1999 Midsummerfest Mosaic

To Each Their Own
Each person's Midsummerfest experience is unique. Several Festers were kind enough to share their recollections.

Midsummerfest Was
Mike Guenette
Walking alone among the trees, posting flyers
Flying from wood to water, embracing cold
Elisabeth's laughter at a scripted joke
Rinsing dishes in the dying light, out of time
Designing floorplans for four in a hot tent
Circled in lantern light with old and new friends
Hauling cargo up the hill with a toy wagon
Holding the boy, chasing helicopters with our eyes
Surprised by cake emerging from the woods
Frenzied rehearsal with the gang, then dreamwalking
Driving down the road, sweet ones asleep.

Personal Musings
Maire Doyle
The ritual is now becoming a familiar and welcome one to me. Leaving the metropolis of Boston on a July evening heading out for Vermont the scenery is recognisable with the mountains still as impressive as when I first saw them, the ability of the trees to repopulate the felled land still amazes me.Ireland was in antiquity covered with trees such that a squirrel (red were the indigenous kind) could travel from Malin Head (in the south) to Mizen Head (in the north) without ever touching the ground. Our natural tree coverage is hard wood and attempts to populate the land with the evergreen pines have not been as fecund as those of New England.
The setting for Midsummerfest now brings a feeling of warmth and relaxation to mind and body as both have only happy memories of one hundred acre woods.MSF '99 is notable for; the appearance of crispy M&M's in the GORP, a cup of real stove top perculated coffee (who says we aren't civilised!!), the first raindrops since I have begun attending, a fully completed barn. Oh and how can I forget a magnificant helicopeter ride over the campsite. Three states were visible from the air, Vermont of course, New Hampshire, and the Adirondacks of New York State. I mused on how peaceful and omnipotent was the impression of surveying everything from such a height. The trappings of civilised life were more evident this year than ever before - someone managing to sneak a working mobile phone past the MSF welcome flag (tut, tut) and hot water availible literally upon demand.The latrine experience remains the same but I have realised that alough it has taken three turns at MSF and one MWF I have become more accustomed to this less civilised aspect of the event.However with the trappings of electricity apparent in the barn it may not be long before water flows from taps (oaky, faucets) and toilets will be cleared with a flush...............
Go merrimid beo ag an aim soe aris. - May we all be alive this time next year.

Discovering the Pond
Anne Sechrest
Dawn. Perhaps it is the morning light or the birds singing or the increasing temperature inside my tent but I am compelled to get up. It's very quiet. Everyone is still asleep. Maybe it is because of the unusual heat or (more likely) John's reminder to me that crayfish are nocturnal that I put on my bathing suit and head down to the Pond. I have seen the Pond before but in the past I have admired it from a distance, the way one admires a beautiful painting. I have never been in it (if you don't count the Dock dunking). I throw my towel over the railing and walk to the end of the Dock. No one else is around. It is unbelievably peaceful and quiet (except for the birds). I hold my breath and slip into the water. It is perfect - cool and wet. Soon I hear the sound of the Guenettes stirring, getting up to prepare breakfast.
Elisabeth sits down on the edge of the dock and watches me swim (being careful not to touch the bottom of the Pond and disturb and sleeping crayfish). I pull myself out of the water and onto the Dock. It is so warm the water droplets evaporate almost immediately from my skin. Elisabeth and I sit on the Dock, dangle our feet in the water and talk about caterpillars, Travesty acts and sugar donuts.

Losing my (MSF) Virginity
Ronni T. Marshak
I don't "do" the outdoors thing. I just don't get it! If we had been intended to sleep in tents, read by lantern, and do our "business" in latrines, why are there Club Meds? I'm a member of the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Crown Plaza, Westin, and numerous other frequent guest programs. So what the heck was I doing in Royalton, Vermont?
Having fun, I guess....
In retrospect, MSF was a highlight of this past year. I met some terrific new people, got to know some acquaintances better (turning them into friends), and spent quality time with previously established friends. But, for me, the best part was that I tested the limits of my personal discomfort--and I did pretty well.
For those of you who were there, you know that I had special dispensation from the Imperial Emperor Dowell to stay down the road at the inn (which, to me, was roughing it--no AC, shared bathrooms, no TV!). But I spent surprisingly little time there. I was at the MSF site from 9:30 am to after midnight each night. And I participated in everything! (Well, not the helicopter rides, and splatball was cancelled). But I actually went on the adventure, following a trail with my fellow "wimps and gimps" (those of us who either didn't want to hike through the woods in search of elusive clues and those who were on crutches). And I made it all the way to the end and back...in one piece...with a side trip to the latrine!
Well, this could get very long, so to finish up. This has been a very hard year for me--broken bones, unbelievably busy work schedule, and a messy divorce in progress. The warmth, support, and pure fun of being with such caring and intelligent people was such a welcome escape from the mess that is my real life. I'm not going to turn into an outdoors kind of girl. But I do intend to come again next year, and the next, and the next.
Thank you Ian and Teresa for creating this atmosphere and making me feel so welcome--despite my city slicker biases.

