[blindkid] Cinder-Camper, and the Fairy God Norm

Eric Calhoun eric at pmpmail.com
Mon Jul 25 18:20:29 UTC 2011


Cinder-Camper, And the Fairy God Norm,

By Eric Calhoun

In the mid-50's, 60's, 70's, and up until 1984, there once was a camper
named Cinder-Camper.  He or she came up to Camp Bloomfield, Malibu,
California, with a sense of purpose: a blind or low-visioned person daring
to beat the odds.

At that very same time lived a very caring man, known as the Fairy God
Norm.  He planned the camp, and let his campers go out on fun activities at
Camp Bloomfield, a 50-acre camp located in the Santa Monica Mountains, in
Malibu.  Norm was the daring man of dreams, the dreamer of good deeds.  The
Fairy God Norm was, in a word, changing what it means to be blind at Camp
Bloomf fld.  We also recited Norm's motto, "It's nice to be nice," and all
campers held up their end of the bargain.

And then, our camp sessions would end, and the trek to the city would
begin.  But we (being "Cinder-Campers,") would receive plaques for our
achievements, bingo prizes, and trips to the beach.  And, if we were good,
Norm would do things memorable for us!

This week, we celebrate the passing in 1990 of the Fairy God-Norm, Norman
Kaplan, as he died in 1990.  Today, on the slab, is a large plaque
celebrating 30 years of service to Camp Bloomfield, and the Junior Blind
Foundation.  Norm was the changing face of history, and everybody's here to
maintain his living legacy.  Norm taught us to be self-reliant, patient,
and kind to blind people, recognizing good behavior between campers,
counselors, specialists, and staff.  And we're very greteful for this.  We
love you, Norm!

Eric
.. ..  Eric from Los Angeles with the baseball list: eric at pmpmail.com. 
Also on Facebook


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