When I became old enough, it was fun to work in the kitchen. In those days, that was the turf of Virginia! She ruled with an iron fist! She had cooked at camp for many years and had a solid reputation for excellent food and service. Anyone who worked for Virginia towed the line and did it her way!
I was always the dishwasher. We used stainless steel trays back then and silverware. They had to be hand-washed in a deep sink, then rinsed in very hot water, and then run through an automatic dish-washer that my dad had acquired from a children's home where he worked part-time. This process was intense because we often used all the trays, so they had to be recycled so that more people could eat! This especially happened for Sunday dinners when Virginia's meals were known to be exceptionally good!
But we always managed to have fun (and get thoroughly soaked) while working. There were usually about five people at this station. A dish washer, a rinser, someone to run the dish-washer, and a couple to dry the trays and silverware and return it all to the counter. And then, of course, came the pots and pans!
Put all this in the context of a hot day, and it really was work! But, we got our meals free and a little pay as well. Certainly you understand that it was mostly about relationships! Those of us who worked together became great friends!
Words of affirmation from Virginia were a rare treat! Stern words came regularly. And yet, I never really had a problem working for her. I knew, down deep, that she liked me and respected me. When she retired and I matured, we had many profitable discussions about camp and our churches. She certainly had a servant's heart and made us all happy with her cooking for many years.
Like today's workers, we benefitted from tips. Occasionally someone would come along to help raise tips for us. Our favorite person to do so was Reverend O. R. Tessaro. He was a VERY EFFECTIVE fund raiser. We would get very excited when we saw him on the campground. If he ate in the dining hall, we hoped he'd take the tip bucket around and help us out. When he did so, it was very hard for people not to respond!
They were days of hard work, but also days of great fun! It was a big piece in the puzzle that made up camp!
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