Contributed by David Raven (dmsraven@yahoo.com) on July 20, 2002.

This letter is kind of directed at guys that did not make the reunion. I had a memorable time and want to express the importance and appreciation of the people that committed themselves and went and people that are reading this and want to get together for the next one.... We are all bonded whether we know it or not, by this incredible group of people that we went to camp at our most impressionable ages. I did not know many of the people very well that attended this reunion, but the friendship, the quality of individual, and the genuineness completely overwhelmed me. Seeing Tom Field and Jim Anderberg and his fellow hikers made me wish that I wasn't such an asshole back than and participated more in those kind of activities...Meeting Bill Rosen, and Steve Berkowitz, and Marc Stern and Spence Kass and Dave Raven and Ken Greenfield and Mark Friedman whom I had vague collections and getting to know them as adults in this brief period, I feel we are connected for life. Hearing and meeting the counselors(Brian, Norm, Tom, and Rick) now as contempories and hearing their spin and what their committment and feeling for the camp, was priceless for me.....And of course Lenny Busch who admitted he very rarely attends any reunions, but was compelled to come back for one brief evening, was a personal thrill for me....Lenny at almost 55 and looking like he is pushing 35 and bringing back memories of his wit, his self- deprecating humor, his intelligence, and his love for the camp and the lone representative of the skills department was one of the highlights of the weekend for me.Anyone who does not know Lenny, he is worth the price of admission. A true Paradox legend for me.He is als going to be a judge soon, so not a bad guy to hobnob with as well. -Meeting our first Paradox Groupie in the name of Dave Bruce and his family (even though Jewish matchmaking no longer exists, anyone that has sons under 16, I strongly urge you to meet his three daughters and move up there as it will be worth it for you) and meeting other caretakers of our land and memories like Sue, was unbelievable. -Attempting skiing for the first time in 30 years and lasting as long as the radar gun on a Randy Johnson fastball was one of the lowlights. I still have trouble making a fist on both hands. God forbid if I actually got up. -Bill Rice, Tom Field, and Bill Rosen are all Co- MVP's and I personally loved seeing their passion and committment to something that maybe some of us have repressed for some Pavlovian reason. What incredible people they all are and it was a privelege for me to meet them as adults and rehash and undo the spider webs that are a large part of my brain.

So I want to thank the people that attended as all that attend are not only doing it for themselves, but showing a committment and love for the people that want to see them again and connect some of the lost dots of our own personal history. I want to meet more of my own personal history so that I can better understand whom I was and why I am and meet a whole new fraternity of friends. There should be absolutely no anxiety, fear, or trepidation no matter what your experiences of camp was. We have hopefully matured and some of our vulnerabilites and hurts can be expressed to guys that can understand what you might have gone through....Very therapeutic and non-threatening. And hopefully the next one, Rabbi Marc Margulis can give Jewish confessions (he is part of the new wave of Jewish Rabbi's- ones that wear baseball caps instead of yarmulkes.

-To the Landis family, you have no idea the impact your vision of this camp meant to a lot of people and would welcome and hope that you become involved. Hearing your perceptions and your reality are critical to completing the circle. Anyone that might hold a grudge for 35 years are not the type of individuals that would keep up with fellow Paradoxians so again if there is any fear, let me assure you that the weekend is/was about strengthening a bond that we all have together. Enough rambling......Would love the guys in skills and sports to get more involved with this thing as the guys that hiked seem to be the ones that have the closest relationships and the most feeling about the camp and I don't think that is necessarily true....If Bob Seegan, or Mark Kaufman or Tony Braun or Mike Farber are reading this, you are part of my past and would love to hear your memories of things.....Also the Rockoffs.I would love to see this every 5 years with small ones periodically around the city. I would love to combine it with the Paragon babes as there were a lot of brother/sister tandems and it might be a draw. Thanks fellows for keeping the dreams alive.....Bruce

Contributed by Bruce Graye (bgraye@aol.com) on July 21, 2002.

ps. Of course Jack Francis as well was there with his Paragonian wife, Rose....Interesting how many of us have gone through divorce and the ones whom married Paragonites are still together....Definitely time for another mixer....Little did we know.......Also interesting with the guys that brought their wives how much better looking the wives are from the guys.....Good salesman all of us became.

Contributed by Bruce Graye (bgraye@aol.com) on July 21, 2002.

Reading Bruce Graye's comments made it all come back. Although business kept me away this weekend I did think about everyone as the weekend progressed. I am glad that Bruce had such a favorable report. I knew that bond had always been there and am glad things seemed to go so well. Billy Rice was the reason I even learned of paradox back in the early 1960's (and from a former camper named Mike Wolfinger) so it was fitting that he was such an important part of everything. I look forward to the CD now more than ever given what Bruce had to say. I hope we can do this again because I will certainy make sure I clear whatever I am doing. If any of you are ever in the South Florida Palm Beach County area and want to spend some time over a meal, at the beach, or just talking over the old days please call me. (561-471-1000) Thank you Billy for reminding us of what was still one of the best and most memorable part of our youth! Tom Field, your web site has enabled us to go back in some small way. It is amazing how many of us choose to participate. I echo Bruce Graye's sentiments about the Landis family joining in. I am sure they know the impact their camp has had on all of us. I hope they come aboard on the web site. Norm Tracy I am sorry I missed you but we will catch up one of these days. Hope you all have a wonderful and healthy rest of the summer.I will wear my t-shirt proudly when it arrives!

Contributed by Michael Salnick (Salnicklaw@aol.com) on July 21, 2002.

I, too, am curious how the weekend went for those of you who could make it. I was halfway around the world in Hong Kong on business but my spirit was there at Paradox with you guys. I'm glad LRB was there representing us skillsies. Can't wait for my tee-shirt and CD. Thanks to both Bills.

Contributed by Bruce Singer (saltcreek@charter.net) on July 21, 2002.

My mind is still flowing with wonderful thoughts of this past weekend in the Adirondacks. I had really debated whether or not to go and I'm so glad that I did for the time I was able to attend. The 2 things I am sorry about are that I was the only one from the Landis family to attend and that I had to leave early Saturday morning. I thought about you folks all day on Saturday!!! What an amazing experience it is to go back and take a look at such an important piece of your past. As Tom Field said so beautifully on Friday on our way to camp....here we are living in the unimaginable future as we visit our past. Thank you so much Tom for this website that has made the entire connection possible for everyone, and thank you Bill Rice for putting the whole reunion together. What positive energy! Thank you so much to Tom Field and Jim Anderberg for spending Friday with me ghosting around PX and PG. Thank you to Bill Rosen for putting the CD together (I've got a mac so have to figure out how to view it, but I will) and thank you to everyone for coming and making me feel so welcome at a Paradox reunion. I now realize that even though the girls spent all of our time thinking about the Paradox boys, the boys spent no time thinking about the girls. So....I'm honored to be a part of the whole thing. I'm sure Saturday was a blast and it seems like after everyone took a look backwards....it was time to enjoy Paradox Lake for what it is now and what you can do there in the present. You all had the opportunity to do that on Saturday: I just did the looking backwards part. What a gift it was to get to know some of you. Some of us have many things in common and all of us have one special place and time in common. Isn't that one of the things Paradox was about? People came together from all different places and none of those differences mattered from 1962-1970, just as they don't matter now. If any of you are ever in Maine, please look me up. You're all welcome. Margie PS....I made it back to Maine in time to play for the wedding and the grooms father took me out for a boat ride after dinner and we saw dolphins!!! It wasn't Roaring Br

Contributed by Margie Landis (margiel@suscom-maine.net) on July 21, 2002.

Did Arthur Sulzberger attend Paradox? Was his the father who I'm told parachuted a newspaper to his son?

Tom

PS I'll post more on the reunion shortly. I'm still assimilating a weekend that was enormously moving and very deep...

Contributed by Tom Field (Tom) on July 22, 2002.

I just got back to Seattle. It was a long trip. I spent much of the flight reviewing the CD. INCREDIBLE. I will post more later but wanted to say, it was an incredible experience.

Contributed by Marc S. Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on July 23, 2002.

Hi:

I just realized that I haven't posted anything in a VERY long time, but an e-mail I received today from Mike Gordon provided the impetus. I sincerely hope that all of you that attended the reunion had a very special time. My wife and I wish we could have been there, but family obligations made it impossible. I just finished reading through all of the postings since I last viewed them (over two years ago) and was really intrigued by many of the things that I didn’t know about Camp Paradox. As a person who was only a counselor for three years (68-70), I didn't know Larry Carpenter, nor had I ever heard any "stories." Quite frankly, as a person who dedicated twenty-five years of my life to law enforcement, and protecting other people, I was, to say the least, appalled.

Well, on to other areas. I would like to hear from any and all former Paradoxians, especially those that might have been in one of my Scuba classes or in one of the bunks that I had under my care. Specifically, I would really like to hear from my former neighbors in Harrison, NY, the Zuchs (Bobby, Mike or Danny). Life continues to be pretty good in Phoenix, though the State is going through a VERY serious drought, and most of the eastern part of Arizona went up in a fire that I'm sure you all heard about. This has been a bad year for my friends, several lost their homes in the fire that I just mentioned, and the son of the man who was "Best Man" at my wedding was a Port Authority Police Officer who died on 9/11.

Well, before I get too maudlin, I'd better close. You all take care, and I do hope to hear from some of you.

Contributed by Jim Flonacher (BlueKnight356@cox.net) on July 23, 2002.

    expectations can be very dangerous. whenever there is an expectation, one is sure to be disappointed. well, i went to the reunion not knowing what was going to happen and i had a fabulous weekend. i didn't want it to end and i didn't want to go home on monday.

     i want to thank everyone who participated and made this a very special weekend.

    it was really great getting together with everyone and not just talking about camp either. i think we all learned a great deal this past weekend and it looks like getting together again won't have to wait another 30 years! if you have any suggestions -- speak up!

    photos are starting to be processed and uploaded so keep checking the myfamily.com site. i know some of you haven't registered there yet... well, now's the time. and please take the time to complete your address and phone number -- you never know who would like to contact you.

    more later, i'm still floating on air after a really terrific weekend.

