It was REVELATORY. Smart people not ashamed to be smart! Allowed to be other things besides smart!

For me, it was Governor's Honors, and the experience was even worth spending six weeks in an unairconditioned dorm in Macon, Ga. That was for the top high school students in Georgia and was, fortunately, free except I think for the meals. I did not come from a camp-going culture, and I don't think my parents could have afforded it anyway. We did go on long car trips. Long as in spending a month to drive from Ocala, Fla., to Montreal and back. My parents must have had a masochistic streak.

Ginger, sounds like pretty much the same thing. And yes, I was in an unairconditioned dorm in Laurinburg, NC (what, you've never heard of Laurinburg? There's a reason or three...). The Governor's School concept originated in NC in the 1960s. [link]

eta from that link: "It's hard to explain, but imagine living in a world where everyone is smart, everyone is working on the same things, no idea is too strange, no person is too weird, and everyone is perfectly relaxed with the idea of starting up a conversation with a total stranger. Imagine friends that you can be open and honest with, share dreams, debate imaginations, and look for meaning in things that most students your age would gape at in confusion. It's an intellectual and imaginative rush. Have you ever been so happy, so content with yourself and your surroundings that it was almost like a euphoric high? Every GS student has. And when it's over, there are tears, promises, and hopes going home with every student. It cannot be explained. It can only be experienced. "

Word. That's what it was for me. I corresponded with 40 people from GS after the fact, which is 1/10th of those who were there (there are two schools with 400 students each). I stayed in touch with my roommate even before Facebook came along, which has of course put me back in touch with several people.

My only 'camp' experience was a summer journalism program at UC Hayward. I loved every second of it...but clearly did not listen closely enough to Scoop Nisker. I remember him using the line "If you don't like the news...go out and make some of your own." in 1976-77...but I do not recall a Buddhist bent. If anything, he struck me as inconsolably cynical. Man! Where is the wayback machine when you need it?

I went to Bible Camp through junior high, but the absolutely best campish experience was when I did an archaeology thing between Junior/Senior year in high school. Two months away from home, digging in the dirt at a real dig.

I went to Jewish day camp for several years, then a Jewish sleepaway camp for one year, which I absolutely hated because our counselor was horrible. Then I spent a few years going to a few different camps -- one regular sleepaway camp that I really liked, two different math camps, and one arts camp. The summer before my senior year of high school, I worked at a Jewish camp, teaching cooking.

I never did camps, but I went to various summer school thingies that were arts&crafts heavy, possibly serving the same get-the-kids-out-of-mom's-hair purpose. And in high school, some academic deal where we stayed in dorms at LSU and took enrichment courses - Greek was one, and ceramics. It was pretty random.

We did the epic family road trips, too. Tent camping along the way. Up the east coast to NYC. Louisiana to California and back - did that several times, several different routes. The most vivid memories are probably the times the car broke down - for a long time, all I'd seen of Las Vegas was a Sears Automotive Center and the mall it was attached to.

"My colors are blush and bashful."

"Your colors are PINK and PINK."

"My colors are blush and bashful. I have chosen two very different shades of pink, one is much deeper than the other."

"There are gonna be sprays of flowers in my two shades of blush and bashful. Pink carpet 'specially let out for my service and pink silk bunting draped over everything that doesn't move."

"Sanctuary looks like it's been hosed down in Pepto Bismol."

I think we could easily do a Buffista version of Steel Magnolias. The only problem would be me and Aims fighting over who gets to be Ouiser and who gets to be Clairee.

I've never seen Steel Magnolias t /bad Southern woman

That was very odd. I just had an anxiety dream where I showed up for my interview barefoot. Not naked, like the usual anxiety dream -- I was fully clothed, in interview-appropriate clothing -- just no shoes or socks or ankle brace. I have no idea what this means.

I was in a gifted program when I was in 5th and 6th grade and that was my first real exposure to being around big bunches of smart kids.

My first exposure to a big bunch of smart kids was college. And even there, you had to seek them out (they're in McGill getting McHigh), learn their secret ritual (bring a bong), and then try to talk to them when they weren't high (good luck). YVanderbiltExperienceMV.

I went to Bible camp once, hated it. Went to regular camp once, hated it. Went to some Junior Achievers summer thing once, hated it. There were people around me sometimes as a kid, hated it. I would've *killed* for a Governor's School experience.

I've never seen Steel Magnolias

Me either! Thought it sounds as though I may have lived it.