A Midsummerfest Ballad
Eric Lindblad
We took off in the chopper
Sing rickety-tickety-tin
I thought we'd crash into the trees
Instead we brushed the top-most leaves
And now we're flying in the breeze...
And the goose bumps recede from my skin, my skin,
The goose bumps recede from my skin.

We flew up in the chopper
Sing rickety-tickety-tin
I hummed "The Ride of the Valkyries"
As we skimmed across the property
The trees looked small like broccoli...
With the clues on them small as a pin, a pin,
The clues on them small as a pin.

We're riding in the chopper
Rickety-tickety-tin
The chopper made a sudden turn
I felt my stomach start to churn
I prayed we wouldn't crash and burn...
Then our altitude levelled again, again,
Our altitude levelled again.

We're cruising in the chopper
Rickety-tickety-tin
We're passing o'er the Dowell wood
When I saw the barn I understood
The layout of the neighborhood...
And I'm glad I went up for the spin, the spin,
I'm glad I went up for the spin.

Still cruising in the chopper
Rickety-tickety-tin
We pass above the upper pond
There's someone waving, it's a blonde,
I'm feeling cool like I'm James Bond...
And the pilot, he gives me a grin, a grin
The pilot, he gives me a grin.

More cruising in the chopper
Rickety-tickety-tin
John Burns is on the trampoline
Three inches tall he looks to be
He's miniature, like Mini-Me...
And the size of a shrimp is Ian, Ian,
The size of a shrimp is Ian.

We're landing in the chopper
Rickety-tickety-tin
I swear we're landing in the drink
But just as we are on the brink
We touch the ground, we're in the pink...
And I'm ready to go for a swim, a swim,
I'm ready to go for a swim.

I've exited the chopper
Rickety-tickety-tin
For fifteen bucks it's worth the ride
To see the campsite from the sky
I hope that you'll give it a try...
Just check yes on your registration, -stration,
Check yes on your registration.

The Fest Intentions....
Ian Dowell
Midsummerfest 1999 proved to me that the event still needs careful tending, even though it is a sturdy, seventeen year old tradition. This year we enjoyed near-perfect weather (for the third year in a row!), no injuries, successful new activities and a great crop of Virgins. However, many of you also expressed to me that you felt Midsummerfest has become cumbersome and dense. You want more free time, more time to just talk and play with others.
In looking at the old videos of MSFs past, I'm struck by how simple and cohesive the event used to be. There was the Pond and the Deck and that was it! No Field (Upper or Lower), no Cabin, no Barn, not even a Dancing Meadow. Just a jumble of tents in the Central Area and a pick-up truck full of food. I don't mean to imply that the changes at the site are bad: the Lower Pond allows for swimming in solitude, the Upper Field gives us more room to play, and the Barn means that even in the worst weather, people will be warm and dry. But I am reminded that so much of the fun came from the simplicity of it all. The most important thing about Midsummerfest is leaving the everyday world behind (for a full weekend!) and enjoying the peaceful and pastoral setting with a great group of people.
In thinking about what I can do to foster a relaxing and cohesive environment I realized I need to both simplify and better organize Midsummerfest. It may sound counterintuitive to increase organization to foster a simpler event but I firmly believe that the more planning that I do ahead of time, the more smoothly things will run during MSF. Some of the changes I plan on making are...The Opening Ceremony will be shorter (no more raffle!) and will start on time. The Adventure will be more self-contained and time-constrained. The Duty Roster/Food Plan will be more detailed, more clearly communicated and more accessible so people aren't wandering around confused. Events and meals will start on time and be of fixed duration so no one is waiting around.
How can you help? Commit early - it's easier on you and easier on me. Arrive early and stay late - it's more time to enjoy yourself and you miss the delay and frustration of traffic. Don't stress - all of the activities are optional; just do what you want to do. First and foremost Midsummerfest is supposed to be FUN! So pitch in and help by participating in play and work; and most importantly, relax and enjoy the great people and beautiful setting.

