remember when-Black Lake

When I was growing up we had a tradition where every summer our family, along with my mom's side of the family, would gather together and go camping at Black Lake. It was a UAW camp where only UAW members could go. Since my Grandpa and Uncle had both worked for the auto manufacturers they were members and it allowed our whole extended family to join them there. We usually got 2 sites and we all crammed onto these sites in tents. This was back when I wore glasses/contacts which had the heater sterilization technique. Which meant that if I wanted to wear my contacts I had to sit in the public bathroom for an hour while the sterilizer was plugged in to the only accessible electrical outlet. I never enjoyed this aspect of camping, but besides that, I have many fond memories of these times during the many years we did this. To also give you some feedback so that the following post makes sense (in case u aren't one of my family members who also remembers this), my brother and I are the oldest grandkids on this side of the family. My other aunts and uncles didn't start having kiddos till I was 7, and my youngest aunt is only 10 years older than me (and single at the time) so she was always very involved in any activities I was involved in. Also, my family lived in the "country" so-to-speak (not really, but in comparison we did), while my aunts and uncles lived in a very big city. My two uncles and my parents played tennis back then, so every year we had a "Slicks v.s. Hicks" tennis tournament at the camp complete with a revolving trophy. This camp was really cool, not only were there campsites but there was also some sort of lodge where they had a game room with ping pong tables and a cafeteria/buffet type thing that we would eat at on one night as a special treat. There was also a beach (on Black Lake), tennis courts, a trolley thing that would carry you from area to area, and an old lodge/building/type thing---don't really remember what it was for---but supposedly Lucille Ball had something to do with it. Don't remember if she vacationed there (maybe b4 it was turned into a camp) or something. But every year when we'd get off the trolley at this stop (seems like it was near the tennis courts, because we would be on our way to watch the 'tournament') my mom would remind us about Lucille Ball and the fact that a famous person used to come here.
So along the lines of my "remember when" series, here are my memories of those camping events:


I remember the joys of summer as a kid.
I remember Black Lake.

Fun times with my 'extended' family.
Aunts and Uncles all around,
Grandma and Grandpa as the revered elders.

I remember Grandma getting stung by a bee,
that someone had caught in a jar. The bee was half under the lid and half out. The stinger end sticking out of course. She didn't know this and picked up the jar and got stung. Ouch.

I remember my little cousin Rhonda clinging to her momma's legs.
I remember cots and sleeping bags. Sand and dirt. Pots and Pans.

I honestly don't remember ever eating at camp, but I remember seeing all the pots, pans, and dishes packed in boxes and bags. And listening to my aunts and mom complain that Grandma should just leave all that stuff packed for the trip instead of unpacking it and using it in her house each year. Too much work, and she had extra dishes anyway, so why not save the trouble and leave them pre-packed for the trip? Grandma always said no, and wouln't change her ways.
Her daughters just shook their heads.

I remember playing frisbee.
I loved the trolley. So fun to ride.
I remember the old buildings, covered in mossy greenery. Beautiful and shaded by the growth. Beginning to decay, but still sturdy enough to show you of the beauty they once posessed.

I remember the beach on Black Lake. The water was cold, but still fun to play and swim in. The sand had a black hue to it, hence the name, so the sand looked dirty, but it wasn't.

I remember my hip aunt wearing shorts OVER her sweatpants (yes, this was the 70's), and my other aunt not understanding the style.

I remember shorts and flip flops. Few showers, and lots of dirt.

I always looked forward to our special night eating at the cafeteria. They always had fried shrimp and that was my absolute favorite. I was a pretty picky eater, so camp food was not really appetizing to me, but oh, that shrimp always got my attention!

I remember the fun we had at the game room. Ping Pong and candy machines!
For someone not eating much camp food, those candy machines sure had a strong lure for my hungry tummy!

I remember walking from place to place with my single Aunt, and sitting in the bathroom while my contacts cleaned watching her do her hair and makeup.
If I was 9 or 10 yrs, that means she'd have been about 19 or 20 years. Obviously, even though we were camping, SHE wasn't going to be looking scraggly, like the rest of us! ha ha.

I remember the boasting and trash talking that went on between my uncles and my parents over their "Slicks vs Hicks" tennis games.
My uncles, being from the city, were the Slicks. Therefore, my parents being from the country, were the Hicks. I remember not liking being affiliated with the word "Hick".

I remember blue skies, and beautiful weather.
Fresh air and squirrels chirping.
Huge trees, and overgrown, shady undergrowth, complete with the damp smell of moss.

These were fun times, and I'm glad I experienced them. As a kid it was neat to watch the adults interact. My favorite though, was listening to my mom and her brothers and sisters tell stories about their childhoods together. Such interesting tales, which always gave more perspective and depth to each of their personalities. I really loved these times.

I remember the joys of summer as a kid.
I remember Black Lake.