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on July 23, 2002.

well, here goes with my comments..... it was truly great to see old friends after so many years. only wish more people came. some faces haven't changed much, others i didn't recognize at all. but the memories shared when we walked the old camp property were quite remarkable. i found it very sad to see the camp in such a state - no more rogers hall or dining hall or cabins or ball fields. tennis courts (if you could call them that) barely visable through the trees. the lake was still as beautiful as ever. overall, it was a special weekend to reflect on some very pleasurable summers from the past. after paradox closed i worked at camp redwing for 4 summers over on schroon lake. i stopped there too as i was heading home on saturday afternoon. very similar to paradox, redwing was subdivided - into 3 properties vs. 18 at paradox. the tennis courts are still functional, the theater and dining hall have been converted into homes - so the camp is still much more visible to an observer. in both cases though, fond memories prevailed. as others have said, thanks bill rice and tom fields for reconnecting us all. it was kind of amazing to learn that jack francis used to live only about 3 miles from my home (and now only lives about 8-9 miles away). hope we all keep in touch. can't wait to see the pics as they are posted on the myfamily web site.

Contributed by steve berkowitz (berks1@optonline.net) on July 24, 2002.

Words fail me at the moment in attempting to describe the wonderful weekend I had with everyone. It's as if to speak of it is to diminish it. So, for the moment, I'll just check in to let you all know I made it back home after bagging one of the 46 (Phelps) late Monday afternoon where I sat perched on top of the world and contemplated how fortunate I was to have met and re-met all of you.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jim@ci.augusta.me.us) on July 24, 2002.

This is directed to anyone considering a trip back for a visit. The old addage of take only photos and leave only footprints did not apply to the clos of Paradox/Paragon. We took a lot more than that with us and left still more behind. I think hat each of us knows what we took withe us, the memories and experiences that we took with us helped form us. They are part of what made us what we are today. I think that ths is why we all related so well on the reunion, that tis was the bond we all felt. I don't believe that any of us had an inkling of what we lwft behind. I know that before the reunion I had none. What we left behind was a legacy. The amount of local interest in the camp was nothing short of amazing. One can not say enough about David Bruce and his efforts to make the reunion special. That though was only the start of it. At every turn we were met with stories and memories formlocal residents. Those kids that spent their summers at the lake or who lived there year round could not have had many friends thir own age for companionship and in some way we became a part of their lives I found the people we met anxious to share those mmories and even more so to here my stories as I was able to shed some light on a particular bit of graffiti or artifact. At Paragon I met one woman who remembered taking a oat with her sister to watch the cadle ceremony and asked me where my name was on th walls. She actually invited me into her home upon learning that I had lived in that cabin. I could write volumes on similiar such exoerience as I am sure could all who attended the reunion. Instead I will say simply that a trip back to visit is well worth the time, and if you do go back take the time to stop and talk to the locals. They realy want to hear what you have to say, and just might have someemorabalia that has some personal meaning to you.

Contributed by Lynn Stern Ebert (Phantomowner2@aol.com) on July 25, 2002.

I just read the message that I just sent. It is late and I was tired. I would like to appologize for the many typing errors that I failed tonotice

anonymously contributed on July 25, 2002.

My last visit to the area was in 1993, and it was a very memorable and moving experience. I remember purposely driving up route 9 from Lake George, rather than taking the interstate, so I could experience the local color along the way. I recall keeping my eyes peeled for anything familiar. Unfortunately, there really wasn’t much that I could recall. When I finally reached the village of Schroon Lake I couldn’t believe how small and relatively run-down it appeared. My memory was of a much more vital village. Continuing on I finally reached the turn-off for route 73, but apparently the New York State road department had renamed the road route 74 some years earlier in order to conform to the numbering system of all the state roads in New York where the east-west arteries are even numbers with the north-south ones odd. But moreover, the road looked different. I guess every couple of decades or so they come in and resurface the road and cut back the overgrowth. The road just appeared to be much wider and upgraded from the old winding densely wooded road that it used to be. My anxiety was building as I went around each turn, knowing that soon I would be at my destination. First I looked for Camp Severance, but didn’t see it and just kept going. I knew the campsite would be upon me in a few minutes. I approached a slight upgrade and curve in the road and instantly recognized the old “Mountain Meadows” property that was our neighbor just west of the dining hall. But at that precise moment, I slammed on the brakes, and the car screeched to a complete stop, right in the middle of the road. Dumbfounded, I gazed on the old campsite, but to my utter amazement, the entire camp was gone!! The dining hall, the program office, the upper field with green vermiculite roof, and my beloved “Rodger’s Hall”. All history. I trounced around the grounds for awhile, but was really shocked by what I saw. I guess it was unrealistic of me, but for some reason I fully expected to find everything just the way I left it, after my last season in 1969. I drove down to the old “Idlewild” store and asked some questions, but nobody there knew very much about what had happened to the camp. It’s true that back in the sixties the people who lived in the general area of the lake, including the opposite shore (the Sunderland side) did enjoy our presence. In fact, each summer we used to put on another performance of our parent’s weekend musical production for the benefit of the Paradox Lake Association. The all would come, usually wearing their “Sunday best”, and were a great audience and truly felt proud to be there and in awe of the campers and their efforts. I felt fulfilled however, in a strange sort of way, given that I hadn’t really seen very much, but knew that I would always return, whenever the opportunity arose, if for no other reason than just to breathe that sweet air. For those of you that were at the reunion, it must have been just great to be back.

Contributed by Neil Neuschatz (nneuschatz@capitaltempfunds.com) on July 26, 2002.

On Friday, Margie, Tom and I did a pre-visit to Paradox. We met the woman who now owns LF's cabin and she introduced us to Lottie who owns Mountain Meadows - the lodge and cabins adjoining CP. Her home is only 100 feet from Larry's cabin. Lottie is this wonderful older woman who had some great stories to tell of memories from the CP days. She recalled the noise of the dining hall every evening and some cheer she could barely make out that sounded like everyone was yelling "SEX! SEX! SEX!".

She asked of the whereabouts of a kid named Birnbaum. Turns out he would leave camp to go have visits with her.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jim@ci.augusta.me.us) on July 26, 2002.

It was wonderful to see all you fine gentlemen (and some spouses)at the old swimming beach on Saturday, July 20, with David Bruce and Halfdan Prahl serving up giant hotdogs. I loved the retelling of stories and seeing the obvious joy you all seemed to feel in seeing your old comrades. Camp Paradox was truly a magical place for many, many people - me included. Gretchen Sunderland

Contributed by Gretchen Sunderland (gretchens@adelphia.net) on July 26, 2002.

Well, I have been home for a while, and I’ve sent thank-you notes to “ the Bills” – yeoman work, guys; processed most of my digital pix, and posted some; read lots of posts on Paradox.com; enjoyed new My Family pix; and poked around the great CD. I thought it time to “pen” some thoughts about the Reunion. As I shared with Bill Rice in a note, I’m sure that we all came with some mix of excitement and trepidation. Each of us lived through, and conceptualized our experiences through our own “filters,” which often kept us from seeing other parts of the greater Paradox picture. It seems to me that what have created through the 2 web sites, and the weekend, is a communal memory. Into it we have all put our views, our individual memories, some “secrets,” some of the reality behind the mystique of the counselors and directors, and we have done so having many years of hindsight. Since each of us had to rearrange these many puzzle pieces in our own minds we left with a different “reality” than the one we brought. During our countless discussions, more than a few negatives were interspersed with our fond memories. While some were not at all savory, the reality is that while Paradox was a VERY SPECIAL place, it wasn’t perfect. And yet, it’s positive impact was deeply felt by all of us. For some, like me, it was a professional direction (counseling), a pursuit in which I am still involved. For others it was learning skills that made them better educators or parents. For many it was developing (or continuing) a love for the outdoors, for aquatic endeavors, for athletic pursuits, or for aesthetic avocations. For most it fostered a love for the Adirondacks. For all of us it was learning to live together. In most cases camaraderie, caring, and acceptance were the norm. I think that archetypal camp jock, Bruce Graye’s, reminiscences of how well the camp plays were presented is a perfect example of how we learned to value one another.

We didn’t circle ‘round the flagpole, nor did we run the lantern high, and we didn’t sing those songs of Paradox, yet we joined as campers (and counselors) friends all nigh. Speaking of songs, I can’t remember my H.S. alma mater, or my college one either. I can pick out a line or two of the one from my school (after 26 graduations I would hope so). Yet, I can still sing those “songs of Paradox” – at least when I am alone in the car (singing in Deb’s presence is banned). I do thank you all for the part you played in making our group experience an outstanding “whole.” Special thanks to Tom Field for starting the ball rolling, Bill Rice for making the Reunion happen, and Bill Rosen for his wonderful CD. The gracious hosting of David Bruce and his family, and that of the Walton clan at Paragon/Nawita was heart-warming. How many times do folks reach out to total strangers reach out as they did. Their preservation of many artifacts is also appreciated. I guess that they “get it,” too.

The physical presence of Paradox, the camp, is slowly disappearing. We still find the occasional name on a wall – I did in bunk 6 – but those walls are fast disintegrating. Maybe as the dust of the early tent platforms on the hill across Rt. 73 fertilized the Paradox that we knew, the cabins and courts returning to the earth will feed the spirit of the place – and that is what will transcend whatever happens to the real estate

Contributed by Brian Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on July 26, 2002.

It's all been said above... truly a great trip! Words of our time together are mere "snapshots"...photographs. I took away much more from the experience than I can describe here. Reconnecting with friends and acquaintenances, sharing with family and meeting those who are now the caretakers of the land, the artifacts and the spirit of our times together, was a wonderful experience. It is clear that the "Camp" is still in very good hands as it becomes new memories for so many more. My thanks again to Bill, Bill, Tom and David. Margie it was great seeing you. [You may wish to take a look at a program like "DataViz" for Mac. It works quite well converting PC to Mac "speak"]. If any of you are in the Baltimore/DC area, drop me a note and we can catch lunch or dinner. I work just a few metro stops from downtown DC. Thanks all for a great weekend!

Contributed by Norm Tracy (N_Tracy@msn.com) on July 28, 2002.

