For three weeks during the summer of 1984, and for six weeks during the summers of 1985, 1986 and 1987, I lived at Camp Vacamas in West Milford, New Jersey. In those four summers, I experienced so many wonderful things that have not only stayed with me since then – but have helped shape me into the person I am. In the last year, I have also experienced things that have stayed with me – but were far from the pleasant memories that I experienced at Vacamas. From a horrific attack that changed the world as we know it, to losing my best friend – to living through the most stressful and uncertain time in my life – this year has certainly changed me as a person and made me long for something that would give me a temporary escape from all that has been dumped on me. Little did I know that my escape would be – of all places – Camp Vacamas.

Last week, I was sitting at my computer when I decided to visit the website of the camp that I still think of to this day, and discovered that they were having a Camp Reunion on the weekend following the anniversary of September 11, 2001. From the moment I saw that on their website, I knew I had to be there. For years, I have often thought of re-visiting Vacamas and being able to see bunks I slept in, places I experienced things, and maybe even people I went to camp with – and what better time to go then now? So I recruited my boss Allan and his son Jason, got in his car with Christine – and headed to Camp Vacamas.

As soon as we arrived and passed the sign marking the camp’s entrance, I knew that this weekend was going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life. Finally, I was able to do something I have wanted to do for years – revisit my past as if I had my own holodeck and was able to walk into a chapter of my youth – and literally turn back time.

When we entered the camp, the roads were dark and no one was around, so we drove until we found a lit building with a woman sitting inside – that woman was Sandy Friedman, who, along with her husband Mike, ran Camp Vacamas from 1985 through today. As soon as I saw her, I gave her a big hug and told her how happy I was to be here at Camp Vacamas. And when Mike entered the building, he instantly recognized me and told me how happy he was to have me here – if he only knew how happy I was to be here.

After we got our linens, we headed to our bunk in Lower Juniors to unpack. When I walked into the bunk – I felt as if I was instantly transported to 1984 when I first went to Camp. Like a perfectly preserved set from a classic television show, the bunk looked exactly as it did fifteen years ago, right down to the cubby holes. How I can remember sleeping in this wooden cabin with seven other boys and a counselor week in and week out for four separate summers – and now I get to do it again.

After we unpacked, we made it to Sunfish, which is the lake on which campers swam and boated. As soon as I gazed at the lake, I could not help but run to it. At least a thousand memories flooded my head like a broken dam as I walked on the dock of the lake. I remembered trying to make Perch swimming class and failing because I swam diagonally into the sand instead of straight on. I recalled the daily drills that the counselors would have to partake in to train for in the event that a camper was missing because they drowned in the lake. I remembered what it felt like to be on the lake in a rowboat with the beach behind you, the Manor House where Mike and Sandy lived across the lake – and Bald Rock on the side of you peering at you like a giant watchful eye.

As I stood on this lake with the moon as my only source of light, I could not believe where I was. Just three days ago, I was standing on the tenth floor perch of Two World Financial Center staring at Ground Zero and witnessing the reading of my best friend’s name along with the names of 2,800 other people who lost their lives on that sacred ground so tragically – and now I am standing on the lake of the camp that I went to fifteen years ago. The surreal irony of the situation made me realize that as always in my life, anything is possible – and despite all the chaos that is going on in my life – I still live an unbelievably unique and blessed life – and one that allows me to have such amazing experiences as this.

It is now 12:40am and breakfast is at 9:00am in the Mess Hall. And for the first time in a very long time – I can’t wait for the sun to rise.