LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Matters |
by Murray Archibald |
Easter Bonnets and Baseball Caps As a child my favorite Dr. Seuss book was The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. In this delightful and wonderfully weird little tale, the King of Didd (the foolish ruler who in his later years was the one who summoned up the green goo known as Oobleck) is outraged because Bartholomew hasn't respectfully removed his hat as the King passes by. The problem is, of course, that each time Bartholomew takes off a hat another one appears on his head...and another...and another...and another...and on and on, each getting fancier and fancier, until he has removed all 500. Perhaps it was just that all those plumes appealed to my young, dramatic, and gay nature, but for whatever the reason I still have fond memories of the book, and recall clearly how I admired those fancy feathered hats. To be truthful, I guess I still do, but that's a story for another time and probably better suited to a discussion of the CAMP Rehoboth Follies than a philosophic exploration of the roles we sometimes have to play in the course of our lives. My point in case you're beginning to wonder, is that life indeed requires us to, as the saying goes, wear many hats, and that like Bartholomew Cubbins we are often surprised to discover just who it is we have become, or what it is we are called upon to do. Actually, that's what makes life interesting, and I hope I never stop discovering ever more richly decorated experiences. For my partner Steve [Elkins] and me, many of those rich experiences have involved CAMP Rehoboth. Building something from the grassroots up means that you never know what it is you may be called upon to door exactly what hat you may have to wear. I've said many times that CAMP Rehoboth has been the greatest teacher in my lifeout of necessity. Sometimes we need something to give us an extra push out of our comfort zone and to force us to move into places we might not have known before. That's how I became an honorary lesbian. Many years ago, CAMP Rehoboth forced me out of the kind of peripheral socializing that sometimes characterizes the relationship between gay men and lesbians and into taking a much more active part in the women's community. Though I speak in jest about being an honorary lesbian (I was also, for a time, an honorary United Methodist Woman), the truth is that the women's community has greatly enriched my life. Even as I write this, I find it somewhat bothersome that I even have to refer to a men's or women's communityor even a gay and straight one for that matter. More and more it is simply about human relationships. I used "honorary lesbian" a moment ago because it is a perfect example of one of the many hats we are called upon to wear, especially at this time of year as we prepare for the Fourth Annual CAMP Rehoboth Women's Conference weekend. As at many of our CAMP Rehoboth events, one of the many hats I wear is that of technical manager, dealing with lights, sound, and decor, among other things. Last year Steve and I joked about being the "Mens Auxiliary of the CAMP Rehoboth Women's Conference Committee," but if the truth be known, we had a ball. If we had not been involved, I have to admit, I probably would have spent the weekend in my studio working on my upcoming summer show. Instead I had the pleasure of taking part in a wonderful event. Sure we worked hard, but I laughed even harder as I listened to Suzanne Westenhoefer's brilliant stand-up comedy routine. On the following day I was inspired by the keynote address in the morning and another brilliant concert that night. I no longer think of the Women's Conference as just another CAMP Rehoboth event. I look forward to it. I can't wait to hear Suzanne Westenhoefer again, and though I know nothing about the music of Cris Williamson, I'm expecting a great evening because I know how excited everyone is about the concert. I really hope I see more men in the crowds at both concerts this year (if tickets are even still available), but I'm afraid that much of the time women's events simply don't come up on a man's radarand the same can be said in reverse, and sometimes for good reason on both sides. But there are times when we need to open ourselves to new experiences, when we need to exchange hats with one another, when we need to take off the hat we're used to wearing and, like Bartholomew Cubbins, discover the new ones underneath. Be it Easter bonnet or baseball cap, you never know what you might find, or what you may be called upon to do. Murray Archibald is President of the CAMP Rehoboth Board of Directors. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 14, No. 3 April 9, 2004 |