When I wrote my first comments after the reunion, I was premature in worrying about the capabilities of my mac. By Sunday evening, I was happily viewing and listening to treasures on the CD. It worked just fine. Thanks to all who wrote privately and online with suggestions for playing it. I was listening to this young boy singing "Where are they" and wondering who it was. How surprised I was to find out it was my brother Scott!!! Thank you so much to Bill Rosen for that great CD. On Tuesday evening I'll post on my family a photo of LF tak

Contributed by Margery Landis (margiel@suscom-maine.net) on July 28, 2002.

Just a reminder to those of you visiting this site that haven't been to the MyFamily site. You're missing out on a lot - a picture is worth a thousand words. Just email me, Bill Rice or Tom (you can find our email addresses amoung these comments) and we'll send the login instructions.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jim@ci.augusta.me.us) on July 28, 2002.

Wow! For those who haven't seen it, check out Bill Rice's new "Then & Now" collage at www.myfamily.com. It's GREAT! Thanks, Bill. - Tom

Contributed by Tom Field (Tom) on July 29, 2002.

Tom Field and Bill Rice's spirit continues as I went to another reunion of guys that couldn't make the REAL ONE....This is kind of like going to Old Timers Game in different ballparks.....This one was at Alan Millers folks home in Bucks County in which, Howie Uniman, Marc Margolis, Glenn Meltzer, Rich Frank, Mike Salnick, Jim Toub, Jim Cramer,and brother Glenn attended....I had at least a few of these guys in my bunk and I pleased to know I was a huge factor in Jim getting away from sports (his daughters throw better than him-nothing more needed to be said)and Marc getting into the Rabbinical thing.....All wished they were there the week before but hope that another bigger and better one might be somewhere in the cards in which they can attend....The feeling was similar to the week before with guys just having a little older bodies but despite the maturity we all have gotten, there was still a real fear of a Salnick Atomic Wedgie....The bonds are still all there and time has not eroded much of anything except speed, hair, libido, and memories.....Look for Cramer on Leno this Tuesday night.....Tom and Bill can feel proud of the momentum they have created....Lets hear from guys that are incognito as they have important pieces of the puzzle we are putting together.....Great to read Neil, Norm's and Brians letters and Bills here and now stuff is unbelievable....

Contributed by Bruce Graye (bgraye@aol.com) on July 29, 2002.

I hope we see some photos posted from this second reunion!

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jim@ci.augusta.me.us) on July 29, 2002.

I received three wonderful gifts tonight... the first was the return of a friend from a spiritual journey to India... the 2nd was a Paradox teeshirt... the third was a cd-rom that made yesterdays into todays... my public thanks to Bill Rice who surprised me with the last two wonderful gifts and for the years of wonder and joy that both gifts will bring to my life...

one of the many surprises was listening to the Camp Paradox production of Anything Goes... I am afraid that the rendition of Sing Like the Birdies and Sing Tra La Tra La La La was much better than my version of this song on stage in Boston some 15 years later... Thank you, Gerry. And thanks to the unknown camper who had the nerve to sing it in front of 150 of us at Rogers Hall.

I will spend weeks wading through the wealth of memories that are collected on one very special cd. Thanks to all of you who produced it so carefully and so lovingly.

I would have liked to join you all for the July reunion... and I must thank Bill R. and Tom F. who almost made it happen by offering to make it happen financially... you guys are still the greatest... a very new job kept me tied to Santa Fe this time... but I plan to make the next (God willing)...

I wrote a letter to Bill tonight... and shared with him that your faces and your smiles and your voices are still very fresh in my memory... and it is ultimately the people that we were there even more than the things that we shared there that are fresh in my memory 25 years later... and "always" will be...

Ultimately the physical Camp Paradox and all of its processes and its innovations and its events were strictly the setting and a fine script... eventually they too will fade and return to sawdust...

but it was you that made the camp...

and now, as then...

you are still all "delicious, delightful and delovely"...

As I said nightly as I walked from darkened cabin to darkened cabin some 25 years ago, "sweet dreams little guys"...

Dennis

 

 

Contributed by Dennis Cormier (dennis@weare1creations.com) on July 29, 2002.

For those of you who did not attend the reunion, you should know that this wonderful man by the name of David Bruce, who now resides in Larry's cottage, is doing his best to keep the name of Camp Paradox alive. He has the Camp Paradox name, in the original type lettering, painted onto his canoes and motorboats. The highlight of the reunion for me was Mr. Bruce's tour of what's left of the camp, and finally going down to the swimming area and jumping into that beautiful, magnificent lake! I hope that Mr. Bruce's children will follow his example and try to keep the name Camp Paradox alive for another generation.

 

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on July 30, 2002.

Just got done listening and watching most parts of the CD. Hearing myself sing was quite earthshattering, especially to my family! In retrospect, I think I shouted to a melody as opposed to singing. Thank you Bill Rosen for taking the time and effort to put such a great CD together. It was obvious that doing it was a labor of love. One question? Who is the rock and roll singer on the CD? Tell us a litte about him. Many thanks. Michael Salnick

Contributed by Michael Salnick (Salnicklaw) on August 3, 2002.

Hi, Mike - I'm glad you're enjoying the CD. It was a blast to put together and I was glad to be able to do it. Don't be too embarrassed at hearing the sound of your own voice. When you're a kid, shouting IS singing! Comes with the territory. As far as the rock n' roll singer on the CD, I'm stumped. You're not referring to the guy who sang 'Mr. Bojangles,' are you? If so, that was Don Rynd, a counselor at CP. Unless there's something from one of the albums that I'm forgetting.

Bill

Bill

 

 

Contributed by Bill Rosen (bandit41@bellatlantic.net) on August 3, 2002.

Ii was Jimmy Ragona that sang the bluebird song. I was little at thge time and had come up for visiting day. My mother was friendly with the Ragonas at the time and we were stting with them during the show.

I have seen some comments from Paragonions. I would like to see mor. If you have a sister you might suddest to er that she look in.

If anyone knows Mindy Bieber she left so uch graffiti behind that the residents of what used to be Paragon have actually written a song and ply about her. They wuld love to met her

 

Contributed by Lynn Ebert (Phantomowner2) on August 4, 2002.

I had a really great time at the reunion and tuly felt a connection. After I got home I started to read a lot of the postings. A common thread seems to be feeling the outsider. Whenever a group of people get together someone will feel a left out. Even when adults get together this is true. I too was an outsider. We were away from family and friends or at least those friends wirth whom we spent most of the year. Those of us that weren't outsiders at home must have felt much more vulnerable to it. The marvel was that even those of us that didn't get along with people in our bunks could still find people to be close to that had similiar interests. We could still be ourselves and do things that we liked. I have spoken to many people that hated the camps they went to because they were forced to do things that they hated. I consider myself very fortunate to have gone to one where every personality type was accomodated

If anyone out there has maintained contact with the Baurs I would very much like to hear from Amy

Contributed by Lynn Stern Ebert (Phntomowner2@aol.com) on August 4, 2002.

I am planning on being in Washington D.C. next week. I would love to see anyone who happens to be in the area. I am planning on seeing Norm Tracy, and seeing anyone else would be wonderful.

MSS

Contributed by MarC Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on August 4, 2002.

Friends:

For those of you who checked here over the past few days and were unable to reach this message board, my apologies.

FYI: If you look at your browser's "Address" field at the top, you'll see that this message board isn't actually on the Camp Paradox site. It's a free service offered by a fellow who wants to give back to the community and feels this kind of board builds community. He's a pretty interesting guy, if you're curious, you can visit his personal site here:  http://philip. greenspun.com/

I actually like this board's format more than most I've seen since it's just a long stream of comments and there are no cumbersome trees to climb through.  The fact that it's free to us, and was easy for me to setup made it even more attractive.

At times, their server appears to go down.  It's been pretty stable, but just before the July reunion and now the past few days they've apparently had problems.

Anyway, now you know as much as I do about the message board! 

Tom

Contributed by (Tom) on August 9, 2002.

I'm usually a rabid anti-internet joke person, but some of the revised song titles below, aimed at, ahem, the older generation that we've become, actually make me laugh out loud, even upon re- reading them now.  Forgive me for the clutter if you don't enjoy these. > Herman's Hermits-"Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Walker" > The Rolling Stones-"You Can't Always Pee When You Want" > Paul Simon-"Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver" > Carly Simon-"You're So Varicose Vein" > The Bee Gees-"How Can You Mend a Broken Hip" > Roberta Flack-"The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face" > Johnny Nash-"I Can't See Clearly Now" > The Temptations-"Papa's Got a Kidney Stone" > Nancy Sinatra-"These Boots Give Me Arthritis" > ABBA-"Denture Queen" > Leo Sayer-"You Make Me Feel Like Napping" > Commodores-"Once, Twice, Three Trips to the Bathroom" > Procol Harem-"A Whiter Shade of Hair" > The Beatles-"I Get By with a Little Help From Depends" > Steely Dan-"Rikki Don't Lose That Clapper" > Credence Clearwater Revival- "Bad Prune a-Rising" > Marvin Gaye-"I Heard It Through the Grape Nuts" > The Who-"Talkin' 'Bout My Medication"

 

Contributed by Tom (Tom) on August 9, 2002.

i hope you all have been keeping up with the new photos on the myfamily.com site. thank you robin, for including your family photos. it was one of the "missing" items on our sites.

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on August 12, 2002.

The photos of the Landis family that Tom just posted are amazing!! It is easy to recognize Alex and Anne, and even Robin, but Eric Landis looks completely different! It looks like he has developed into looking like the sweetest father of them all!!!

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on August 13, 2002.

Those of you who have been checking the My Family site know that each of the additional pictures posted there adds to our memories of PX and or PG. For a few hours in my 100+ degree attic I was recently rewarded with a small cache of stuff which I am either posting, or sending to Bill Rosen for the next Paradox CD. Why don't you go digging, too. I know we have all moved over the years, and probably discared all sorts of things along the way. I bet, though, that somewhere among your stuff is some piece(s) of memorabilia which would add to the big picture of our camp memory. It might be a picture, a letter, or whatever. If you are techno-challenged just mail it/them off to Bill Rice, Bill Rosen, or Tom Field who can work their computer magic on it/them (nice of me to offer you guys up, huh?). As time goes on, it will get harder and harder to find relevant stuff, so let's save it now. Looking forward to swelling archive

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on August 26, 2002.

