A Pelican Perspective with no Inside Jokes

…seriously

[Editor’s Note: This is part of the “Life Cycle of a Shoaler” series. This essay focuses on the transition as seasonal staff members, Pelicans.]

By Allegra Hyde, Pelican ’08, ‘010-12

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the conference season of Sunshine, it was the off-season of Pale Skin, it was the spring of job contracts, it was the winter of unemployment, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Pel Hall, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the summer was so far like the other summers, that some of its newest Pelicans insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

It was the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twelve. Spiritual revelations were conceded to Congregationalists and Unitarians at that favoured period, as at this. Ms. Cho had recently attained her nine-and-twentieth blessed birthday, of whom a prophetic dockie on the dock had heralded the sublime appearance by announcing that arrangements were made for the swallowing up of Shack Deck and the pier. Even the Uncle Oscar ghost had been laid only a round dozen of years, after rapping out its messages, as the spirits of this very year last past (supernaturally deficient in originality) rapped out theirs. Mere messages in the daily announcements had lately come to the Management Team and Staff, from a congress of Pelicans in OBR: which, strange to relate, have proved more important to the human race than any communications yet received through any of the fire drills.

The Front Desk, less favoured on the whole as to matters practical than her sister of the mop and broom, rolled with exceeding smoothness down hill, making registrations and sharing them. Under the guidance of her Supervisor, she entertained herself, besides, with such humane achievements as sentencing a bellhop to have his hands full, his body exhausted by with bags, and his new shirt sweaty, because he had not kneeled down in the rain to do honour to a incoming procession of day guests which passed within his view, at a distance of some fifty or sixty yards…

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By Hillary Adams Case, Pel Reunion

[Editor’s Note: This is part of the “Life Cycle of a Shoaler” series. This essay focuses on the transition from Pelican to Conference attendee.]

I come from a multi-generational family of Pelicans.  It was only natural that I too became a Pelican when I was old enough.  My family chose Pelican Reunion as our conference of choice.  This was a great conference for me to experience the island and decide where I wanted to fit in the community.

When I “came of age,” I spent five summers as a full-season Pelican.  I was able to contribute to the vibrancy of the staff while learning more about myself at the same time.  I especially loved my time as a Snackie – serving ice cream and rickies to guests and staff.  Another perk of being a Pelican: I met my husband.

Ultimately, the real world took over and my husband and I were forced to stay on the mainland for the summers.  Keeping Star in our world is essential.  We have chosen for the time being to continue attending Pelican Reunion.  We are able to get our taste of the island, but not feel too much like conferees!  This weekend is intended for former staff to reunite therefore we look forward to seeing old friends and reminiscing.

One of the biggest challenges in the transition from being a Pelican to being a Conferee is the lack of complete freedom on the island.  It’s difficult to resist going through the Authorized Personnel doors or see who may be hanging out in Pel Hall or on Shack Deck.  Or in my case, walking into the snack bar and making a frappe just the way I wanted it.  We are now forced to use conference spaces.  This is not all bad though: utilizing the front porch and the rocking chairs all day as opposed to strictly during conference dinner is great!
As is natural, we do find ourselves saying, “when I was a Pelican…” more than we may want to admit!  Additionally, feeling old when we see the kids we remembered as conferees now working as Pelicans is less than desirable.  But, we were in that position once too.  It is nice to see other generations feel the desire to work on the island the way we did.

We plan on staying conferees for the foreseeable future.  We may venture into the week-long family conferences when we are ready to truly be conferees again or have a family of our own.  Using conference spaces, eating in the dining hall serviced by Pelicans and having our beds made for us isn’t so bad after all.

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