Feature Article September 11, 2002
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
We told them "our sites are a mess"...they said, "We'll come."by Dianne Byington at Woodcrest Resort Park The storm swept in, the winds battered our park. By 3:10 a.m. the damage was done - lots of damage. Everyone emerged from whatever shelter they had found after the rude awakening. We thought, "We'll lose our campers, our long weekend is done!"
The campers, however, had no such thoughts. They saw, they endured, they helped, they cared - they stayed. We called all the other campers that had reserved sites.
We told them, "We have no power"... they said, "We'll come."
We told them, "We have no water" ... they said, "We'll come."
We told them, "We have no showers" ... they said,
"We'll come."We told them, "We have no Interac, cash only." ... they said, "We'll come."
We told them, "We can't pump gas for your boat." ... they said, "We'll come."
We told them, The sites are a mess." ...they said,
"We'll come."We told them, "You'll have to dodge downed trees" ... they said, "We'll come."
We called all the renters to tell them the trailer they rented sustained damage. We told them, "You'll have no awning." ... they said, "We'll come."
We told them, "Some windows are broken"... they said, "We'll come."
We told them, There's a hole in the roof," ... they said, "We'll come."
All these campers came and kept coming, and kept coming, and kept coming until we were full! Only a few decided to cancel and missed what turned out to be a wonderful weekend. The campers came with bottled water, they went out for ice, they went home for generators. We told them our entertainment might be canceled. They stayed. We told them there was no power for bingo. They brought their own lights and we had a "flashlight bingo". Young Erica Brennan was injured when a tree fell on the family's tent trailer. She ended up in Kingston General hospital with back injuries. Her family and relatives stayed. Her mom Theresa and her dad Frank took turns traveling home to Belleville, then to the hospital and back here to our resort.
And all weekend the campers kept coming. Finally, on Saturday night the power came back on, the water was on, the Interac machine worked. We had our kids' play day on the beach. We had our band play. We had our singing and dancing. They came, they stayed, they made the very best of a bad situation - and we all had fun. Most were dismayed by the loss of trees, but some optimistic people commented about seeing more blue sky, and more twinkling stars.
Best of all - guess what? Erica Brennan and her family came back - for the Labour Day long weekend. Erica is doing great! She has to wear a back brace for another 9 months to a year while her vertebrae heal. She can take it off to sleep and swim. And swim she did! And run and ride her bike... and make trips to the candy
counter! I know Erica and her family are grateful to everyone who sent silent best wishes and prayers for her quick recovery.The cleanup is ongoing, the damages will get repaired. The campers will keep coming. And because they keep coming - we'll keep going! Warm and heartfelt thanks to everyone who came and stayed, and keeps coming!!! Special thanks to Brendan and Diane McGlynn at Sherwood Park for the loan of a generator.
