Linda Kindlon-Cary has resided in and around Albany her entire life and wouldn’t have it any other way! Not one to follow conventional paths, Linda has a broad range of experience that add up to a colorful professional mosaic. Linda studied bereavement at Maria College, worked in the health care industry while moonlighting as a professional clown.
She is probably best know locally for her years of waitressing at several notable establishments, followed by a fifteen year stretch building a popular baking business. Linda recently finished a death doula program through The University Of Vermont.
Her greatest accomplishment is being a mom to her daughter and son. Art, literature, and photography count among Linda’s interest in her few precious hours outside of work. When not covering the kitchen table with her latest creative project, Linda spends time with her husband and two dogs exploring the Capital District.
A special place
By Linda Kindlon-Cary
The year is 1979 and the school year is coming to a close.
Some kids are thinking about what to pack for summer camp, but in my neighborhood, we applied for summer jobs. For working class families a summer job was a right of passage and an expectation.
There were a few coveted park jobs where you played games, made crafts and handed out free lunches to kids at the park. Somehow it just always seemed the cool kids got those coveted jobs.
The anticipation of summer job placement clouded my end of school year focus. There was excitement as to whom I might work with and, admittedly, the idea of making money added to that excitement.
Placement letters went out right before July. I did love the squeak of the old metal mailbox. Kind of an alert that the mail had arrived. Well, when my sister and I finally received our letters, we did not get one of those coveted jobs. We were assigned to a day camp called a Special Place for children with disabilities.
In 1979 there was not yet inclusion in schools so exposure to children with disabilities was unfortunately minimal at best. Even at such a young age I recall thinking “Can I do this job?” My only saving grace was being with my sister and a good friend.
Arriving at camp on the first day filled me with trepidation. There wasn’t much guidance or even an overview of what the expectations were for the job. We were simply told that we would each be assigned a camper.
We were then ready to meet the campers as the big yellow school bus pulled in. It wasn’t the July sun beating off the pavement that was causing my hands to sweat. It was my fourteen year old nerves as we prepared to welcome the campers.
A young girl, about seventeen years old, wearing a blue polyester short set with a plastic bag in one hand stepped off the bus. This was my camper Shirley. Shirley came from a local residential facility and she was non verbal. That was all I knew.
My responsibilities started to become more clear as the day went on. I would help Shirley with camp daily activities which included, music, crafts, field trips and our daily walk to the pool. I learned quickly that Shirley was not a fan of the pool! My fourteen year old self was scared- petrified, really. How was I going to do this job? and do it well? What I did know was that quitting was not an option.
The first few weeks were a baptism by fire but as the days moved forward Shirley and I hit our stride. Quickly learning Shirley's likes and dislikes proved to be the key to success. The most significant thing I learned was that there was a complex person inside of Shirley. She loved music and whenever we sang as a group she would try to get a sound out, and rock back and forth with a smile.
Our daily visits to the pool were a challenge due to the steep incline. I held Shirley's hand because she could be so unsteady. One day Shirley just reached for my hand and at that moment I knew she trusted me.
Summer flew by, camp was ending, and I found myself feeling sad. There was still so much more to learn from Shirley and the other campers. Even without saying a word in all those weeks Shirley taught me how to communicate.
There are pivotal moments in our life. The moments you reflect on and say quietly to yourself, these shaped who I am today. I realized when summer ended one of the “coveted jobs” was not for me after all. Forty five years later and when summer rolls around I still think of my summer with Shirley. She taught me patience and that it’s ok to grab a hand to help you up the hill.