Her Majesty's a Pretty Nice Girl But She Doesn't Have a Lot to Say...

You probably figured I'd title my final blog with a Beatles song (this is Ballibay after all) and "The End" just seemed too pedestrian. Any similarities between Her Majesty and Dottie are purely coincidental.

Burnt out colleagues back home ask why I would want to share any portion of my summer off with kids. I describe how last year the final Harry Potter book was released, and the Fed Ex truck arrived on the hill and about a hundred Amazon boxes were unloaded for a group of kids who looked like they'd just gotten front row tickets to the Stones. "How can you NOT want to be a part of something like that?" I countered. Ballibay is my reward for a year in the trenches...my dessert.

It would be self-indulgent to list everyone and everything I'll miss, like those Oscar acceptances speeches that everyone tunes out. And eventually I'd inventory the entire joint. What I'll miss is name-able but then again not. Other people throughout the year will high-five me but it won't be the same as when Sam or Aviva does it. Students at school will shoot me the devil horns rock salute but without Moose's sly grin I won't enjoy it as much. I'll see crazy hair but none of it will say "Stay Cool, American Girl" the way Jackie's does. No one, I mean, NO ONE will make me crazy while simultaneously inspiring me and making me miss my late mother the way Dottie does.

It has been my absolute pleasure and privilege to blog for you these past five weeks. The real world is calling and sometimes you can't let it go to voice mail. I will very nearly count the days until I'm inside the red barns again.

(As overheard at the end of the Let It Be album) "Thank you on behalf of the group and myself and I hope we passed the audition!"

Robert N., aka Fergie Ferg, soon to be once again just Mr. Naugle,
(Ex)Camp Nurse
funbobbymucha@hotmail.com

Wow. That was quick.

Before I knew it, the first session was over. Done. Fin. A huge number of campers left, some stayed, everybody cleaned on Saturday, and Sunday the session 2 (as well as Farm Arts 3, Rock Intensive, et al) came in. It was a whirlwind. We had auditions and callbacks yesterday, and today the campers are in their activities. As the nurse let me report that everyone still has ten toes, everyone's meds are counted and packed, and the campers are approaching Ballibay as if they are old pros. I'm getting misty and distracted, and not only because I foolishly agreed to sing in the Staff Cabaret tonight (it's Springsteen and requires a vocal range about as wide as this column, so...) and I'm going to be heading back to South Carolina in a few days...I'll blog about my almost-certain recording contract after the big show tonight. Being a nurse, I'd just as soon you wouldn't wish me to break a leg, thanks.

Camp Nurse/Parent,
Robert N.

Camp Ballibay

Here's to the Counselors...

Long overdue tip of the hat here.

You track down beloved stuffed animals when they are misplaced.

You spend hours learning some obscure Rogers & Hammerstein tune on ukulele because it's the song your camper absolutely HAS TO sing in the cabaret.

You negotiate treaties between feuding campers that would make a Middle East envoy proud.

You fake your way through "Day By Day" on piano because Mel's late to the cafeteria for dinner.

You endure ear infections, exhaustion, insect bites and muscle ache, all with a pithy "I'll be okay--I've got a day off coming up."

You endure my "Are You Really British?" pop culture quiz (Sorry, Lisa, but if you don't know who the lead singer of the Clash was I have to see your passport--it's the law).

You're as excited about cold cuts this Sunday as you were last Sunday.

And not unlike Roahl Dahl's Miss Honey, you possess the ability to find something special and unique in every one of your campers.

You pour all your enthusiasm and your talent in and make Ballibay what it is.

And you look so cool while you do it.

With deepest respect and affection,

Robert N. aka "Non Cabin Staff"

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

Camp Ballibay

Don't Worry, Moms, We're In the Home Stretch!

Lots of emotions around the little red buildings this week, as Session One draws to a close this weekend. We started off the week of really big shows last night with the Follies. It's a real treat to watch the final week of shows as the stakes get bigger and the campers' mettle gets challenged. The Follies were awesome. Just one terrific performance after another. Proud parents rejoice!

Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

Camp Ballibay

Make sure you wait 30 minutes after eating before reading this post!

Notable changes in rising mercury this week, and our dear lifeguard no longer looked like the Maytag repairman.

Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

Camp Ballibay

What is Cool?

What is it about the Ballibay kids that I like so much? In a word, inclusiveness. Imagine if your high school had been populated entirely by opened minded kids who encouraged you to raise your freak flag as high as you could launch it. I love the complete absence of fingers pointed and snickered asides.

Rest of the world, take a page from us.

Free to be you and me.

Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

Camp Ballibay

Ode to the Perfect Son

All year long, not counting school, work and sleep, you're at my side. And it still doesn't seem like I'm with you as much as I want to be. You're growing up right before my eyes, and it's as intoxicating as it is heartbreaking. When you made me promise to leave all the superhero undies at home and buy you boxers so you'd fit in with the older kids, I became aware once again how pride and sorrow go hand in hand.

So we come to this place where I feel okay saying goodbye to you in the morning and trusting that you will be safe and happy and growing. Sometimes I hear your trumpet lessons wafting up the hill to my window and sometimes I have to watch them on Youtube like everyone else. And I console myself that at least I do get to see you a couple times a day--albeit wet, muddy, preoccupied, sugar high and setting new records for consecutive days in the same shirt--unlike the moms and dads reading this somewhere else.

So when I walk past your dining hall table and your back is to me, and I gently, just barely let the back of my hand rustle that enviable Beatles '65 hair of yours, hopefully your table mate's mom or dad somewhere feels a little of that electricity pass through their own fingers as they kiss the sky.

Now please change that shirt.

"Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans."
-John Lennon

Love and sweet dreams,
Dad

Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

Camp Ballibay

BallyRacer is Spotted!

Saturday was my day off and I didn't intend to blog about that, but lo and behold, as I was enjoying wifi and caffeine at the Wilkes-Barre Barnes & Noble, who do I run into but our very own runaway, BallyRacer the Turtle. His insights into the discussion on Camus' The Stranger were very illuminating, and I gave him his space. By the time I tried to approach him about his plans, possibly try to convince him to turn himself in, I noticed the several empty chai lattes next to his chair and decided against Carpe Tortuga. I'm only one man, after all.

Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

Camp Ballibay

National Hippie Day!

Yes, today is a national day of recognition and remembrance for our unwashed brothers and sisters. And no one likes an excuse to dress up more than Ballibay. Campers were tuning in (presumably to our radio station), dropping out (only from activities they weren't scheduled for), and trying their darnest to make tye-dye less embarrassing. I would ask you to take my word for it but John cautioned them all not to trust anyone over 30.

Today's cafeteria menu included:
Phish.
Wavy Gravy.
Mellow Yellow.

Today's weather forecast:
Marmalade Skies.

Today's good news:
Paul is very much alive, thank you.

At press time no Ballibay administration offices have been seized, but there are a lotta kids hanging around the camp store. And they look really hungry...I'm freakin' out, man! Someone's gotta talk me down! Why did I eat the green Skittles?!

Well, as Marvin Gaye wisely observed, everything is everything. Peace.

Robert N., but today and today only you can call me MoonBeam.
Camp Ballibay

Shoes and More Shoes

Last night was a perfect example of the supportive spirit of the campers here at the B.

Shani's production of "Shoes" bowed, and Annie B, Sam F, et al were off to a wonderful start with this introspective little drama when some technical glitches hindered. We record every production here for prosperity (and DVD) and there was a snafu that would've rendered much of the video unusable. So a short break was taken, and the show was relaunched--that's right, started over from the beginning. In many settings this would elicit groans from an audience but everyone in attendance has "been there" in one way or another and only wanted what was best for the show. So tape rolled, the lights dimmed and we rebegan the begin (all apologies to Cole Porter and R.E.M.), and the performances were stronger the second time around. The simple message of the piece, that behind everything seemingly random may lie connective tissue that links it to you or you to me, was not lost, but instead driven home harder by the relaunch and the audience's understanding.

The performances, btw, were across the board great. There's nothing more fun than watching kids on stage who absolutely LOVE to be there (what Joe Strummer of the Clash once called "full-on Look @ Me! mode)...if we can figure out a way to bottle Arielle S's energy we will be able to abandon fossil fuels within Obama's first term.

Two thumbs up, now let's all go to the lobby and get ourselves some snacks!
Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

www.ballibay.com


Overheard moment-of-zen:
"It is Tuesday--are you wearing your coat?"
"It's Thursday, Sam, and I have no idea what you're talking about."
"That's gonna cost you..."

Not-So-Faithful Camp Pet Defects!

BallyRacer, camp turtle and our expert on all things shellcare related, has run away from home. An all-points-bulletin has been released by local law officials (or would that be local game and fish officials?). BallyRacer is easily recognizable (Ht: .7 ft, Wt: 5 lbs, Maximum on-foot speed approximately .1 mph. He's also green with some red and yellow) and not considered dangerous. He was reportedly last seen besting Ms. DottyCottinTail, one of the camp hares, in a foot race that the cocky rabbit was heavily favored to win. We have no reason to believe that foul play is involved, but some international campers with refined palates have been questioned regarding bouillon cubes found in their luggage. If found or seen, please call our toll-free number.