 

An open letter to the counselors of Camp Paradox:

 

Our reunion this summer meant a great deal to me, for all the right reasons.  The reunion and the opportunity to see and be seen by the counselors who deeply touched   our lives was a very rich experience.  I (and I suppose many of us) are still grappling with the joy of our reunion, trying to make sense of the great poignancy that these re-connections have had. 

 

Being guys, I suppose, can make it more difficult to understand the source of the emotions that were engendered by the gathering and by our shared memories.  But, to me, it comes down to some of the very core needs that I believe as humans we all have: to feel safe, to be growing and learning, to feel respected, be part of a community, and to have the opportunity to both give to and receive from others.  The relationships that we campers had with you counselors often fulfilled these needs.

 

Sometimes I'm surprised that I should have such strong feelings about people who were in my life so long ago.  And I ask myself if  I'm not over- reacting for some reason. Maybe I’m just being overly nostalgic, holding onto the past, or perhaps I'm more needy than most. But, no – to discover that so many of us Paradoxians have equally (or more!) strong feelings is nice validation. No, I'm not carried away by my emotions. There really was something magical and, yes, ennobling about what happened so long ago.

 

The fragility of memory has long stolen most of the details of my years at Paradox.  Only the highlights (and rare low point) seem to stick with me today.  The specifics that remain are snapshots of moments: The boundless excitment as the early weeks in June ticked by. The shy delight I felt when some respected elder (sic: they were only 20 years old for god’s sake!) treated me with respect and interest.   Camper-Counselor day to me was one of those times that counselors and campers almost openly expressed their fondness for one another … doing it in a once again typical male way (that worked!): teasing and mocking one another and “getting even” … in good fun. On overnights, some of us used to make coffee for the counselors (swinging it over our heads to "settle the grounds.") I remember the counselors making a big deal of appreciating the luxury of coffee being served to them   ... and it meant a lot to me to give something back..

 

Brian, Jack, Jim, Norm, Rick, Tom ... you were man-gods to us.  In my opinion, it’s a common, appropriate, age-old, and nurturing aspect of healthy life: teenage boys and men forming bonds like we did.  And at the reunion, it was wonderful to see with our adult eyes that, today, almost 35 years later,  yes, our respect and honor for you wasn't misplaced.  All of you, too, have gone on to live full lives ... lives which no doubt have enriched the lives of countless young men and women in your sphere.

 

Yes, Paradox has its dark side.  And, I think, we'll never really know the whole story.  I can understand you and your counselor colleagues not noting anything awry back then. We were all young and not too worldly by today's standards.  It's too easy to second-guess in hindsight what any of us could or should have known or done.  I don't blame anyone for what happened and, at least for me, no harm was done.  (In fact, in a ironic way, standing up for myself was strengthening... I was, even though young, able to innocently draw a line in the sand in the face of someone seemingly so much more powerful.)

 

 Take care and from all of us: thanks for being who you were and are today.

Contributed by Tom Field (Tom) on August 28, 2002.

The great and special feeling we all got from Camp Paradox is evident in the words shared by many of the postings of late. It was great to know that Brian Clifford who to me as a kid was the essence of Camp Paradox, still has such a fondness and kinship to the place notwithstanding the fact that he left amidst the exodus of the "great ones" - in terms of staff members. Rick Schuck was another who I have only the most fond memories of. I seem to even recall his brother Greg who I believe worked in the dining hall for some years. I still recall learning that Schuck and Vanatta were going over to Paragon and feeling that even though they would make Paragon a special place, we had some how lost two very special people even though they were just down the road. To this day, any time I go to a waterfront atmosphere and look around to see who is in charge I find myself thinking, "who is the Norm Tracy of this place?" Those thoughts are incredible given the fact that we are all older, more responsible, some of us with kids like my four, but nevertheless we are all still can hold on to those precious years at Camp Paradox. I tend to agree with Tom Field that the special and magical feelings are all still there. That doesn't mean we are hanging on to something due voids or lack of things in our current lives....its just that those years were so very special. We can now realize as responsible adults the impact those times had on us. Everyone has gone to camp now and then...no one anywhere has ever had an experience like we were blessed to have at Paradox.

I was not able to attend the reunion in New York. I was in Philadelphia for a party of sorts as opposed to a reunion where a number of us gathered at Alan Miller's parents house. What was so unique and special to me is that notwithstanding the fact that I hadn't seen Jim Cramer, Howie Uniman, Rich Frank, Glen Meltzer, Jim Toub, Glen and Bruce Gray, and Mark Margolius for almost twenty five plus years, we were able to pick up where we left off. There was no awkward moment. We had all grown and lived our lives and raised families but nevertheless for a few hours we were right back there as if we had never left each other. That certainly tells us all something about the place, about ourselves, and about the relationships we developed. Bruce Graye thinks if there was a Paradox Jeopardy Game I should go on it. I think an Eric Landis or Neil Neushatz or a John Schreiber would do just as well. I would bet it was the same way in New York in July as well. We were all fortunate enough to share this wonderful experience. I wish Alex and Ann improved health and again thank them for giving us a most memorable and wonderful chapter in all of our lives.

Contributed by Michael Salnick (Salnicklaw@aol.com) on August 29, 2002.

Today was teacher workshop day at school. Our speaker (a psychologist a few years older than I) discussed many of the things Tom mentioned in his recent post – about feeling safe, about connecting, about being part of a community, about interpersonal respect. I must say that Tom put them just as eloquently. From the counselor perspective I think that being allowed to develop openly caring young adult/kid relati

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 3, 2002.

(oops!) relationships helped us to be warmer adults as we pursued our careers (particularly for the educators) relationships, and for some, parenthood. Remember that "guy socialization" in the 50's and 60's when we grew up was very traditional. Hum, I thought the wake-up coffee was a Tom Saywer and the fence scam.... Seriously, those kind of nice things kids did for counselors, and the admiration those campers offered, probably encouraged us to be the best we could be so as to keep getting those good feelings. My suspicion is that our camp interactions and relationships (staff to campers & campers to staff) were lots more reciprocal than most understood then. What Mike stated about the PA gathering was true at the Reunion. People just seemed to pick up. Interesting, too, is the fact that the thoughtful, sensitive nature of many (most?) of the posts over the last 3 years seems to suggest that we either were a uniquely insightful group of guys (probably somewhat true), or that (very probably true) our experiences in the PX environment did really help mould us. I know that part of our socialization was learning to "bust balls," experimenting with how to out-burp or out-fart cabin mates, and for the staff learning the effects of large quantities of local brew upon the ability to rise for breakfast. What does separate us from many of our agemates, though, is that we learned the "warm fuzzy" stuff which it became okay to exhibit in the camp setting (and to carry with us into life). As someone in the counseling business, what I heard this morning was not new. What I realized, though, is that Larry put it all out for us almost 40 years ago, and that (sadly) more than a few folks who work with

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 3, 2002.

If only we had Macromedia's Shockwave web page authoring tool back at Paradox, things would have been waaaaaay different. Check out this page authored in Shockwave. (Click and move your mouse a bit) http://www.wh itetrash.nl/pmf/  

Contributed by Tom (Tom) on September 3, 2002.

(arrgh!) ...still don't get it. [I think I finally got all the parts of this post posted!]

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 4, 2002.

3rd try-

...more than a few folks who work with kids (like on my faculty) still don't get it.

 

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 4, 2002.

it was great to finally be able to get back to these posts -- i hadn't been able to see anything since ken's last posting.

i really appreciated the comments by tom, mike and brian. yes, they hit home. it's great to get together with old friends and be able to pick up from you left off. to me, it demonstrates the connection that was present from the past.

and yes, brian, i think we all learned about self-awareness at camp - to some extent anyway. larry was way ahead of his time.

fellow campers/counselors, please keep up the effort to find others who can contribute and by all means check out those attics and basements.

wishing you all a happy and healthy new year!

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on September 5, 2002.

it was a bit eerie to see ken's last posting about the dreaded AAHPER test. i was just thinking about that. every day i see another article on the obesity epidemic in this country. we're eating less fat, but more calories; working more on computers, but exercising less. when we went to school, i remember having gym class every day. now it's once a week. it's time to do something about it! perhaps if you're in that category you'll get out and start exercising one hour daily and eat less. good luck.

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on September 7, 2002.

let's give a big paradox cheer to chuck gelber who just logged on to the myfamily site! we're anxiously awaiting your comments dr. chuck!

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on September 8, 2002.

After four years with you guys in camp learning ethnic stuff, and (more importantly) being married for (almost) 35 years to a Jewish woman, I think I can do this. La Shana Tovah. (of course, I have no idea what year it is.

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 9, 2002.

L'Shana Tova to everyone. May you have a good and safe year. And, Bri, I believe that it is 5763.

 

Contributed by Marc S. Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on September 10, 2002.

Re: AAPHER

Just yesterday I commented to my physical therapist (I'm almost fully recovered from my accident at this point) about the AAPHER test. Dim is my memory, but of course I remember the sit-up competition that I engaged in during the AAPHER test.  Apparently the 100 percentile for situps was to do 100. Somehow, one of us did more than that, and the competition was on. Over the next few days, we leap frogged each other, each doing a few hundred more than the other's previous performance. 

We called a truce at 1000 sit-ups.  Funny thing, though, is that I don't remember it being hard to do... just genetic strength and the thrill of not only performing for the crowd but fun competition.  Paradox gave lots of us the opportunity to discover and do what we were good at or enjoyed. I was never much of an athlete, but the situp competition has been something that has been in the back of my mind all these years, encouraging me to do my best.

Question: does anyone remember who I competed against in this competition?  I don't.

Contributed by Tom Field (Tom) on September 10, 2002.

funny how the mind works. tom. i remember steve zuch (i think) doing the 1000 sit ups. have no recollection of a competition with you or anyone else!

Contributed by steve berkowitz (berks1@optonline.net) on September 10, 2002.