Vinnie's Virgin View
Sally Burke
A first-timer to MSF, I arrived late Friday night (due to having to work late) and missed the opening SummerFest ceremonies, as well as the initiation ceremony for First Timers. All of the Festers were celebrating at the opening Festivities, except for Ronni Marshak, who, I was told, had just left to return to her Bed & Breakfast. (Funny, I thought to myself, I don't remember seeing off-site lodging as an option on the MSF registration form.) We all started to turn in for the night, anxious to face Saturday's activities with a good night's sleep. When some of my fellow Festers asked me where I was planning to set up my tent, I replied that I was sleeping in my Ford Explorer for the night, because I was too tired, and besides, it was too late, to set up tent. They seemed to accept the answer, and I was thankful that they did, because the truth was, I had never pitched a tent before in my life!
I proceeded to blow up my brand-new queen-sized mattress with my battery-operated blower-upper. The cargo area of the Explorer became a fully padded, velvet cushion. I cracked open the four windows of the car, crawled into the back of the car, and became fully enveloped in the cushion. I propped my head up on my pillow, turned on my brand-new battery operated lantern with a remote control, and started to read my book just long enough to be satisfied that my brand-new lantern worked really well! I turned off the lantern with my remote control, and went to sleep.
The next day's activities were great fun! We celebrated Chris Campbell's birthday with cake and homemade ice cream (yummy!) Helicopter rides added a new dimension to SummerFest activities for some of the old-timers. The Adventure was a quick study in how people can come together in teams and become really productive, as all four teams handsomely beat the total possible maximum points.
After resting from the 2-hour Adventure, I lugged my tent, brand-new mattress, and brand-new lantern to a spot on the Upper Field. I emptied the big mangled mess out of the little tent storage bag and began the incredibly frustrating task of pitching a tent. I managed to feed the tent poles through the appropriate flaps, but getting the tent upright proved to be the biggest challenge! I became dizzy from circling the base of the tent in an effort to re-insert the ends of the poles into their respective holes. I now know where the phrase, "pitch a tent" comes from - because I wanted to take the deflated tent, poles and all, and pitch it into the pond. Fortunately Steve Dubin came to my rescue. He gave me a brief glossary of frequently-used tent words - but I cannot now remember them. (Sorry Steve.) He also gave me a Pop Tent Pitching 101 Class. My first assignment was to start working clockwise to insert the poles into the holes. I immediately stood up and went counterclockwise. While Steve was ever so patient, I could sense that he knew he had a special needs camping student in his presence and that he needed to adjust his ed plan accordingly! In a matter of no time, we (Steve) had the tent upright!
Saturday dinner cooked over the coals was wonderful! Our friendships now anchored, we enjoyed the fine gourmet food, good wine, and great conversation. The Saturday evening Travesty was even more entertaining than I had imagined. After a couple of really fun and creative acts, and immediately following Cinda's most beautiful aria sung in a cappella, I proceeded to belt out, off key, a song about my experiences at Hundred acres, sung to the tune of "Camp Grenada." Even amongst some of the most talented people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, I felt amazingly confident in my singing abilities and accepted by this great group! And to my surprise, immediately after the Travesty acts, I was officially initiated into MidSummerFest. Hey, in case you wanna know - I'm Vinnie! - What'sa matta you?
After several songs around the Bonfire, I decided to retire for the night. As I walked up the hill to the Upper Field, I turned around, wanting to absorb the site below. The Travesty stage, no longer the center of attention, was aglow with lanterns, the Bonfire was blazing, Ian and Steve were singing songs from the MSF Songbook, and other groupings of Festers around the Bonfire were either singing along or were engrossed in their own conversations. I found my way to my tent and crawled onto my mattress. I lay awake for several minutes listening to the faint strumming of the guitar, muffled campfire songs, and laughter. I awakened on Sunday morning to some of the same rituals that had gone on the day before - friends drinking coffee on the Deck, some preparing breakfast, and everyone recounting the previous night's Travesty acts. Regrettably, I had to leave before lunch and Closing Ceremony, but as I drove home, I committed to myself that next year, so as not to miss out on anything, I'd be the first Fester at MSF and the last one to leave!