Boxing Day SONW
O public road, I say back I am not afraid to leave you, yet I love you,
You express me better than I can express myself.
-- Walt Whitman
Tuesday, December 26, 2000
One year ago: Boxing Day
Three years ago: Boxing Day
I was up early, bathed, and dressed. Then I started schlepping stuff out to the car. This took about six trips! I decided not to overburden myself on any one trip. The box of water bottles I've been carting around for the last few weeks took up most of the back -- I hoped Greg didn't have much stuff!
I'd said I would pick Greg up at eight o'clock, so I had time to get a bite to eat. Once I was in the general neighborhood of the place he was staying, I looked for a McDonalds. I was craving one of those steak bagels! and very tasty it was, too.
Greg was ready and waiting, so we were off. We were able to fit his luggage in the car, even though he was traveling with almost all his possessions, due to being kicked out of the dorm for a long semester break. I decided that the Edmonds ferry was probably the way to go, since we were already in the north end. I missed the turn on the way into Edmonds and we took a brief tour of the business district, but a sign pointed me back in the right direction. I'm sure I'm not the only one to make this mistake!
We didn't have to wait long for the next boat, and it wasn't full when all the cars were loaded. Probably more people make the trip in the opposite direction most mornings, commuting to work in town. We were on board the Walla Walla, a big boat. We could go all the way up to the "solarium deck", on the top of the ship. I guess it's called that because some of the seats are sheltered by a roof with yellow-colored plastic in it.
The wind wasn't bad, so it was enjoyable to be outside. I did need to go in, though, to check the maps posted in the main cabin. I thought I remembered that the route to Port Townsend was self-evident, but I still needed that reassurance. They had a big three-dimensional map of the entire Puget Sound, with the north-south axis tilted almost horizontally. But they had some normal maps also, that were easier for me to figure out.
* * * * * * * *
While we were driving, Greg and I were listening to the CD set Jack gave me for Christmas -- a compilation from the Ken Burns Jazz documentary. The early stuff is interesting! The first CD includes the earliest recorded solo from Louis Armstrong, from the very early twenties.
I do like the drive through the rural countryside on the way to Port Townsend. One of the roads we passed was "Egg and I Road", from the book. When I saw the movie, I'd never have guessed that the regional setting was the Olympic Pennisula!
When we drove into town, I stopped by the internet cafe where I'm going to have the newsletters printed (and get my internet fix this week). I wanted to remind them about the job! But they were closed today. I'm going to drop off my originals for tomorrow's issue late tonight, so I'll include a note with the details of what I want.
* * * * * * * *
No one, absolutely no one, was at the fort yet. Greg and I walked all around the buildings, then he suggested we go into town and get some coffee. I drove a different, more scenic route, up over the hill and descending into the Victorian business district. It was still so early that I had no trouble getting a parking place!
We visited that odd old variety store. I guess it's still open because they own the building or something. The merchandise doesn't seem to have been added to since 1964! Old wrapping paper, old light fixtures, old craft books, old off-brand toys -- Greg was quite creeped out. I found some notebook paper, which I needed, and two pins, hearts with rainbows on them, with my sister M----'s name and Jack's daughter H-----'s name on them. If there'd been one with my name, I'd have bought it as well.
I guided us to that deli/espresso/chocolate store that Jack and I had visited before. This time I was smart enough not to order a mocha at the same time as buying a piece of fudge (the chocolate overpowers the chocolate in the drink). I did get a ham salad sandwich. The toasted walnut flavoring in my latte didn't do much for me; I don't think I'd get it again.
It was now eleven thirty, so we drove back to the fort. We hoped that there would be people around by this time!
* * * * * * * *
Registration took place in 204, a building that had been under renovation when we were here two years ago. I helped a bit when all other volunteers had gone to lunch. There was a very festive atmosphere, with people seeing old friends again that they'd met at various lindy gatherings.