Tom - check your archives of this discussion group. You posted on March 31, 2001 where you recalled competing against Steve Zuch. Actually it was in response to Ken Greenfields recollection of that event. I am simply amazed, Ken, at the details you manage to keep track of.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jim@ci.augusta.me.us) on September 10, 2002.

I remember hating the AAPHER test with a passion..throwing softballs, 50 yard dashes...running 600 yard seemed like forever...now I run 50 miles/week and bicycle over 200/week. 100 situps...no problem...so Bill there may yet be hope for the kids of today. I should also be remebered that not only did Steve Zuch do those 1000 situps...but he carried ankle weight everywhere he went (except swimming). Steve was way ahead of his time!

Contributed by alan shier (alan553@aol.com) on September 10, 2002.

Memories of doing situps makes me recall my older brother Jon's one moment of glory at Paradox. Whether it was during AAPHERS or for some other reason, he did a huge amount of situps, maybe five hundred -- a record subsequently broken, but that, during the time it occurred and for a short while thereafter, brought him the kind of accolades he otherwise never achieved at camp. I remember being astonished at the reception he received, let alone the fact that he had done so many.

 

Contributed by Bruce Singer (saltcreek@charter.net) on September 10, 2002.

I notice that everyone is referring to the AAPHER tests, but if you look at the badge I posted on myfamily.com, you will see that it actually was the AAHPER test.

It's interesting how our minds can play tricks on us in trying to remember information. The "PH" is easily remembered as the "f" sound, and so it is easier to remember the "Afer" tests, (AAPHER), but it is harder to remember the "Aper" tests(AAHPER). The mind reverses the "H" and the "P" to make the "f" sound.

Take another look at the badge. It definitely is the AAHPER test.

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on September 11, 2002.

Hey,Ken, whatever. I still hated the fact we had to take them.

Contributed by Bruce Singer (saltcreek@charter.net) on September 11, 2002.

Actually they have added Dance to the association, so now it is AAHPERD. Among my high school momentos is a certificate for the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (similar to the AAHPER). I agree with Bruce, it wasn't fun. I cheated.

 

 

 

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 11, 2002.

American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, situps, pull ups, 600 yard, stand broad jump, shuttle run, 50 yard dash.

Contributed by Alan Shier (alan553@aol.com) on September 12, 2002.

I'm curious, does anyone know what they added to that list of tests in the dance category?

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jim@ci.augusta.me.us) on September 12, 2002.

Hey Jim,

I assume that your query is tongue in cheek. Jack Francis (former PE teacher, coach, and athletic director) should be an expert at this arcane (sh--) stuff if you really have a question.

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 12, 2002.

I was picturing something like 5 plié's and a pirouette.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jim@ci.augusta.me.us) on September 12, 2002.

In listening to an old Paradox record, I recall the tests being Bill Sunderland's baby and that they were referred to as the AAPHER Crowse Weber tests. Who is Crowse and Weber? Can anyone out there in cyberland help on this one?

Contributed by Michael Salnick (Salnicklaw@aol) on September 12, 2002.

Kraus-Weber was a physical fitness test that came into being in the 1950's. I also hated the AAHPER tests. I always thought that swiming ought to be included.

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on September 12, 2002.

Camp Riddle: How is the situation when Ben Casey meets Kildaire equivalent to our summer camp experience?

Think about it. It's really very easy. I got this one from listening to an old Allan Sherman song. Remember Allan Sherman, who wrote the "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" song about summer camp? The answer to the camp riddle, however, is in a different song that he wrote.

If nobody is able to solve this riddle, I will post the answer in 2 days.

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on September 12, 2002.

It's a "pair of docs" paradox

Contributed by Marc Ster (mstern # abanet.org) on September 14, 2002.

The start up of any semester takes me away from the fun things for a period of time, so I haven't had the opportunity to visit the Paradox site.

Thank you Tom, Mike and many others for sharing your feelings and insights. Thank you! I'm sure my fellow educators can identify with my comments: it is not often we "get feedback" about the impact (good or bad) we have had on the people we teach, mentor and counsel. Fortunately, most folks who go into education are "people people", interested in expanding knowledge and building relationships. As Bri stated, unfortunately there are some that simply "don't get it" and are there for some other purpose. I certainly see this in higher education, where faculty are not required to know how to teach, understand anything about human behavior, etc. A Masters or PhD in a subject area is adequate for them to set foot in a classroom. In some twisted way, this has been fortunate for me, as this deficit in HE has kept me fully employed over the years. But these issues are not unique to education but are true of any profession.

Several years ago, Ellen received a call from a former student... found her on the Internet... and simply said "thanks" for the positive impact she had on her life. Ellen had been teaching Health, PE, etc. at Pascack Valley HS "a few years ago". We hear from Vicki on occasion, checking in to say "Hi".

From time-to-time, I bump into some of my former students who take a moment to "chat", often with kids in tow, or now... (gads) grandkids.

These are important moments to us, so again... Thanks you for sharing!

It is important to note, that not just anyone was asked to work at Camp Paradox. Each counselor was selected by Larry. He was interested in bringing people together who would "fit"... As Leo Lefkowitz stated in one of our staff meetings as "being obvious" when Larry made his famous (infamous) statement: "[After all]what fits fits and what doesn't fit doesn't fit!"

By the way... the Kraus-Webber was geared to a specific age group (ages 9-12 I think). It also had a time element for each component e.g., 50 situps in 1 minute(?). Interestingly, many campers in that age group could not complete the test at the beginning of the season, but were successful at the end of the season. Bill Sunderland did his job well and I believe was one of the more knowledgeable people in the child development and physical education business. I was surprised and amazed that many of the counselors could complete the test, but an 11 year old (for which the test was designed) couldn't handle it.

Like many of you, as I go about my daily work, it is clear that the impact of our reunion has become part of my life fabric; reconnecting with friends and colleagues, seeing campers "all grown up"...having become our peers, revisiting memories, swapping stories, and enjoying the beauty of the Adirondacks. It was like "going home".

Contributed by Norm (N_Tracy@msn.com) on September 14, 2002.

With regard to Kraus-Weber: When I was in college, at NYU, I developed back pain and was referred to Dr. Hans Kraus, whose offices were located in the Ritz towers on Park Avenue in NYC. Dr. Kraus was, at the time (1972), the foremost Physiatrist (Dr. of Physical Medicine) in the country. His specialty was soft tissue diorders. I'm not sure who Weber is, but DRs. Kraus and Weber developed, among other things, the Kraus/Weber back exercises that the YMCA used for many years. (They may still use them, I don't know). Also Dr. Kraus was President Kennedy's back docter. When Kennedy was in Berlin, giving his famous speech, "Ich bin ein Berliner", it was Dr. Kraus that was flown to Berlin to help relieve the President's back pain. His technique was to give 'trigger point injections'. Dr. Kraus is also credited with helping the President to be able to live without narcotic pain killers.

Contributed by Tony Braun (TonyBobbie@aol.com) on September 18, 2002.

Sorry, that should read disorders.

Contributed by Tony Braun (TonyBobbie@aol.com) on September 18, 2002.

Hey, I think that is the same Hans Kraus responsible (with Fritz Weissner) for developing many of the climbing routes in the Gunks (a famous rock climbing area near New Paltz, New York for those non-climbers). In later years he was quite crippled by (I think) arthritis. I saw him a few times walking slowly (and dejectedly) along the base of the cliffs he could no longer climb.

I guess that the physical fitness test was one of his "low points"....

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 18, 2002.

Oh, okay. Mea culpa. Hans was quite prominent in his field, and I shouldn't dump on his accomplishments. Physical fitness tests, though, bring back less than pleasant memories of high school PE for me.

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on September 18, 2002.

Dr. Kraus was an avid climber and skier. He recommended both to his patients. I remember him asking me to sit on his couch. He told me that if the bed I was sleeping on was not as hard as his couch that I was to replace it with one that was, immediately. His couch was as hard as a rock. I think that it was stuffed with horsehair.

Contributed by Tony Braun (TonyBobbie@aol.com) on September 18, 2002.

Glad I asked about Kraus. The answers would make Bill Sundeland proud! Anyone care to comment on Charles "Pitts" Arendt? (If this one doesn't bring out some of the pre-64 campers nothing will!

Contributed by Michael Salnick (Salnicklaw@aol.com) on September 18, 2002.

I meant to spell it correcely: Bill Sunderland

Contributed by Michael Salnick (Salnicklaw@aol.com) on September 18, 2002.

As I have followed this site for close to nine months now, I am always fascinated by the scope, depth and variety of subjects discussed. Who needs specialized resources?... just read this site from time-to-time. There's some great "stuff" shared here.

Contributed by Norm (N_Tracy@msn.com) on September 28, 2002.

Hey Norm..yea right?.......

Contributed by alan shier (alan553@aol.com) on October 2, 2002.

Hey guys, it's getting quiet on the MY FAMILY site. Dig through those old boxes of stuff and add some new pix. Call your Mom (Moms always save memorabilia, like your kindergarten "handprint in plaster")- she'll be glad to hear from you even if she threw everything you left in the attic away.

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on October 16, 2002.

Here's a Camp Paradox trivia question that can only be answered by looking at the latest photo added on to myfamily.com(Cabin 14, 1965):

In what way was Don Bloomenstiel unique among all the other campers? Hint: The answer can be found VISUALLY on myfamily.com.

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on October 16, 2002.

Yes, Brian. You are correct. Don Bloomenstiel was, to the best of my knowledge, the only camper with red hair.

Don Bloomenstiel also had another distinction. He was, to the best of my knowledge, the only camper from the deep South. For another trivia question, where exactly in the South did Don Bloomensteil come from? I'll give a good clue: It was a city in Louisianna. For 10 points, what city was it?

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on October 17, 2002.

Hey Ken,

Didn't Morrie Siegel come from Puerto Rico? That's the very deep South!

Bri

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on October 17, 2002.

Okay, here's another geographic trivia. Which 1964 camper came from Ohio? (hint-Bunk 10)

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on October 17, 2002.

I don't know about the Ohio question, but Don Bloomenstiel hailed from Baton Rouge, Louisianna.

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on October 17, 2002.

