you are mine: Funny Guy Friday... Camp Maria...

Friday, August 12, 2011

Funny Guy Friday... Camp Maria...

   This past weekend, we went to one of our family's favorite places in the world for a family retreat. We arrived at Camp Maria in St. Mary's County, Maryland, last Thursday for the sixth straight year. We had become involved with this retreat when we were approached by a retreat member, and were asked to join.
   "You guys should join us, we go to Saint Mary's County in August, the weather is really hot and you stay in cabins with no air conditioning---can you say sauna?, the food is terrible and the nuns are meaner than rattlesnakes, other than that, it is great! "
   Wow, how could we turn this offer down?
   That first year, about a month before the retreat, I walked in our kitchen and found Cheryl writing a check for an amount that was much higher than what I thought we should pay to go to Saint Mary's County and sweat, starve and get yelled out by mean nuns. She advised me that this was just a partial payment. My retreat experience was off to a great start.
   Since that first retreat, there have been many enlightening moments, but none more enlightening than what I learned in our second year. That year, we persuaded my best friend P.J. and his family to join us at the Camp Maria spa and resort.
   We used a different recruiting approach, and told them that the weather was unpredictable (occasionally a breeze blows off the water to cool the 100 degree days), the accommodations were rustic (they are rustic), the food was prepared by women who have been doing it for years (opening a can of beets qualifies as preparing food, doesn't it?) and the hospitality was unbelievable (this was no exaggeration---the nuns were unbelievable).
   We also told them what items they should bring. My friend took packing to another level: my man packed everything but the kitchen sink---no wait a second, Cheryl just read over my shoulder and reminded me that they did, in fact, pack their kitchen sink. Watching them unpack was impressive, but there was complete disbelief when my daughter ran into our cabin and advised that they had actually packed an air conditioner (true story). Anyway, the enlightening moment came on day two of the retreat.
   We had just finished our second group session with the priest and P.J. came over to ask where I had been the night before. The question caught me by surprise because there is no place to go within a five mile radius of Camp Maria. Of course, I advised that I was in bed. I wondered where he had gone----this was his first year, what could he know that I didn't know? He told me that he and a couple of other fellows had stayed up and had a few beers. Wait a second, this is a family religous retreat, is that allowed? Apparently, it is----you just have to wait until the kids and the nuns go to sleep.
   The next night I joined his crew. I must say, I felt like I was a kid sneaking out of my parents' house. Every night since, we have met up when the kids go to bed, or at least when they should be in bed, and we "continue the daily discussions." A terrific opportunity for additional fellowship, laughter and sharing.
   This past year, Cheryl and I were the lead couple. This means that we had to come up with a theme for the weekend, meet with the priest to discuss the theme, recruit group leaders for the kids' groups, assign each kid to a group, recruit a second priest for confessions, hire the lifeguards, assign cabins for each family and each group leader, assign each family a specific task for the weekend, schedule each talk, schedule each event and make sure that everything ran on time once we got there.
   This was a lot of work and I decided to delegate some of these duties to my lovely wife. This meant that Cheryl had to develop a theme for the weekend, meet with the priest to discuss the theme, recruit group leaders for the kids' groups, assign each kid to a group, recruit a second priest to help with confessions, hire the lifeguards, assign cabins for each family and group leader, assign each family a specific task for the weekend, schedule each event and make sure that everything ran on time once we got there.
   I must say, I think that we pulled it all off without a hitch! Well, maybe one hitch.
   On Saturday, we processed with the Blessed Sacrament across the field to the oratory, where the priest was to place the Blessed Sacrament for adoration. The group processed in a very holy, very appropriate fashion.
   When we reached our destination, the room was locked. So, there we were with more than one hundred people standing outside of the oratory, and two people running back across the field to find a key.
   P.J. decided that he was tired of waiting and decided to break in. He proceeded to prop open a window and push in a screen---all while Father was standing next to him, holding the Blessed Sacrament. I wondered if when the police arrived on the scene, they would have made two arrests, P.J. and Jesus. Fortunately, the key was found and order was restored. Of course, this was all Cheryl's fault.
   Over the years, there have been some changes at Camp Maria. The nuns are gone and have been replaced by kinder, gentler managers, and the food has improved. The accommodations are still rustic, but we are used to it and I must say, the weather has, for the most part been pleasant the past few years.
   What hasn't changed is that the retreat is truly one of the best events of the year. The kids look forward to the weekend with the same enthusiasm that they look forward to Christmas. Every year, we are blessed to join a group of wonderful people that share our same concerns and our values. We have an opportunity to have our Catholic faith affirmed and rejuvenated. This was especially important this particular year, as eight families had lost a parent this past year. Two lost parents within a few weeks of the retreat.

You might think that the events of the past year would have given the retreat a different tone than in years past. But no, it wasn't different at all. It was much of the same and that fact alone, further strengthened my faith. Although we all had difficulties over the past year, the fact remains that we are all truly blessed by God. Good families, great friends, and an opportunity to spend a weekend with them in August at Camp Maria----it doesn't get any better than that.