Thanks,
Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

www.ballibay.com

Ballibay Theatre: SEVEN

Last night's show was Molly's production of SEVEN (not the Brad Pitt movie that kept you awake 10 years ago). A wordless, movement-based interpretation of the Seven Deadly Sins, it held a fair share of menace and suspense as the audience tried to guess which sin was being assayed. The cast all wore blank masks that either reminded you of Drama, Janus, or Michael Myers, depending on your sensibilities. The reception was boisterous, as any event that begins with entertainment and ends with campers + snacks is likely to be. No performance tonight, another prolonged activity period before Shani's production bows tomorrow. It's very easy to get spoiled here, what with someone cooking your meals and entertaining you every evening. If we adults had any sense we would've invented Camp for ourselves instead.

Today's Overheard@Ballibay Moment of Zen:
"Marco!"
"Polo!"
(What can I say, it was hot and everyone was in the pool...)

Robert N.
Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

www.ballibay.com

"So little to do, and so much time--wait strike that. Reverse it." --Willy Wonka

First off, camper cabaret, Sunday night. Wow. I had to wait to blog because I wanted to make sure I include as many pix as I could. If you're a BalliParent most likely you felt a stir of pride Sunday evening and maybe weren't even aware of why. Meanwhile miles, even continents away, your child was blowing everyone's socks off in the Ballibay Theater.

As a parent it's always funny to me to see how our old adolescent interests get retrofitted for our kids' generation. "Material Girl" was performed the other night and was downright adorable, a far cry from the outrage it provoked among our own parents.

Likewise I listen to, for instance, Bradley play a classical piece flawlessly at the age of EIGHT! and try to remember what I was doing at that age that seemed so much more important than learning to express myself like that.

More later today, I promise. Just waiting for pix from Molly's production of SEVEN last night.

Robert N. 

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

www.ballibay.com

America the Beautiful, Ballibay Style

The Fourth of July bonfire was a blast (excuse the pun). Fireworks both literal and figurative, with an open forum for spooky stories and sing-a-longs. Last year's was rained out and as much as I admired how the 2007 tech theater folks were able to simulate a bonfire using prop logs and lighting last year, there's nothing like the real Francis Scott Key thing. Ballikids are the most fun kids in the world, and the entire evening kept making me think of that Kerouac quote I scribbled a thousand times as a teen: "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue center light pop and everyone says Awwww..."

One full week is done and the Dance Intensive campers have arrived. The more the merrier.

I'm going to try to remember to insert my favorite overheard quote of the day, sort of my own version of the Daily Show's "Moment of Zen":

"Prune Juice is usually the Truth Teller."

Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

www.ballibay.com

The Wetter Side of Ballibay

Last night was a bit of a twist in the routine, with the campers all heading down to the lake after dinner, and then activities scheduled later in the evening. From the bottom of the hill I surveyed the hillside, which looks like something painted by Grant Wood during the day, transformed by the floodlights and shadows into something akin to the gradients and contrasts of the Constructivist posters that adorn the front office. In between these shafts of light and dark were the silhouettes of happy campers playing and chasing after fireflies.  I think I know what my next painting will be.

As if by design, today's rest period was preceded by storm clouds as we ate our pizza. A wet sprint to the cabins for a prolonged rest hour, and then the skies cleared and it was business as usual. 

The first production is tonight, "Family 2.0" directed by our very own Shaina.  We waste no time getting to the fun stuff here. We're Ballibay.

Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

www.ballibay.com

Camp Ballibay Blog!

Welcome to the maiden voyage of our brand new Ballibay blogspot! I'll be assuming the blogging reins for this session, so allow me to introduce myself. I'm Robert, aka "Fergie" the camp nurse. I met many of you when you dropped your campers off. I'll be letting you know the goings-0n of Camp Ballibay and the Farm so look back here for daily updates. 

Well, orientation is officially over (campers are cheering in unison somewhere) and the real fun has begun, kicked off as always here at Ballibay with the Staff Cabaret last night.  It was a stellar night of music and dancing from the seemingly limitless minds and bodies of the Ballibay staff. Afterward we all walked back down the hill under an incredible blanket of stars. 

One of my favorite things about the shows at Ballibay is that if you're a Beatles fan you're never disappointed. Jesse Miller's interpretation of "Here Comes the Sun" is being credited today for the clear blue skies above us (Gotta love that moody PA weather)!  As such, the pool is filled with campers as I blog this, and I am beginning to wonder just where my priorities (and trunks) are. I'm gonna go make a splash! More later!

Robert N.

Camp Nurse

Camp Parent

www.ballibay.com