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By SUSAN TOBIAS, Pinch of Time
Vi was ready to head back to Boston in the last of the letters she wrote to a man named Seth "Kal" Kalberg while at Eagle Camp, South Hero, Vt., from a place "In the middle of Lake Champlain."
"Tonight I almost was homesick for a while. We were out walking. I got a whiff of a cigar. I almost hugged the man. You know there is no smoking allowed on the grounds — with the exception of my lantern!"
I hope she was talking about missing Kal's cigar smell and not that she missed smoking a cigar!
In case you missed earlier Pinch of Time columns on the subject of Vi and Kal, I found the letters in a flea market in Maine and was intrigued by their content and their origin on Lake Champlain.
On her last night at camp that June in 1918, Vi and group of girls took a walk down by the lake after supper. —¦we went down to the rocks to see the sunset and I cannot describe that to you for words fail me. It was gorgeous. We left the rocks about nine thirty and the sky was still streaked with red and reflected in the lake. Hotel Champlain was lighted up, also Plattsburg — so you see it was very pretty."
How well we who live here know the beautiful sunsets on Lake Champlain.
Next she relates her happiness at finding a group of Camp Fire Girls near the lake.
"They were out on the rocks in front of their tents and were singing. I think they must have been already (sic) for bed for they had long, white frocks and their hair down and (they) almost looked like nymphs from where we were. After each song we applauded and when they went in we sang "Sweet dreams ladies," which pleased them very much."
One of Kal's letters must have told her about a new hobby he was pursuing, playing golf. Vi didn't hold out much hope for him "because you can't cuss well enough to be a good player!"
She signed off her last letter with a promise: "I will say a prayer for you tonight and one for me and Saturday will be here very quickly. Mit luffy, Vi."
EAGLE CAMP
I couldn't say goodbye to Vi and Seth M. Kalberg without doing a little digging around to find out if Eagle Camp still existed. Imagine my surprise when I Googled "Eagle Camp" and it came up with a Facebook page! Beautiful pictures of Lake Champlain and lots of pictures of tents make the letters come alive. Who knew? Not me!
Many of Vi's letters give the impression she wished Seth was with her at such a romantic spot. At least one couple did spend special time there. Google also turned up the wedding of a couple named Sarah and Liam at Eagle Camp in 2006, along with their invitation to the wedding and camp.
"Eagle Camp is on the western edge of South Hero (Vermont) up in the islands in the middle of Lake Champlain," it says. "We hope you'll stay with us there. This is the kind of camp where you drop your kids off for the summer, not the kind where you crawl out of your tent in the morning and brush your teeth with last night's boiled water. There is running water, electricity, and lodges to gather in if it rains. Rustic platform tents and cabins are right on the water, and there is plenty of room for everyone. Feel free to bring instruments, swimsuits, kayaks and canoes."
I get the feeling that Eagle Camp has hosted many lovers, of nature and each other, memories to span a lifetime and beyond. After all, isn't that what life is all about, love and memories?
One last thought: Please be kind to each other. The world needs more kindness.
Susan Tobias lives in Plattsburgh with her husband, Toby. She has been a Press-Republican newsroom employee since 1977. The Tobiases have six children, 18 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They enjoy traveling to Maine and Colorado, and in her spare time, Susan loves to research local history and genealogy. Reach her by e-mail at: writertobias@gmail.com
