Another Camp Shasta Memory

I spend a lot of time digging into my past, thinking of Lenette and our work together. When we worked together, we never sat in the same chair; she did her thing, and I did mine. In fact, I did my best to stay out of her way and hair.  Except, that is, to kiss her as often as possible.

Now, when I sit at the computer, I thank her for teaching me to type. The computer gives me the freedom and the ability to express my thoughts. It is one of the many immense gifts I received from her.

I have stories to share, and all are true. Today, I’ll write about Heidi at Camp Shasta. The wilderness around Camp Shasta was open range, with Bears, mountain lions, and free-range cattle wandering and living in the thousands of acres surrounding camp. Because of the dogs, most wild animals stayed away from camp, but now and then, cattle would enter the grounds.

Heidi took after the cattle as if she knew they did not belong. It took her mere moments to pick out the lead bull and run at them from all directions. She ran them off until none remained. Then She, the conquering hero, with tail held high, danced back to us.

As I’ve recounted before, Heidi was a hero in the eyes of campers and staff when she made marshmallows of our neighbor’s killer husky.

Heidi loved Kim and spent most of her time with him when he ran the stables. Yet, when Kim became a counselor, Heidi remained in camp.

—oo0oo—

I feel I have something to say.

And the computer helps me do this each day.

It does not speak for me; this is me alone.

I take full responsibility for each word and tone.

Whether a paper seeking dialogue or a poem.

Writing is my challenge, and I do this each day.

My thoughts and the words I seek to write are play.

When I lectured and did workshops, I loved our exchange.

Seeking dialogue between us, the best we could arrange.

Author: Sy Ogulnick

Sy Ogulnick received a BA from UCLA, Teacher’s Credential from Los Angeles Board of Education and completed phase I (Master’s portion) in a Doctor of Behavioral Science program at California Coast University. Sy leased and operated a summer day camp in LA. He and his wife then purchased virgin wilderness land in Northern CA, where they built and operated a coed summer camp. They moved to Las Vegas, NV, and purchased, built and operated a community children’s program for families staying in a major resort casino in Las Vegas. They have created programs for children nationwide that employed many people and in the process developed successful training programs for personnel. This led Sy to lecture on how to train staff and the creating of community within the workplace. Sy was then invited to speak at professional conferences on how best to hire and train employees, which led to his becoming a consultant in the art of improving relationships in a work environment and eventually to his epiphany that “Leaders are the primary problem and the answer to the personnel issues that arise in the workplace.” Sy has written numerous papers on the subject of interpersonal relationships, leadership and power. He has lectured throughout the United States, has been interviewed by the media and has appeared on many radio and TV talk shows

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