Letter from Kevin (6-23-94)

I got this letter from my friend Kevin when I was working at Med-O-Lark up in Maine. Here’s my best transcription…

6-23-94

David,

I must begin by congratulating you on your camp job. Second by apologizing for how late this reply is. Truth be told I lost the postcard you sent me until a few days ago. Let’s just say I saved it from the trash and total obliteration. But I found it.

So how is the camp staff? Are they kinder wild animals or sweet controllable able robots, under the spell of Barney’s (?) love train. ßWhat?

Anyways, call me. I have a 800 number so you shouldn’t worry about having change or a card to call. The parentals got this line last September for me to call to lower my phone bills. Call 1-800- , anytime, 24 hours a day…I’m waiting…(?), that’s right, call me now big guy. Seriously, this is my number, not phone sex.

(back)

You can call anytime, if I am not home, just leave a message. I think I have your number, but leave it anyway.

If you should get this before July 4, and I hope you should, but you can never tell with the post office, definitely call me. If you don’t call, I will write again, just in case you didn’t get this letter.

I do want to get together. Maine is not exactly as happenin’ as Boston. I mean all of Maine can’t stand up to Boston. I am working at Shaw’s and also tutoring kids on the side, mowing lawns, etc. As it stands all the money I’ve made so far has paid debts. I have the rest of the summer to save for next year. Anyway, have fun and good luck,

call me.

Kevin

I actually did hang out with Kevin that July 4^th, at the usual hangout spot of nearby Crystal Pond. I could have sworn it was called Crystal Lake back then, I see the road it’s on is called Crystal Lake Road. Maybe we just called it Crystal Lake in honor of the Friday the 13^th movies? Anyway, I remember drinking some nasty “40s” that night (40 ounce bottles of malt liquor), and celebrating my freedom in a drunken-but-still-in-control state. I’m sure both Kevin and Gary were looking out for me…right guys?

The University of Dave

It was the summer of 1994, and I was a counselor at Med-O-Lark in Washington, ME. This is a drawing a camper named Deb made for me. Judging from its contents, I guess the things I liked weren’t much of a secret…

Front and center is alcohol. There is a liquor bottle (vodka?) with a Boston Bruins symbol along with the “Brewum Partium” motto of the University. The “Babum Tunum” part of the motto goes along with the “Chester Chick” female depicted – she represents a major college crush of mine who was from a town called Chester (Chester Chick is how the campers referred to her when they asked me about her). Surrounding the alcohol and woman are three of my favorite fictional characters. There is the Punisher skull, Tasmanian Devil, and Homer from The Simpsons (a show I’ve watched a few times). The “If it’s inappropriate, it’s Dave” is a perfect summation of how I was living when I was 20. I drank a lot, got into trouble, and didn’t really care who I upset.

I’m glad to report that it has been almost 16 years since I last drank, and I am still a big fan of the Bruins, Taz, and Punisher. I also think I’m acting at least a little more appropriate than I was at 20…