We had good freebies for campers this year. The water bottles alone had been the subject of long email discussions about the type of bottle, what should be printed on it, and possible means of personalization so people could tell their water bottle from someone else's. Camp membership fees paid for these, but volunteers had also found donations of lip balm, caffeinated mints, and small bags of Starbucks coffee.
We couldn't get our room keys until the people who run the park/conference center were ready to hand them over, so there was some delay there. Finally I got into my room. The quiet dorm is too far from everything, though. (That's what makes it quiet, natch.) I should have picked the other dorm. When my feet are hurting later this week, I know I'll begrudge every step.
I carried my notebook around and pressed folks for newsletter material. I did get some good stories: someone brought pie to the airport and served it to the other camp members waiting for the bus; the bus was stopped on the Hood Canal Bridge to see a nuclear sub pass through; and a girl, Natalie Roy, got into camp at so much the last minute that she found out she was in when she was at SeaTac airport waiting for her luggage!
I worked on the newsletter at various points in the day.
* * * * * * * *
At dinner I sat with Livia, Greg, Jennifer Hodge (from Ithaca), and Dapper Dan (from Texas). I think I'll try to sit with different folks at every meal, as a means towards meeting more people. Dan and I discussed various methods of getting photos into the newsletter. He has a laptop too, and a new digital camera, but we don't have a compatible method of transferring images from him to me (no infrared on my end, no floppy drive on his end). But this situation may be ameliorated by the end of the week. I know Dan from various online swing discussion groups, but we'd never met before.
Dinner was served family style: bowls of rice with not very much stirfry on top, along with Costco green salad and hot rolls. We had two vegans at our table; I'd no idea this was such a common Ithaca thing. They get their own special plates of food, tofu stirfried with veggies and rice tonight. When Jennifer said she was still hungry, I suggested she go and ask if there were any more vegan entrees left; sure enough, there were.
I walked around the dining hall and pressed folks for news. The main purpose of the newsletter is actual important info like schedule changes, but I'd like to have entertaining, interesting prose as well. Rachel Orton had the idea of making up rumors, so I decided to add such a section. I would really love it if I get letters of comment!
We had a welcoming meeting in the camp theater, which was kept fairly short. People in charge of various things said a few words -- I spoke, too.
Then back to the dorm to change into dance clothes. At last, dancing at dance camp! I drove by the dining hall to pick up people and drive them to the fairgrounds.
* * * * * * * *
The band, Lily Wilde and her Jumpin' Jubilee Orchestra from Portland, was good! They were tighter than the last time I heard them, which must have been at the Portland Exchange. The room was crowded. It's a good thing many campers were willing to sit out some dances. There were a few too many superslow numbers for my taste, since there aren't that many partners whom I'm willing to get so close to. But the general mix of tempos was pretty good, and the playing and singing was very good.
There were performances by three dance groups, which were really all divisions of one, the Bainbridge Island Hepcats and the CK Swingers. They ranged in age from Junior High to High School. Pretty good! But it was uncomfortable to sit on the floor and watch them. I left after eleven.
How aggravating -- the pink envelope intended for folks to get me newsletter contributions was locked up at 204, and there weren't any contributions in the similar envelope that I posted at the staff house.
I finished the newsletter, drove to town and dropped it off. I had to kneel down on the sidewalk in the deserted strip mall and stuff the large white envelope containing my originals through the mail slot. I hope they see it! I'll call at breakfast. It was raining quite hard when I got back to camp.
* * * * * * * *
I drove directly to the Late night dancing. I didn't stay long, but I'm glad I went! I had some of the most fun dances of the night! They've got two rooms running, but the crowd didn't quite justify it yet, so no one was dancing in the second room. The setup is really ideal -- two large rooms on the second floor, with nice wooden flooring.
Maren came up with something for the newsletter, but too late. I'll put it in tomorrow. She wanted to remind people to take their room keys with them when they go to the bathroom! Three people in our dorm have locked themselves out already under such circumstances.
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