Two of our people, Ed & Chris Tokarski, recently wrote something on their ad in the 30. Gaufest Festbook. When I read it I could not get it out of my head.
“Thank you for 30+ Years of Fun,
Adventures, & Special Friendships!”
This all reminded me of what Emily Fricker wrote in her letter as Fahnenmutter in 1994.
“Friendship is one of the most important things in our lives. All who are here, have similarities that bind us together. When we leave here, we go to that part of our lives which is separate from our club life and we look forward to returning to our friends and the camaraderie with which we are so familiar. We celebrate many happy times together and some times we must suffer the sad times together. The key word is “together” for if we are not together we will fail as a community, as a club, as a family and as friends.”
– Emily Fricker, 1994
My grandmother has such a way of making a point in her own distinct way.
Clubs like ours repeat often that our traditions, customs, keeping up our heritage are the reasons we exist. That is true. Those traditions can manifest in fun things to do. But those aspects are not the only things that hold us together. Staying together is a tradition unto itself.
I’ve spent time myself considering this theory. Club-Life is a choice. We choose to embrace those traditions of the club. We choose to commit to being a vital part of the whole. We choose to be together when things are easy and when they are hard. We stay together when they are happy and when they are sad. That’s the adventure.
What the Tokarski’s captured on their ad was a part of my theory I hadn’t yet put into words.
Choosing club-life, is choosing an adventure.
We choose it because the highs and lows of an adventure are both made better when we aren’t alone.
Michael N. Fricker
NOTE: The featured image was taken from our archive. It shows Ed & Chris, as well as Emily Fricker amongst their fellow German Hungarians attending the Sunday night farewell party at the 16. Gaufest in 1997 in Delaware. The theme for the party was “Schornsteinfeger” or chimney sweeps.
