Newspaper Page Text
Tossing the past
I HAD been dreading it.
So much stuff.
And so much time it would consume.
Not to mention space.
My parents had been storing some (a lot) of
my old stuff, for lack of a
better word, in their storage
building for years. Now
that they want to trim down
— and to keep it where
things that are needed can
actually be found — they
are cleaning out, throwing
away, and wanting me to
do the same.
Oh. No.
I couldn’t remember
what all there would be,
but I knew it wouldn't be good.
The detritus of my past lives.
Childhood, high school, college, graduate
school, remnants of old relationships. All those
things you don't know what to do with at the
time, yet they are too fresh to toss.. .cram them in
boxes and shove them into a comer somewhere.
Preferably not in your house where you either
have to deal with them or trip over them.
You know what I’m talking about.
The past caught up with me.
My father and nephew recently spent quite
some time and energy hauling things out of
various buildings and making piles for various
people to consider.
I hate to tell you, my father said, but that big
pile covered with tarp in the back yard belongs
to you.
Warily, I lifted a comer of the tarp. Cardboard
boxes, bags, plastic boxes, more cardboard
boxes.
So, one afternoon after work, I sat down to the
task, determined to get done and home by sup
per. I did sit down, on one of the many boxes of
books, and read through various journals, papers,
stories and other things I had written through
those years and in those different phases of my
life. Most of them are not anything I would ever
want anyone else to read, but I did keep a few of
the stories and all of the journals (just so no one
else could ever see them, horrors) and the photos
I took of family members during a college pho
tography class. I did keep a few of my girlhood
trinkets for my daughter and I kept high school
yearbooks.
The rest? Amazing how easy it was to let go.
Let go of all those graduate school research
projects that are now outdated and caused me so
much unnecessary grief and stress at the time.
Let go of all those textbooks. Why, exactly, did
I keep them?
Let go of all (most) of those old snapshots and
knick-knacks and relationship memorabilia.
I moved a lot in college and graduate school
and then made one big move to the home where
I now live and hope to stay until I am old. I
believe during one of those mini-moves, I must
have thrown every little cluttery thing on the sur
faces of my apartment into a cardboard box.
What? Why?
Throw the whole box away.
(I hesitate to mention it, because I know that
particular lot would be much harder to sort
through and toss, but I suspect there are some
more childhood toys and trinkets elsewhere.
Well, maybe that's for another day. )
I found that I am no longer sentimental. At
least not about the stuff I found so easy to dis
card. In fact, when I next arrived at my parents’
house, they had a few items, salvaged from the
“toss pile,” for me to consider.
Are you sure you don't want this?
Sure. Toss it.
Really? And this?
Nope, don't want it.
Some of our past truly is worth keeping and
treasuring. The rest of it? It’s just taking up space.
Jana Adams Mitcham is features editor of The
Jackson Herald.
jana. a.
mitcham
Inside: Lollipop Kids sale this week — page 2C
July 21,
2010
^The Jackson Herald
Jana Adams Mitcham,
Features Editor 706-367-8760
jana@mainstreetnews.com
Section C
Wellspring Camp, located in Jackson County, offers both day camps and over
night camps in the summer, as well as respite activities throughout the year. The
camps include the “typical” activities, such as swimming, hayrides and games.
At right are shown some of the campers and volunteers at day camp held last
week. Photos courtey of Josh and Tammy Griffin
Wellspring Camp
Opportunity, fun & friendship for those with developmental disabilities
BY JANA A. MITCHAM
OSH AND TAMMY GRIFFIN met during college while working at a South Carolina
camp for special needs individuals. They may not have known it then, but as they both
developed a love for working with the special needs population and formed their own
personal relationship. Wellspring Camp — the faith-based camp they have founded in Jackson
County — was beginning to take root. After a three-year stint working with troubled teens in the
Dominican Republic, the couple moved to this area.
The Griffins, via Wellspring Camp and with the help of volunteers from across the country,
offer two day camp weeks and four overnight camp weeks in the summer for children and adults
with developmental and physical disabilities; unlike most facilities for those with special needs,
Wellspring Camp doesn’t have an age limit — the oldest camper to date is 60.
“During the summer each week of camp is
made to be very much a ‘typical’ camp,” the
Griffins said. “Each activity is tailored to meet
the needs of each camper. We have a firm phi
losophy as well at Wellspring that if a camper
wants to try an activity we will make it avail
able regardless of the needs of that camper.
