“We Came in Peace for All Mankind” Fifty six years ago, the night of the Apollo 11 moon landing in July of 1969, I was at camp in the heart of the beautiful Texas Hill Country feeling safe and secure. It was “Camp Arrowhead,” now called “Heart O’ The Hills.” Since the recent horrific flooding from this past July 4th weekend, I can’t get the camp out of my mind. I also can’t keep this one transcendent night out of my mind – a night from so long ago.
I loved camp. Camp was sublime. I was growing up, building a little independence away from home with my friend Kathy as my camp buddy. We had both been born in the Rio Gand Valley in McAllen, Texas, and our mothers had been good friends; and so here we were.
While I started camp as this weird little ‘tween, I blossomed there. My Mom knew it had the power to allow me to grow. I tolerated riding, shunned rifle shooting, but it was in the river that I excelled. I aspired to be part of the prestigious Canoe Club, and I got in!
