March 23

A stack of Spring Breaks

1965

Stop in the Name of Love - Supremes

No rehearsal today! I stayed home and watched T.V. and had a blast. Ahhhh. Next week I'll be able to watch "The Man from U.N.C.L.E again - at last.

I found out I can't go to the Camp Weekend. It's during a school week. Rats! I was hoping I could show Bernie how good (?) I am at camp craft. Then again, maybe it's better that I don't go.

Comment 2006

Bernie was the camp name of Bernice Moore, the director of Northwestern Connecticut Girl Scout Council and of its summer camp, Maria Pratt, in Goshen. She still stands out as one of the very best people I ever met, and certainly a role model. She was not conventionally attractive, especially by the standards of the 50s and early 50s. Tiny eyes, large nose and short wavy gray hair, with a sense of style that can only be described as grown up tom boy. But she represented an image of female success and power that was unlike anything else I knew. She was commanding and authoritative, but warm and approachable even when in "boss" mode. She had a handsome husband who was willing to living in a cabin at a Girl Scout camp two months a year. Every girl at that camp adored her, and she seemed to genuinely adore every single one, without playing favorites.

I wrote to her several years ago, when I was running a day camp for our local council. She wrote me back a lovely letter, full of news about other "girls" from Maria Pratt. As far as I can tell, she's still alive and kicking, now in her 80s.

Go, Bernie.

Comment 2023

Of course, Bernie is now long gone. She died in 2007, at the age of 92. Her obituary gives some idea of what a magnificent human she was. She was my inspiration for saying “yes” to being the Cookie Mom and then the troop leader for my daughter’s Brownie Troop, leading those girls until the last one graduated from high school. When I fell away from organized religion, Girl Scout values stuck with me until I found a new spiritual home. Thanks, Bernie, for the best summer of my life.

1978

Alone at last! After 4 days with C and 3 with Dad and family, I am finally alone! What a relief, although I had a good time with everyone. 

Later - - went to the libraries and did various chores, then watched an hour of video in the NonPrint Collection. (The episode on mathematics from Bronowski’s “ascent of Man”.) It’s been lusciously warm and sunny all week. Hard to believe that only a week ago it was snowing and sleeting.

I like visiting with Dad, he makes me feel very adult, yet aware of my childhood.

1982

My Dress article came out yesterday and I was pleased (except for Robert Riley’s usual cutesy biography). THat’s two articles in Dress, one in the Jnl of Home Economics, and tow more. “In press”. The Howard U one I assume will surface soon; the American Man article I am less sure of. I haven’t seen the journal since last spring; it may be dead. So the content analysis piece for the Jnl of Clothing and Textiles is all the more essential. Also finishing the dumb encyclopedia article and the less dumb dude article for the Jnl of Popular Culture. It would be nice to have all three out of the way by the end of May, when the baby arrives. Work isn’t going too badly!

1986

Jim is so pleased about the baby. He nixed the name Laura (oh, well). So we are back to square one on names. He’s not real keen on Daniel John - - thinks everyone will think he’s named after Daniel J. Travante. And who will remember that actor ten years from now?

1997

Before this morning’s meditation, I asked the Wise Woman how I could best help Kiddo 1, and she said “Let he go”. I asked her what my mother wanted and she said, “Nothing”. 

2002

Phoenix Rising, Flintstone, MD. Women’s Retreat

I am very glad I came this year, I needed “think” time. All I thought about on the way up was being able to get away for a few days to write before my grant runs out. What I want is: food I don’t have to plan or cook, long solitary walks, maybe some yoga. No “fellowship”, just me. Being able to do this on a regular basis would be nice. Once a month? One week out of six?

2004

It is Day 2 of Spring Break and I am (still) walking the tightrope between taking some needed downtime and getting caught up in my work. The logical solution is to spend some quality time meditating on my master project list.

2024

Nearly 7 years into retirement, I realize that balancing social/solitary time and busy-ness/calm is a dynamic process. As long as I am moving, the point of balance changes.