Bill Geist

Subtitle: My Surreal Summers in a Vanishing America

This is a charming memoir of the author’s teen-year summers spent working at his uncle’s resort at Lake of the Ozarks in the mid 1960s. He was a busboy, a bellhop, a dishwasher, a janitor, a kids’ counselor, a groundskeeper, a chauffeur, a delivery man. He did any and all distasteful jobs and enjoyed the company of a bevy of lovely young women who served as housemaids and/or waitresses. The pay was abysmal, but they got free room and board, a fair quantity of beer, and, perhaps most importantly, a certain sense of independence. They also occasionally got pretty nice tips, which virtually all the staff used to help pay for their college educations. They made some life-long friendships, and a few romances led to marriage.

While my current sensibilities were sometimes appalled at the behavior these teens engaged in, I had to admit to fond memories of some of my own summer jobs, and especially of the summer staff I met at a local lake resort when I was singing with a band who was performing at the resort supper club one summer. Ah, the indestructability of youth!… (meer)

A look back through rose-colored glasses at a unique time and place in this author's life. He worked for his larger-than-life uncle at a "vintage" lodge located at Lake-in-the-Ozarks, MO during the 60's. There are a few laugh-out-loud moments and it's a quick read, but overall, I'd have to say there's not much here unless you _REALLY_ want to live someone else's summer job vicariously. For me, I'd prefer much more about the history of the Lake and towns. But after reading this book, all I know for sure is that a dam was built, at least 1 town was drowned, vacations in the 60's were different than today, some of the vacation properties had questionable practices, and kids back then drank A LOT of beer.… (meer)