What was the name of the Landis' dog??

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on October 17, 2002.

Come on "Old Bri Clifford." Ask something difficult. Dave Jacobson was the camper from Ohio. Don Bloomensteil was from Baton Rouge. The Landis dog was Gayboy. Morrie Siegel I think had a sister (Randie?) who went to Paragon. Weren't they from Ponce, Puerto Rico? Didn't we also have a fellow named Steve Frishberg also from Puerto Rico? I seem to recall he was with Billy Rice's age group. Let's get to some harder questions next time. Hope you are all well.

Contributed by Michael Salnick (salnicklaw@aol.com) on October 17, 2002.

glad to see some action here again! is that because life is slow or a renewed interest?

morrie siegel was actually from cuba if i recall. he was in my cabin a few years. steve frischberg may have been from PR, but i don't recall.

here's one question no one has been able to answer: it was '69 or '70, i believe and there was a young counselor who was fooling around with one of the 15-yr old campers from paragon (in my sister's group, i thought). she was 15 and looked 25, quite attractive and well-built, i recall. who was the counselor who was fired or left? and who was the camper?

 

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on October 17, 2002.

Billy, that guys name was larry something.... maybe newmark...he was seeing wendy robinson, it was 1970. I don't know if he got canned for seeing her or for getting high all the time. You'd have to ask eric.

Contributed by alan shier (alan553@aol.com) on October 18, 2002.

thanks, alan. your right on with wendy robinson and larry something sounds close. also, the reason he was asked to leave was a bit nebulous.

also, funny, i don't recall seeing any photos of wendy robinson in the yearbooks -- i'll have to recheck.

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on October 18, 2002.

Bill, there were no pics of paragon in the 70 year book...Wendy robinson was the sister of Jimmy Robinson.

anonymously contributed on October 18, 2002.

I had to smile about the Wendy Robinson remarks, only because I did my best to comfort her after that sudden break-up with that counselor. Wendy was, to be sure, way out of my league, though that didn't stop me (or her) from getting better acquainted. We even went to a concert together in the City (maybe Led Zepellin, I don't remember) and I went back to spend the night at her house in NJ. I can report that nothing untoward happened that night, which may be why I never saw her again. Oh well...

Contributed by Bruce Singer (saltcreek@charter.net) on October 19, 2002.

Wasn't there another counsler who was also fired for having a "relationship" at camp. Gabriel Erasuussen, or something similar. There were a number of rumors but ...

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on October 21, 2002.

bruce, you old dog, you! i guess wendy would have to be about 47 now. probably married, kids, divorced and married again.

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on October 22, 2002.

Hey guys, I also went out with Wendy a few times in 1971. She was actually very nice, but she knew she was hot!

Contributed by alan shier (alan553@aol.com) on October 22, 2002.

His name was Larry Newberg. Great baseball player...but allegedly a major pot user of the hippie era. Gabriel Erasmi was part of the "international hiring" of the 1966 season. That was when we also had someone named Gonneke Spits (pronounced Hanukkah) Neil Rasmussen was a straight laced guy who I thought taught rifelry. I think that old Bruce Franklin has some names mixed up. Must be the age.

Contributed by Salnick (salnicklaw@aol.com) on October 22, 2002.

Hey, Salty, just for the record, that was Marc with a C Stern who messed up. I was shrewd enough to simply refer to a "generic" counselor. And Mr. Shier, congratulations on your good taste, but I get the sense you were over your head as well.

Contributed by Bruce Singer (saltcreek@charter.net) on October 22, 2002.

leave it to salty to remember larry newberg! he's got a steel-trap mind! while mine is starting to resemble an aluminum colander!

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on October 22, 2002.

My comment wasn't about '70. It was about '66 or so. My recollection is that there were a number of "international" counsolers, 2 from Israel, Erasmi who was from Italy, (part of his charm, I guess), and Yang Long Boom Long (sp). Anyone remember who Gabriel was supposed to be involved with? I know the rumor, just wonder if there was any truth to it?

Contributed by MarC Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on October 26, 2002.

Hah, it was Jeff Fisher(Canton, Ohio) [cabin 10, 1964] who hailed from Ohio. I think he was only with us one year as he had major homesickness. He was also a damn good athlete, and L.C. rescheduled some major competition to earlier in the season knowing Jeff would win. He still was homesick, but achieved notariety. I remember picking up Gabriel Erasmi at the Fort Ti. train station(which was about as big as an ice-fishing shack). I don't remember him doing much at camp except adding an international flavor to our staff. Didn't some TV station come to do a documentary on Yang-Yong? Wasn't that pix of him leading "Henry the 8th" part of that program?

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on October 28, 2002.

Just re-found the RED,BLUE and GRAY BOOKS, and I think I have the Paradigm somewhere also.

Contributed by alan shier (alan553@aol.com) on October 28, 2002.

The Greybook and the Paradigm are both on the reunion CD.

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on October 30, 2002.

I just wanted to say that Bobbie and I stopped in to visit with Norm at his home in Fallston, Maryland on Norm's birthday, Oct. 4, on our way to a horse show in Maryland. We had a wonderful and relaxed couple of hours. Norm is a most gracious host. Norm then came down to spend the day with us at the Washington International Horse Show at the MCI Center in D.C. a week ago last Friday. I think that he found it interesting as we exposed him to various friends and the show world in general. Again, it was great seeing Norm.

 

Contributed by Tony Braun (TonyBobbie@aol.com) on November 5, 2002.

Hey, guys, what's up? There hasn't been much activity on the Paradox web site recently, and I just felt the need to connect with the old gang. The major reason that I feel this way is that I'm in a really wierd work situation, where I'm the only male working in a female dominated work force. I'm the overnight pharmacist in a 24 hour CVS pharmacy. There's another overnight pharmacist there who works when I'm off, and she's a woman, and there are 3 daytime pharmacists, and all of them are woman.

The pharmacy is really busy, so there are a lot of Pharmacy Technicians who help out, and they are all women, many of whom are also studying to be pharmacists. Over 50% of the graduating class at my Almer Mater, Rutgers College of Pharmacy, are women. I'm all for equal opportunity, but how did a profession that was mostly male become a profession that's now an even 50:50 mix of the sexes?

When I was hired by CVS, the first thing they had me do was to watch a videotape about their workplace policies, and one thing that was stressed was that sexual harrassment would not be tolerated, so since I am surrounded by female co-workers, I have to be very careful about what I say. I can't even joke around without being worried that something I said could be taken the wrong way, and I could lose my job.

So that's the reason I'm posting on the web site. I just felt the need to get away from all that estrogen, and give vent to my feelings. When I think about it, that was the main reason my brother Arnie and I were sent to Paradox. We came from a one-parent household, and our mother thought that it would be good to be in a masculine environment. We both really looked up to the counselors at Paradox, because we were missing the male figure at home.

I really miss the sense of comradery that you could feel at Paradox. I wonder if the female population at Paragon had a similar sense of comradery. All I know is that in the workplace, and this is going to sound like a really sexist remark, but women in the workplace can be bitchier to each other than males are to each other. I wonder if anybody reading this feels that way.

After the summer reunion, I felt a little let-down type of feeling, sort of why should anybody care about posting to the web site, because, after all, we had achieved our goal. We had a successful reunion, so what more was there to do or say?

Anybody have any ideas about that? I just felt like mentioning these feelings, and seeing if anybody else also felt that way.

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on November 10, 2002.

Hey, Ken, relax, working with women can't be nearly as bad as raising one...I'm sure anyone on this web site can attest to the trials and tribulations of teenage daughers!

Contributed by Alan Shier (Alan553@aol.com) on November 10, 2002.

I just couldn't let Kens posting go. What the hell is wrong with working with so many women!! In my profession, being a record producer, I am surrounded by women and I love it! Who wants to work with only guys?? And, the comradery is fine but when I got to be 14 I wanted less of my guy friends and more of my girlfriends. I don't miss it at all.

As for the achieving the goal thing of the reunion, I'm sure that most got it out of their system. I did not go but I have gotten over the novelty that the Internet provides us: reuniting with people you never thought you would ever meet again.

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on November 10, 2002.

Just happened to check the site. Really haven't had much to say lately but couldn't pass up Ken Greenfield's comments. In all due respect, if I were a single male I couldn't think of a better place to work than an all female environment. I could think of a lot of far worse things to happen to me. Paradox was great for the comraderie but once Paragon and other female type camps came into the picture I can distinctly recall those hormones hopping as a teen during those summers at Paradox. Having raised a teenage daughter....I would prefer they all bombard me at the workplace!

Contributed by Michael Salnick (salnicklaw@aol) on November 16, 2002.

This was e-mailed to me:

 

 

 

From: Mark Bell To: All

 

I've been reading the e- mails and viewing the photos and have been absolutely staggered by the memory recall of so many former Paradoxes. I found the site to begin with by having a mini-epiphany in my quest to contact Neil Neuschatz.  I'm in the midst of having neurons regrow due to a whiplash injury, I'm assured nothing that time won't heal, and, while I can't always connect the names and faces, it's been a pleasure going through all the contributions.  I just hope everyone will keep in touch periodically,

 

I have a few questions to put out there so here goes:

 

Who was it whose first and probably last attempt to swing trail coffee, I believe after we climbed Mt Colden, almost scalded his arm into a different dimension?  Jon Rothenburg is a name that flashes to mind but I'm not sure.  I think this was in 1967. I also seem to remember that we broke all kind of rules when he left with the main counselor to go to a hospital which left me as a CIT in charge. And that every one on the return hike back, even though frightened about what happened, really came together as a group.

 

Who else was on that same trip when we spent an afternoon sliding down moss covered rocks in that great stream?

 

Who were my fellow pyromaniacs in training when for the Red/Gray games we had to burn a string 3-4 feet high?   I think we built a fire that burned the string in seconds and took about 4 hours to burn down. Should have just used birch bark and forgot the wood.

 

 Speaking of fires, who was that nutty counselor who wore tennis shoes to hike the mountains (he was actually only ahead of his time) and made a cook fire that would have shamed most college pep rallies?

 

Was it Jeff Wernick who could virtually make a tennis ball talk?