We’ve had many of our campers that require
wheelchair use join us for a tubing experience
on the lake.. .The most important activity we
offer is making new friends.”
Additionally, they offer respite activities
throughout the year, including field trips to
places like the zoo, Turner Field and Christmas
shopping, as well as overnight weekends at
the camp.
“In all of our activities, our goal is to provide
a quality experience for our campers while
providing their families with an opportunity
Making friends is one of the big ben- for respite,” the Griffins said.
efits of Wellspring Camp, offered to “Following a few adventures’in our young
children and adults with develop- married life, we felt led to start a Christian
mental and physical disabilities. continued on page 2C
Camp raising funds
for a permanent home
‘Adopt-an-Acre’ to be offered
Wellspring Camp is working to raise the $100,000 needed before
September 25 as a down payment on the Jefferson River Road
property.
Beyond that, groups or indi
viduals can “Adopt an Acre”
of the property and raise the
funds needed for that acre over
a two-year period. Acres will
be adopted out at $8,000 and
half-acres at $4,000. Donors will
be recognized on a plaque to
be permanently installed on the
camp property. Gifts or multiple
acres are welcomed.
Donations of any amount
are tax deductible. They can be
made online at the camp’s web
site through a Paypal link, or can
be mailed directly.
Other fundraising options include an Aug. 28 softball tournament
(eight-team limit). The contact for that tournament is Jason Guillom,
available atjasguillom @gmail.com or 706-351-0676.
A love offering will be taken on Sunday, Aug. 29, at participating
churches.
Wellspring Camp
was founded in 2006
by Josh and Tammy
Griffin.
Wellspring Camp:
559 Rucker Road
Jefferson, GA 30549
www.wellspringcamponline.com
wellspringcamp@gmail.com
706-206-0893
CAST FOR ‘SHOW AND SPELL’
Pictured are members of the “Show
and Spell” cast: (seated, L-R)
Bonnie Evans, Taylor Love, Hannah
Rariden, (standing, L-R) Lindsay
Starnes, Imani Abrahamsen, Alice
Williams, Miriam Pair, Devin Malone,
Jonathan Rariden, Jenni Turley,
Kianna Phillips, Amy Bullock,
Christine Dalton, Steve Quinn,
Jordyn Herron, Susan Quinn, Mary
Young, John Aquino, Riley Malone
and Isabella Hisky. The Jefferson
Community Theatre will present
the show, directed by Jennifer
Malone, Thursday through Sunday
at Jefferson High School.
Jefferson Community Theatre performance coming up
S
4 4 HOW AND SPELL” — a
spelling bee comedy - is the
Jefferson Community Theatre’s
summer production, coming up Thursday
through Sunday. July 22-25, at the Jefferson
High School William Duncan Performing Arts
Center.
Shows at 7:30 p.m. will be offered Thursday
through Saturday and a Sunday matinee will
be held at 2:30 p.m.
Jennifer Malone is the director.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Five middle schoolers take on overzealous par
ents. crazy coaches and nostalgic relatives as they
prepare for the annual spelling bee in this comedy
for young actors.
With contestants that range from an unflappable
cheerleader who cheers all her words to the anxiety-
prone daughter of a movie star, spelling the words
correctly may be the least of these kids’ worries.
The play illustrates pressure kids feel to compete,
and the family support that makes it all bearable.
CAST
Cast members include:
•Sunny Sandstone - Riley Malone
•Sandy Sandstone - Isabella Hisky
•Greg Sandstone - John Aquino
•Sasha the Girlfriend - Mary Young
•Jeff Matthews - Devin Malone
•Coach Brick - Jonathan Rariden
•Grandma Matthews - Miriam Pair
•Desiree Worthington - Kianna Phillips
•Mrs. Worthington - Jenni Turley
O
Thurs. through Sun.
•Eloise the Maid - Amy Bullock
•Imagine Pearson - Imani Abrahamsen
•Star Pearson - Alice Williams
•Debra the Assistant - Lindsay Starnes
•Donna Lichtensteinberger - Jordyn Herron
•Mrs. Lichtensteinberger - Susan Quinn
•Mr. Lichtensteinberger - Steve Quinn
•Ms. Lanford the Announcer - Christine Dalton
•Spelling Queen Bee - Bonnie Evans
•Hip Hop Bee/Ninja Bee - Taylor Love.