Ginger was my Camp Fire leader when I was in 5th-9th grades. She was a redhead, just like me, and I loved her dearly. Her daughter, Casey, was my best friend during those years. Through them I was introduced to Camp Kilowan, and became a member of Job's Daughters Bethel #59.
I don't know a whole lot about Ginger's youth, but I remember that she grew up in Molalla, Oregon, and that she reached the rank of Honored Queen in her Bethel, much as Casey eventually did in Bethel #59. I still have the program to Casey's installation, even though I was unable to attend.
Ginger had a great sense of humor, and I always remember her smiling or laughing. She also had a mean Miss Piggy imitation. She also had great patience in teaching those of us in her Camp Fire group. I remember when we girls were sewing our ceremonial gowns, and Shana was upset that her gown's hem was crooked so that one side was longer than the other. Ginger just laughed and put it into perspective for us: "Yes, the little old lady in the very back row is going to stand up and point and yell, 'That girl's hem is crooked!!'"
Unbeknownst to me at the time, Ginger had cancer, and she tried to lead a normal life in spite of it. Looking back, I now know why she got her hair permed (to hide the effects of the chemo/radiation she must have been having) and why her hair got so thin. I think I only remember her losing her temper once or twice, and it was usually over some mischief we girls got into. In the end, however, the cancer got the best of her, and I will never forget how I felt when I learned that she had died. For some reason, that memory is tied to South Salem High School, where Casey and I attended, and I remember that Casey was taken out of school to be with her mother when she died.
I learned so much from Ginger that I keep remembering while going through much of the same situations with my own kids now. I have always considered Ginger as my hero, growing up, and I will never forget her.
I don't know a whole lot about Ginger's youth, but I remember that she grew up in Molalla, Oregon, and that she reached the rank of Honored Queen in her Bethel, much as Casey eventually did in Bethel #59. I still have the program to Casey's installation, even though I was unable to attend.
Ginger had a great sense of humor, and I always remember her smiling or laughing. She also had a mean Miss Piggy imitation. She also had great patience in teaching those of us in her Camp Fire group. I remember when we girls were sewing our ceremonial gowns, and Shana was upset that her gown's hem was crooked so that one side was longer than the other. Ginger just laughed and put it into perspective for us: "Yes, the little old lady in the very back row is going to stand up and point and yell, 'That girl's hem is crooked!!'"
Unbeknownst to me at the time, Ginger had cancer, and she tried to lead a normal life in spite of it. Looking back, I now know why she got her hair permed (to hide the effects of the chemo/radiation she must have been having) and why her hair got so thin. I think I only remember her losing her temper once or twice, and it was usually over some mischief we girls got into. In the end, however, the cancer got the best of her, and I will never forget how I felt when I learned that she had died. For some reason, that memory is tied to South Salem High School, where Casey and I attended, and I remember that Casey was taken out of school to be with her mother when she died.
I learned so much from Ginger that I keep remembering while going through much of the same situations with my own kids now. I have always considered Ginger as my hero, growing up, and I will never forget her.
Ginger was my Camp Fire leader when I was in 5th-9th grades. She was a redhead, just like me, and I loved her dearly. Her daughter, Casey, was my best friend during those years. Through them I was introduced to Camp Kilowan, and became a member of Job's Daughters Bethel #59.
I don't know a whole lot about Ginger's youth, but I remember that she grew up in Molalla, Oregon, and that she reached the rank of Honored Queen in her Bethel, much as Casey eventually did in Bethel #59. I still have the program to Casey's installation, even though I was unable to attend.
Ginger had a great sense of humor, and I always remember her smiling or laughing. She also had a mean Miss Piggy imitation. She also had great patience in teaching those of us in her Camp Fire group. I remember when we girls were sewing our ceremonial gowns, and Shana was upset that her gown's hem was crooked so that one side was longer than the other. Ginger just laughed and put it into perspective for us: "Yes, the little old lady in the very back row is going to stand up and point and yell, 'That girl's hem is crooked!!'"
Unbeknownst to me at the time, Ginger had cancer, and she tried to lead a normal life in spite of it. Looking back, I now know why she got her hair permed (to hide the effects of the chemo/radiation she must have been having) and why her hair got so thin. I think I only remember her losing her temper once or twice, and it was usually over some mischief we girls got into. In the end, however, the cancer got the best of her, and I will never forget how I felt when I learned that she had died. For some reason, that memory is tied to South Salem High School, where Casey and I attended, and I remember that Casey was taken out of school to be with her mother when she died.
I learned so much from Ginger that I keep remembering while going through much of the same situations with my own kids now. I have always considered Ginger as my hero, growing up, and I will never forget her.
I don't know a whole lot about Ginger's youth, but I remember that she grew up in Molalla, Oregon, and that she reached the rank of Honored Queen in her Bethel, much as Casey eventually did in Bethel #59. I still have the program to Casey's installation, even though I was unable to attend.
Ginger had a great sense of humor, and I always remember her smiling or laughing. She also had a mean Miss Piggy imitation. She also had great patience in teaching those of us in her Camp Fire group. I remember when we girls were sewing our ceremonial gowns, and Shana was upset that her gown's hem was crooked so that one side was longer than the other. Ginger just laughed and put it into perspective for us: "Yes, the little old lady in the very back row is going to stand up and point and yell, 'That girl's hem is crooked!!'"
Unbeknownst to me at the time, Ginger had cancer, and she tried to lead a normal life in spite of it. Looking back, I now know why she got her hair permed (to hide the effects of the chemo/radiation she must have been having) and why her hair got so thin. I think I only remember her losing her temper once or twice, and it was usually over some mischief we girls got into. In the end, however, the cancer got the best of her, and I will never forget how I felt when I learned that she had died. For some reason, that memory is tied to South Salem High School, where Casey and I attended, and I remember that Casey was taken out of school to be with her mother when she died.
I learned so much from Ginger that I keep remembering while going through much of the same situations with my own kids now. I have always considered Ginger as my hero, growing up, and I will never forget her.