 

How did Michael von Euwe break his foot?

 

Who will admit to having been in the same cabin as me?  I don't remember except, I think, for my cousin, Vic?

 

 Which camper's(and his sibling at Paragon) family was an underwear producer?

 

Wasn't there someone whose family owned a steakhouse?

 

More stuff will probably come to me as I peruse the site.  I recognize a lot of the names and it has caused a few braiincells to fire.  I'm glad to see Rick Shuck's and Brian Clifford's names among the actively seen.

 

 As for me, I live in Marin County, just north of San Francisco with my wife who is French, and my two teenage children.  I've dabbled in a bunch of totally illogical careers, the most illogical one being a commodities broker, the most recent working for a courier company, but my main activity for 30+ years has been playing music.  Please contact me immediately if anyone plays and or sings music from the Middle East, Turkey, Iran or the Balkan countries.  I play Arabic tabla, riqq and tabla beladi and my wife plays nai and mizmar for you music afficionados out there. Most of our trips east usually end up in France, so I'd be up for a West Coast get together if anyone else is. Thanks to Tom and Bill and every one else for putting the site together.

 

Mark Bell

anonymously contributed on November 26, 2002.

Mark!

Great to hear from you.

As for the sliding down the moss-covered rocks, that, I believe was just below John's Brook Lodge. I've fondly remembered that afternoon all these almost forty years. Joe Koplin was along, I think. I remember someone (him?) actually making "Water Fall Walking Society," membership cards, which I treasured. It was one of those leisurely, playful afternoons... a precious memory I'm glad you reminded me of.

- Tom

anonymously contributed on November 26, 2002.

It was great to hear from Mark Bell. I can still see in my mind's eye the image of Mark with his ever-present bandana around the neck. He was the archetypal "child of the '60's" who brought a laid-back demeanor in his approach to life.

By the way, Mark, I believe it was Steve Zuch's family that owned a steakhouse in the theater district in Manhattan that was called Kean's Chop House. It was popular with the theater crowd.

Just when I thought that the Paradox web site was dead, someone comes along to breathe some fresh life into it!

I hope this encourages others perusing the site to contribute.

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on November 27, 2002.

I haven't had much opportunity to keep up with the website lately.

Our whole family wish you all a most Happy Thanksgiving!

Norm, Ellen, Scott, Kelly, and (dogs)Madison, Hannah, Cosette, Alexandra, and Bubastis the cat!

Contributed by Norm (N_Tracy@msn.com) on November 28, 2002.

I got a very nice thank you note from the wife of the fellow we met (at the reunion in July) who owns the old Chez lodge. She was VERY appreciative of the copy of the old B&W photo we sent them. This was the photo of campers on the lower field running after a model rocket/parachute, with the Chez in the background. She noted thatthey always felt that the camp had a great history and were happy to now know that was the case!

Tom

Contributed by Tom Field (Tom) on December 5, 2002.

I see someone out there is still talking about me after all these years. My wife stumbled across this web sight and told me some said I was "quite a character". My kids agree. We would love to return to the old camp site for a look see. What fond memories. Cliff diving on "the Lake". It doesn't get any better!! Does anyone remember what year was my final summer at Paradox. I think I was in Cabin 20. For the record, I checked at Family.com and my family still haven't appeared. Also, my home town was Abington (Philadelphia), PA. during my first year at camp. A year later my missing family moved to Baton Rouge, LA (LSU, LSU, geaux Tigers!!). ("geaux" is Cajun for "go"). Now I live in the French Quarter, New Orleans, LA USA. I'll bet a few of you have walked by my house. Please feel free to contact me and tell me what a great guy I was.

Contributed by Don Bloomenstiel (d.bloomenstiel@prodigy.net) on December 18, 2002.

ok, don - great to have you aboard. you were a great guy. mike salnick will remember when your last year was and what cabin you were in.

wishing all my fellow paradoxians a happy, safe and healthy new year.

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on December 19, 2002.

So great to hear from Don Steel himself! We should all buy a radio station and play nothing but the Sounds of the Sixties, featuring the Good Guys. I guess we could give airtime to Cramer for a money show (hey, maybe he could buy the station) and, naturally, we'd have to have a sports show as well. WCP forever!

Contributed by Bruce Singer (saltcreek@charter.net) on December 19, 2002.

if Don's last summer was in Cabin 20 then that was 67!

Contributed by alan shier (Alan553@aol.com) on December 20, 2002.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all.......

A Good Night!

anonymously contributed on December 26, 2002.

Contributed by Paul Uhr (puhr1624@msn.com) on January 3, 2003.

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on January 9, 2003.

Wow! What a shock to find this web site. I was searching the web for something else and unexpectedly came across the Camp Paradox site. My name is Andy Drogin. I was a camper in 1964, 67 and 68. I was also signed up for 1965 but at the last minute ended up spending the summer with relatives in Texas. I haven't heard some of these names or memories in years. I do remember winning the best or cleanest bunk award in 1964 and traveling to Montreal. We stayed at a boarding house and the one memory I will never forget is seeing the Beatles" A Hard Days Night' movie. And I do mean because we could not hear the movie because the Canadian girls were screaming at the screen for the length of the movie. In other years some of the memories I won't forget is Mike Karol coming back early to the bunk to use the bathroom. When he arrived he thought someone had forgotten to flush the toilet. So before using the facility, he flushed and while he thought he was getting a clean toilet he saw a chipmunk being flushed to sea. He was very upset. I remember my last year and not getting into the log cabin, Bunk 30 I think. They put us in a regular bunk and we were pissed. However, the camp let us make our own barbecue out of cinder blocks and I think gave us a refrigerator. I remember getting even with some bunk for doing something to us. I can't remember who was with me, but we took an industrialized can of ravioli that was half filled with ravioli and water and dumped it on the floor of this cabin after they had just cleaned up their place. I assume the time limit is up so we cannot get in trouble. The three years I spent at camp were great. Camp Paradox was ahead of its time. I had spent time at other camps before I came there and they did not have the programs our camp did. Camps at that time were not letting campers sign up for their own programs. Usually other camps would make announcements Bunk 1 has softball, Bunk 2 Arts and Crafts, Bunk 3 archery and so on. Kids would be doing activities they did not want to do. Camp Paradox had a novel idea, let the campers decide themselves what activities they wanted to do and place them with campers of their own skill. Therefore kids would not get bored and lose interest. Now I think all camps have adopted that idea. My 14 year old daughter went to camp last year for the first time. Listening to the camp recruiter brought back memories of camp. My wife and I are both camp veterans and we told her of the great times we both had. (My wife went Point O. Pines and Manoponi. With all the good times there was a few bad times. I had my encounter with Larry but that discussion is for another time. Overall it was a great time and it was too bad I got too old for camp. I have not really ran into many Paradox alumni. I saw Rob Clayman when I was a senior in high school working at the AS department store in Woodbridge New Jersey. About 15 years ago one of my employees told me he was in the process of buying a used car in Union City, NJ. He said the salesman knew me. It turned out to a former counselor Barry Kessler. We spoke on the phone but for some reason, we never got together. I do know that Mike Farber is living in Montreal and is a hockey writer for Sports Illustrated (he is the one who told us about the camp). As for myself, after graduating Bradley University I went to work in the family business of Drogin Bus Company. As for a lot of family businesses, it was in the third generation and problems occurred. We ended up selling out and now I work for Campus Coach in New York City. I live in Bayonne New Jersey married for 26 years with a 14 year old daughter. Well, it was great going down memory lane and I hope to hear from some of you. Take care.

Contributed by Andy Drogin (AJD42@aol.com) on February 3, 2003.

nice to hear from you andy... no one has had much to add for almost a month now. take your time and enjoy the read of the archived discussions and see how many more memories seem to return.

if you could reach barry kessler or mike farber and put them in touch here, it would be great. jim anderberg signed you up to our other site that is filled with photos and a camp directory. check it out, make comments and keep in touch. we had one reunion this past summer that was great. perhaps we'll have another.

hey you metropolitan campers -- anyone game for getting together in NYC sometime soon?

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on February 4, 2003.

My sister sent me this ad:

http://www.adkbyowner.com/0063.html

Contributed by Tom (Tom) on February 9, 2003.

Andy, great hearing from you. Keep in touch. Bill, I could be in NYC if it fits my schedule. Tom, if only the store had lake access. I think we all clocked some time in that place through the years.

Chuck Rodgers is in DC. Hope to meet up with him tomorrow for dinner... if the snow lets up a bit.

Hope everyone had a most enjoyable Valentines Day!

Best to all,

Norm

Contributed by Norm (N_Tracy@msn.com) on February 15, 2003.

P.S. Tom and Claire Vannatta stopped by last weekend. Tom who is now retired and living in NH celebrated an important birthday on February 6th. Looks the same as he did when he was working at camp. I must admit, I was pleased to see that he is finally showing some gray hair.

Contributed by Norm (N_Tracy@msn.com) on February 15, 2003.

I just posted a black and white picture taken of Cabin 11B in 1964. The picture was taken by counselor Charlie Fisher. Viewing the picture again brought back a vivid, suppressed memory: One morning in '64, I got up at 6am and got dressed and made by bed. In the process, I awakened the other campers, who were quite irritated.

That morning at breakfast, I went to sit down with my cabin mates at the breakfast table, and they all moved to another table, without talking a single word to me. I moved to the new table, and they once again all moved away from me again.

I learned an important lesson that summer: Don't be inconsiderate of your fellow cabin mates by getting up early and causing noise.

To this day I still don't recall what possessed me to get up that early, but I would like to say, "Hey, guys, I apologize for waking you up, even though the apology is 39 years too late. Sorry about that!"

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on February 19, 2003.

apology accepted...don't let it happen again

Contributed by alan shier (alan553@aol.com) on February 20, 2003.

...Can you imagine us Years from today, Sharing a park bench quietly? How terribly strange to be seventy.

Old friends, Memory brushes the same years. Silently sharing the same fear....

 

Time it was, And what a time it was, It was... A time of innocence, A time of confidences.

Long ago...it must be... I have a photograph. Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you.

