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Photos and Articles by Matt Lurrie
 

Rarely am I at a loss for words.  But today, this is the situation in which I find myself.  I guess that the best way to start is to tell what happened.

Today at announcements, once the Tom Chants were finished, the man himself introduced a familiar face for some: Lou Brauner.  A Campus Kids Bus Driver for a decade, he had come to visit on July 13th, the day of his 94th birthday. 

I had the chance to sit down with Lou and speak to him.  Campus Kids has always been something he looks forward to.  It all started over 15 years ago. 

After having been married for 57 years, his wife died.  It was, in his own words, a tragedy.   He became very depressed, and began questioning his life.  "I didn't have the nerves," he said "to jump off the George Washington Bridge". 

Then, in June of 1993, he found Campus Kids. 

"It preserved my sanity," he said.  Lou calls Campus Kids his 'Summer Love'.  He has always enjoyed children, and working with them was a great joy for him.  Lou was not your ordinary bus driver.  One day, the assigned Day Trip was to the Delaware Water Gap.  The children were swinging from ropes into the lake, and Lou just watched.  Eventually, he could not watch anymore; he grabbed the nearest pair of swim trunks, and did a cannonball right into the water (earning him the nickname 'Cannonball Lou'). 

You may recognize the name Lou: he has been an avid contributor to The Sundial, the Campus Kids New Jersey publication.  A profound writer, Lou has given deep insight into not only camp culture, but the ways of children, and their minds, and the minds of all those around them.  I would like to put forth a few excerpts from his writings throughout the years.

      "The human face is an artistic achievement. On such a small surface an incredible          variety and intensity of emotions can be expressed. In order to communicate with children, we have got to practice deep knee bends. We have got to get down there so we are face-to-face with them. We have got to try to get into their world and stop telling them about ours."

      "You can only waste the passing moment. You cannot waste tomorrow; it is kept for you."

      "Absence makes the heart grow fonder; for somebody else. Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire. These axioms are but a reflection of my passion for Campus Kids."

     "A child is a magical creature. You can lock a child in his/her room, but you cannot lock them out of your heart. A child is also an incredible creature. A child does wonderful things. A child has a marvelous creative mind."

 "It's good to see old time staff, and meet the new ones.  Being with the kids is like a rejuvenation.  The birthday salute went to my heart, and brought moisture to my eyes.  I look forward to once again being with Campus Kids next year."