The Plaque- Saving What Matters
It’s a question we all have probably been asked- at an icebreaker, around the family table, or even in a job interview: “What would you take with you if your house were burning?” Thankfully it’s a question that few of us ever have to act upon, but in the past 2 weeks, over one hundred thousand Californians have had to answer that question in real time, some with only minutes to decide. That included a number of our Camp Mishawaka families. We don’t yet know the fate of all of them, but know of many who evacuated, some whose neighbors’ homes were burned while theirs survived by some miracle, and one who lost everything. Our hearts go out to all affected.
This week I heard from one mother who recounted that upon sending her daughter to her room with a box to retrieve what she wanted to save, one of the items was her Mishawaka plaque. I heard from another who shared that when her daughter realized she had forgotten to grab her plaque in the rush to escape, she burst into tears. (The plaque was unharmed.) We were touched beyond all words.
I am reminded- quite often- that we can always learn more about how kids order their world. What is important? What do they treasure? What would they keep in a fire? In all the things they might have retrieved, or worried about, I venture to guess that just about anything these kids might have chosen besides the plaque had greater financial value. This piece of wood with plastic feathers, albeit well-done, is just that- a piece of wood with some plastic feathers, right? Or is it? Clearly, it’s more to so many.
The shields, and feathers- representing achievements, levels passed, and awards won- have been a part of Camp Mishawaka since the 1920’s. I have visited homes of former campers that have a “Mishawaka Wall” featuring their plaque. Every now and then one will show up on eBay, and once I reconnected one that we purchased with the original recipient. He had no idea how it got there, or how his parents could have let it go. He was quite happy to be reunited with it.
More than anything, I think the plaques can serve as a reminder of who a camper is. Every feather tells a story, represents a victory, a milestone or a chapter in a person’s life. It’s imbued with a meaning that only that person can assign. It’s a story that one can tell themselves over and over, and feel better for the telling. It’s a reminder of what’s important, of who they are and who they aspire to become. Not bad for a piece of wood and some plastic feathers!
My own plaque fell off my office wall the other day when the mounting hardware gave way, and it didn’t fare too well. In my camper era they were made of plaster- a painstaking process that I could tell you about for days, albeit from secondhand accounts! As I picked it up, I took the opportunity to look at each one of my feathers again, counted them (once again!) and told myself a few great stories. It felt good.
Luckily, I know a guy who can help me re-create my plaque, and anyone who happened to lose theirs in the recent fires!
