Greystone Reunion

(Click on the post title to open in a browser so videos at the bottom will appear.)

If I'm correct, alumni weekend was started after Jim Daddy died....a weekend in his memory, to celebrate what he created, to begin the Great Day 5k (because everyday is "gonna be a (clap) great day!", and to bring awareness to the Great Day Scholarship Fund.

This past weekend (my first reunion), as with all things Greystone and all things planned by Laura Hollowell, was extremely well done. Constant joy and laughter with the inevitable tears sprinkled in as we recalled our childhood days when life was so simple and the Way, the Truth and the Light/Life were so crystal clear. When we leave the gates of Greystone, life instantly gets messy. So hang on tight to what you can, Greystone girls!

My favorite street sign in the whole world!

Lake Summit

The bridge - canoeing entry from Lake Edith past Green Cover to Lake Summit.

Greatest (and perhaps smallest) town in NC.

Oh, how many hours were spent at the riflery range??

Kind of sad that the old, squeaky bunk beds with the pea green and gold blankets have given way to safe and stable wooden beds.

But the plaques still remain! My only complaint? They tend to skip from the 50's to the 2000's. Forgot to ask Laura where the rest of the 80's-90's are!

The Palace is new to me, but grateful for its windows when it was 45 at night.

Emily's '93 cabin

Why didn't we put our names on this??? Surely we could have found space!

Council Fire forever engraved in me Libby's story about the Me-Me bird and the grand role that unselfishness plays in a God-centered life.

LELL!!! Lell has had just about every job at camp and keeps coming back for more, with all of her kids on board, too!

The lowering of the evening flag - a solid tradition of Jim Daddy's to remind us daily of the sacrifices made for us and the extreme privileges that we enjoy.

Laura Montgomery...

...and Kathryn Sturdivant!

Ornament Making

Legends Heidi Strub and Dana Cunningham leading us late into the night (but still in tune) to the best of Greystone's slow songs.

Elected Even Lieutenant, again, after 21 years! It's just because I had the original bag from 1995 (lovingly decorated by Ainsley Fisher) to match the title.

The Great Day 5k!

Challenge Day! A fantastic mock of Challenge Day appropriate for our age group and comparatively ailing bodies - I have a strained hamstring from my main event---seriously!

"I can do all things through Christ which strenghtheneth me", except, evidently, the 4th round of Bit the Bag!

E-V-E-N-S That's the way we spell the best!

ODDS

There are no words for this wrestling match that ensued!

One prone, sitting, kneeling and standing.

I passed all of the expert marksman levels back in the day, but this was the best that I could do (standing) after canoeing to the bridge and back (so my biceps were shot!).

Beautiful tribute to Jim in Libby's house.

Laura, Libby and Katie welcoming us in Libby's home for a reception.

Laura and Sarah Montgomery

Suzanne and Kathryn Sturdivant

None of us knew Kathryn's sister, Suzanne, since we were 10 years her senior. What a joy to get to know her (and watch her dance) this weekend!

What an honor and pleasure to hear Dana play in person again.

Saturday night was complete with Banquet. Awards were provided for various 5k and Challenge Day opportunities.

The top three runners in their 50's...Dana, Laura, and Elizabeth (Laura's sister).

Digging through my things before the weekend, I came across my senior year toast to the Spirit of Greystone when Banquet was Annie (complete with Jimboy has Daddy Warbucks). Laura incorporated it Saturday night and Jimboy shared later that it was the perfect toast to have been dug up (rather than one of the toasts to the staff or campers, etc.). Others told me it was written perfectly. Well, that was easy because it was to the Spirit of Greystone---which is what makes Greystone what it is---and that transcends time. It was the same in 1920 as it was in 1995 and will be far long after 2016.

Counselor Talent Show was, of course, EP. And the Saturday Night Live skit with Lester Holt questioning Trump (Katherine Mahon---Columbia) and Clinton (Elizabeth Betz---Richmond) brought the house down.

Coffee Taauulk

These friends can all still tap dance! (Tricia Rodney, Jane Schott and Maggie)

Perhaps the only disappointment of the weekend was NOT seeing Laura Hollowell as Diana Ross as she has passed the torch to daughter Leland (at least for this night). And if ever there was an apple that didn't fall far from the tree...oh, my!