In 1976, the summer after the fourth grade, I started on an adventure that is still not over. I had the joy of heading off to Camp Waldemar for Girls on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. My trunk and duffel bag were packed with matching shorts and tops, swim suits, socks, sandals, tennis shoes, brand new "out of the package" underwear, a tennis racket, deck of cards, laundry bags, sheets, towels and anything else my mother thought I would need for camp. There was one item missing that could not be sent until after I arrived at camp.
On the first night of camp following a day on the bus, making up a top bunk for the first time, meeting the girls and college girl I would live with for the next 5 weeks and a dinner of hamburger, fries and ice cream all of camp met at the Pier. The Pier was a concrete and rock amphitheater that was on the banks of the river. Everyone, staff and campers were, dressed in white shorts and shirts (appropriate "formal attire" for campers).
All of the new campers were gathered in the Playhouse, an open air pavilion. We were told how tonight would change our lives. After tonight we would be a part of a sisterhood of campers, both those who came before us and those who would come after us. This night we would draw to see what camp tribe we would join; Tejas, Aztec or,Comanche. This would be our tribe for life. There was no changing it once we picked out of the cigar box covered with pretty paper.
My great-aunt Carmen came to Camp Waldemar as a counselor. She was a PE instructor during the school year and head of the archery department in the summer. She was friends with the founder and her niece, Doris Johnson. Miss Johnson built Waldemar on the ideal that girls could be their best physically, emotionally and spiritually. My aunt had sent my mother and her other nieces to camp during the 40s and 50s. My mother loved Waldemar and now was sending her daughter to camp.
I got in line with the other first year campers and waited my turn to pick a tribe. I reached my hand in the box and picked a piece of paper that contained a purple T. I knew this mean TEJAS and yelled it out proudly. (My sister came to camp the next summer and she drew a green A for Aztec. She is as proud of green as I am of purple.)
Shortly after camp began, a box arrived from my mother full of purple shorts, shirts, socks and a cool T-shirt with TEJAS printed on it. Now everyone would know what tribe I was in. These special purple clothes were worn on days when we were competing against the other tribes, when we were trying to have more spirit, and whenever we wanted someone to know which tribe we belonged to. We would wear our purple as we fought to win the end of camp prize, the Plaque. This was a great accomplishment as it was a day to day decision to be our best and try our best in our classes, in our kampong (cabin) and at the dinner table were we received a grade for manners.
I attended camp until I was 16. In high school, I got to put on my purple but this time to compete for the Paschal Panthers on the tennis team. I had purple skirts, bloomers, socks and a warm up. Now I got to wear my purple year round. I had to be my best and work day to day to be a good tennis player.
Following college, I returned to camp this time as a head of the tennis department and was asked to be one of the counselors who supported the tribe and of course it was the purple TEJAS. Now I got to lead the girls in knowing the pride of purple, supporting them as they worked to be their best and try their hardest day to day. I had to be an example to them and it was great. The last summer I was at camp, I was a few weeks pregnant with what would turn out to be twins, Butch and Sundance.
Today I am facing a struggle. It is not life threatening, not major in the grand scheme of things, but to me it is major. I have allowed myself to eat over feelings way too long. I have stuffed them with chips and cookies and leftover nuggets. I have fought this battle before. I will fight it again. Today, with my will surrendered to God, I am going to fight it with Him in charge. I am going to wear my purple and fight.