 

Lyrics from "Bookends" album by Simon and Garfunkel. (C)1968 (BMI) Lyrics by Paul Simon

Contributed by Paul Simon (PaulSimon@thesixties.net) on February 27, 2003.

hey Paul...how about you and Art do a thing in Schroon Lake this summer?

Contributed by alan (alan553@aol.com) on February 28, 2003.

Does anyone remeber the Carpenters? I was visiting someone last week and they had a song playing "If I were a Carpenter and you were a lady ... I remember that we always changed the lyrics. Anyone remember the changes?>

Also, I just got an email - out of the blue from Mark Eisenberg.

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern at abanet.org) on March 2, 2003.

Hi everyone! I was using google and found this website. I'm Mark Eisenberg....used to be the former phtography counselor at Paradox. I'm now a clinical psychologist living in Stoughton, Massachusetts. It was so great to read the archives and see what some of you have been doing. If anyone has a reunion planned, I'd sure like to see you guys again.

Contributed by Mark Eisenberg (Mark512@attbi.com) on March 2, 2003.

I have 2 questions for you, Mark(Eisenberg):

First, how did you make the infamous photo of a UFO hovering over Camp Paradox?

...and second, do you have any good photos of camp that you coul post on myfamily.com?

Contributed by Ken Greenfield (keng.rph@verizon.net) on March 4, 2003.

I'd like to be the first to congratulate Allan Miller for winning a Pulitzer Prize! I don't know much about the details but I gather Allan works in the Washington Bureau of the L.A. Times. I went to college with Allan as well as CP, so I found out thru a college connection. It's good to see him holding up the fine tradition of journalism that made the Paradoxian the fantastic newspaper that it was!

Contributed by Bruce Singer (saltcreek@charter.net) on April 12, 2003.

Congratulations Alan!

2  0  0 &nb sp;3
NATIONAL REPORTING		Alan Miller and Kevin Sack of Los Angeles Times For their revelatory and moving examination of a military aircraft, nicknamed "The Widow Maker," that was linked to the deaths of 45 pilots. (Moved by the Board from the Investigative Reporting category to the National Reporting category, where it was also entered.)

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on April 13, 2003.

Alan, Very impressive. Congratulations!

Contributed by Norm (N_Tracy@msn.com) on April 24, 2003.

Thanks very much, Bruce, Bill and Norm. One of the places that I got my start in journalism was indeed the Paradoxian. Just wish GER was around to share this extraordinary honor. If anyone is interested in seeing the Pulitzer series, you can do so at www.latimes.com/Harrier. Best to all campers where so ere you've roamed.

Contributed by Alan Miller (alan.miller@latimes.com) on May 5, 2003.

My gosh, to discover tonight that the Camp Paradox community is alive, even if the campsite is not well.

I came to this site tonight (Monday, 19 May 2003) after reading a snippet about Paradox/Severance on Page 14 of the June/July 2003 issue of American Heritage, which just arrived at my home. The Adirondacks Museum has launched an exhibit about the 270 summer camps that once operated in the region; today, the magazine reports there are but 70 camps. The exhibit has a website at www.adkmuseum.org; I have not yet checked it out.

Since I am new to this site, let me check in to say what's going on my life.

I'm Doug Davidoff, and I think I attended Paradox for either two or three summers. I would be there this summer, for all I know (or would be taking my son there, and jealous that he would stay but I would leave!) I loved the place and was crushed when the camp closed. Rarely in my 45 years have I made friendships with boys or men as easily as I bonded with guys at Paradox. It was an exceptional experience in my life.

Little-known fact: I stumbled into my Paradox experience one summer when my family was visiting relatives at Lake George. My Dad had attended Paradox in the 1930s, and he took us all for a ride to see if the place was still open. Of course, the summer was its height, and I fell in love with Paradox, which looked like Heaven for a kid with my interests and social skills (not!). I couldn't wait to attend the next summer. My Dad, Jerry Davidoff, lives in Norwalk, Conn., at age 77 and is available via email at jd1947@alumni.unc.edu if anyone wishes to inquire about the prior generation at CP.

I still have my CP hat and my CP mug. I have other treasures, too.

Never being really comfortable with the East, I migrated south to go to school at Duke, met my Midwesterner wife on a summer study program in England. We settled first in Raleigh, N.C., and then moved 20 years ago to Indianapolis, Ind. Launched by the Paradoxian, I stayed in daily journalism in Raleigh and in Indianapolis until I burned out at age 35. I switched to p.r. and happily worked in both state government and in Democratic Party politics for the better part of a decade. A year ago, I opened my own shop, Davidoff Public Relations, Inc., in Indianapolis.

Family: wife (Amy), son (Robert, age 12) and daughter (Sarah Ellen, age 8). We share an 89- year-old Arts-and-Crafts house in a leafy Indianapolis neighborhood with a 75-pound mutt named Riley, after the great Hoosier poet (our dog was a pup found on the grounds of the poet's home, which is now a museum).

And from the Department of Small-World-Isn't- It?, I note that Paradox's Alan Miller shared the Pulitzer with Kevin Sack, with whom I worked on the Chronicle, the daily newspaper at Duke.

Also in the Small World Department, my brother has done business over the years with John Schreiber. I have had several opportunities to hook up with John, a role model in my life. I have managed to botch every opportunity -- we have yet to have a re-union.

Speaking of re-unions, I wish I had known about and attended the boffo 2002 bash. That would have been a sweet moment!

Among my Paradox memories: watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, viewed from a grainy black-and-white TV with rabbit ears that GER set up in Rogers Hall. Imagine my surprise to learn later that the pictures really *were* grainy -- it wasn't GER's TV; it was 1969-era NASA technology! I thought of this earlier this evening, in fact, when Armstrong's name was mentioned during a meeting I attended.

I see so many familiar names on this board and I would be glad to chat offline. Again, my email is doug.davidoff@alumni.duke.edu.

Fondest regards to all Paradoxians, -- dtd

Contributed by Doug Davidoff (doug.davidoff@alumni.duke.edu) on May 20, 2003.

Thanks to Doug for the ADK Museum lead. I checked it out, and here is the actual URL: http://www.adirondackmuseum.org/exhibits/exh_03_ch ildrenscamps.shtm

Contributed by Bri Clifford (drbri4@aol.com) on May 22, 2003.

Thanks, Bri, for following up. There's a typo in your URL, however, so try this URL instead: http://www.adirondackmuseum.org/exhibits/exh_03_c hildrenscamps.shtml

The exhibit opens on May 23 and runs until October 2004. For now, the exhibit website is a doormat -- a one-page teaser for the exhibit. For anyone traveling in the area, the museum itself -- the bricks-and-mortar version, not the cyber version -- is located in Blue Mountain Lake, New York, which Yahoo! Maps says is about 90 minutes (59 miles) due west of Lake Paradox. On a more practical basis, that's about two hours northwest of Albany.

Let's hope that on May 23, they roll out the website as well as the physical exhibit in Blue Mountain Lake!

-- dtd

Contributed by Doug Davidoff (doug.davidoff@alumni.duke.edu) on May 23, 2003.

Let's try that URL *one* more time -- the form handler adds an unnecessary space in the word "children"...so if you use Bri's version or my version, take the space out before you click.

-- dtd

 

Contributed by Doug Davidoff (doug.davidoff@alumni.duke.edu) on May 23, 2003.

Welcome Doug... in the "small world" department, our daughter, Kelly, spent two years at IU, much of which was spent in clinicals at Riley Hospital. If only we had known...could have swung by and said "Hi".

Contributed by Norm Tracy (N_Tracy@msn.com) on May 24, 2003.

The following is an email I sent to Michael Salnick in response to his inquiry about my whereabouts and activities. It also serves as an invitation to all former counselors and camper to come visit or call my humble adobe in the French Quarter of New Orleans that I share with my lovely wife and rowdy kids: Michael,

Sorry it took so long for me to get back with you. Just returned from five weeks in central America. We have kin-folk there, property and some business interests. Such things should not be surprising seeing as Louisiana is the most northerly banana republic and New Orleans is the northern tip of the Caribbean (along with little sister Key West). Now who out there said Miami & Tampa??? People actual like to work for a living in Miami & Tampa ( not to mention government runs with a degree of honesty)!!! Now who ever said Miami & Tampa needs to come to my house immediately for re-education and cultural indoctrination.

What am I doing with myself and where can I be found?

Answer: French Quarter, U.S.A. 812 Dauphine ST (1 block from Bourbon ST.) New Orleans, LA 70116 504-593-9866, cell 460- 2021 d.bloomenstiel@prodigy.net

After graduating from James Carville University (Louisiana State Unv. or L.S.U.), also known as Harvard on the Bayou ( that is pronounced bye-u for all of you from New York City) with a degree in Bio Chemistry, the twists and turns of the Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid molecule rival those of my storied career. So if you want to know more you will have to come visit or read my book ( not published nor even written nor commenced as of yet). As I told some of you before, I got canned from WLSU (campus radio station) and never looked back. These days find me hanging out with my lovely wife and two young mischievous children waiting for our next opportunity for a back sided attack ( purely in the metaphor of free-radical chemistry, and you chemists out there know what I AM TALKING ABOUT!).

Come one, come all! Mi casa es tu casa (rather presumptuous me to use the familiar form- you linguists know what I AM TALKING ABOUT!).

Don (Steel) Bloomenstiel y familia

Contributed by Donald Bloomenstiel (d.bloomenstiel@prodigy.net) on May 25, 2003.

is anybody interested in organizing a get together in NYC this summer?

i know there were a few new campers added to our list recently who would like to come.

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on June 24, 2003.

Bill, I'm planning a trip East in August and would love to get together in the City. The weekend of August 15th-16th-17th would be perfect for me.

Contributed by Bruce Singer (saltcreek@charter.net) on June 26, 2003.

OK Campers -- How does sometime the weekend of august 15th sound in NYC???

also this scoop just in from the Mayor of Camp Paradox:

Hope all is well... I'll be at Camp Paradox July 4th Through July 20th. Camp phone # is 518-585-8278.

Would you mind posting a note on the web site for a open invite for above dates. Any and all good guys and sore heads swim, ski, lunch etc,etc... David Bruce, THE MAYOR OF CAMP PARADOX.