My Reunion 2025: The View from the Old Folks’ Home in Jawaks

I never thought I’d be coming to Camp with a bit of sadness.  But mixed in with the usual joy, was the bittersweet sense that we won’t be “all together again” this time. Three faces would be missing from our campfire this year: Robin Jones, Alicia Comesana Vila, and Chiquita (only one name needed!) who all passed away in the last year or so.  For me, their loss hammered home that what I wanted to do most, was just to sit and be with everyone. To be talking, hugging, laughing, and even just sitting.  I think we all enjoyed Arts & Crafts (nice votives everyone!), and boat rides, and walking the boardwalk (awesome job by Fran and the summer maintenance crew), but the best part is always seeing old, old, friends. Okay, and except for Suzanne Howard who threw all caution to the wind and did the Zoom Flume more than once, maybe sitting was the wisest thing for most of us.

There was a lot of “Can you believe it’s been 50 years?”  Mostly we can, but honestly, Peggy Bailey hasn’t aged a bit-she still looks like it’s only been 10 years!

We enjoyed the Friday night friendship fire, and were glad to hear some of the old songs were still being sung. It was a beautiful night, and lovely to share that ceremony with alumni from all ages, before we divvied ourselves up into our respective peer groups. 

We each have our friends from our own eras, but one thing we all share, is the Mohawk spirit. So, to hear happy chatter in the dining hall and to see smiles on every face and to know we all love a good campfire, connects us all. A special note about sharing the Spirit: A local woman, Marsha Washburn Thompson, met some Mohawk staff in Litchfield. She had been a camper in the early 50s, and decided on the spot to come out for the day, even though she didn’t know anyone.  We could tell by the shine in her eyes, the smile in her heart, and her amazing memory that she was a Mohawker. It was another lesson that while we vary in many ways, and especially in age, that we are all Mohawk family. 

It was wonderful to see Alicia’s daughters, Chloe and Emma (what beautiful young women they are-so much like Alicia). And amazing that they found a piece of the now demolished old boathouse with Alicia’s name on it. We gave time on Saturday night around another splendid Christy Schilling fire to remembering our old friends with stories told, readings read, songs sung, and a few tears shed.

I’m grateful to Patrick, Mikayla, and the camp staff for providing such beautiful weather, and for all the work they did to give us another happy memory for our Mohawk storybooks.