For nearly three years now, the women of Corbett, young and old, have been gathering for tea. Once a month, Polly Malby invites the local women to meet for a time of sharing, laughter, learning and ...tea! It all started when Polly retired after 18 years, working as a midwife and in faculty practice on "Pill Hill" which is also known as OHSU. Greg and Polly Malby moved to Corbett back in 1998. Greg had once again been volunteering as a cook at Camp Angelos, located at the end of Stevens Road. He was taking a break from his "HIGH stress" (according to Polly) career of selling real estate and working construction. Her prayer for Greg was to find meaningful work that he enjoyed. During his week of volunteering at the camp, Polly received a call from Greg. He said that the camp was looking to hire a facility manager/ranger. The job would include a home, so they could move from their spacious home in Milwaukie to the "cabin" at the camp. A little stunned at first, Polly remembered her prayer and tried to have a positive attitude about moving to a cabin in the country! Her fears of "being alone in the woods" quickly dissolved when she came to look things over and ended up rescuing 15 teenagers on the Sandy River from two overturned rafts. Polly laughs now that her and Greg are "never lonely" living on the Sandy. MANY folks have needed their assistance over the years! Having raised four daughters over the years, it was the youngest who actually got the opportunity to live at the camp and graduate from Corbett High. Three of the four daughters have been married at the camp, and recently one grandson was actually born there! Polly has come to love living out of the wind and having the opportunity to meet so many folks that come to experience and use the facility. The camp was built from the generosity of a man named "Doc" Angelos and is currently owned by a subsidiary of the Greek Orthodox Church. So, getting back to the Corbett Women's Tea... Polly retired 3 years ago and wanted to get to know the community women a little better. Her idea of having a gathering of women grew into over 90 local women now being on the mailing list! One of her favorite Corbett memories is the year Greg gave Big Bear some "mole jerky" at the July 4th gathering! Was it real? Well, REALly funny is all. It was chili flavored dried mango, dipped in chocolate. Yum?
