and as we are talking, invariably they say how jealous they are.  And they should be!  Working at the best camp in the world, surrounded by the best staff and campers ever; who could ask for more!  And let’s not talk about how my water skiing gets better every year!  True, I don’t make it up to the Boundary Waters anymore, which used to be one of my highlights each summer, but now it’s even better, I get to spend my summers with my wife!  AT CAMP!!!  I mean really, it’s ridiculous how lucky I am!  My old camp friends…totally jealous.  One of the best parts is how many of my old friends have their daughters at camp.  Thank you for sending them to us, I love getting to know them all! 

 

Ok, I’ll stop my MP rambling.  I just can’t help it sometimes.  Suzi and I miss you all so much, and we can’t wait to get back to our summer home.  Best wishes to everyone.  We love you all…

 

MP