In less than one month, many women will revisit the summer camp they last saw when they were, for the most part, properly called “girls”.  For me, 30 years have passed.  I went to Wingate from 1971 through 1981 (with one year off).

We have traveled far and wide, maybe not in geography, but in life experiences, choices, non-choices, successes, failures, love, family and illness.  And we cannot suddenly morph into those girls and young women of decades ago.

But those friendships made at Wingate shaped who I would become.  And it is precisely those friendships that are the homing devices calling us back to dust off our memory banks, leave home our daily armor we wear against the world, and see if we can’t laugh about the past and learn about each other’s present lives.

Remember the song:

The basic foundations of Wingate are expressed in what we advocate, be kind to others and know oneself, value knowledge and strive to create. Make bonds of friendships and hold fast to the aims which the summer has cast. The wonders and beauty of nature leave thoughts and memories a lifetime shall last. The ideals and aims which we make here shall be goal toward which e’er we shall steer. Along the different paths we choose to follow, Wingate’s spirit shall last through the year.

Yes, Pearl, it lasted not for only one year but for decades. You have gave us a gift for the ages.

Goldie, thank you, for bringing us back to the place where I learned about friendship, kindness and, yes, a little mischief.

And we will be complicated adults returning to a place where we had (more or less) uncomplicated friendships.

How many therapists are on staff for this weekend?