Several weeks before I quit my job on August 1st, I found myself driving in the pouring rain on my lunch hour down the street for a hot bowl of Pho. When I arrived, the little place was packed - to the extent that there was nowhere to sit. Right as I was deciding on my "to-go" order however, I noticed that one of the reps that called on our office regularly was sitting at a table alone, and he kindly asked me to have lunch with him - how nice!
As was the norm with this guy, the conversation quickly turned to the ups and downs of his dating adventures - and somehow we got on the topic of what some of his dating criteria were. For example, he said he wouldn't date someone if they hadn't gone to college? As I tried to play devil's advocate on that one, he shared an interesting story: Apparently he loves comic books, and had decided at some point to go to ComiCon - a big comic book convention. When he got there, he noticed that many people there were dressed as their favorite comic book character which he thought was well . . . a little out there. And he said to me, "clearly we all shared a love of comic books, but they weren't my people." And in that moment? I got it.
Here's the thing about the women at Squam . . . They are my people. It's that simple.
My creative experience wasn't quite as momentous as last year, but reconnecting with old friends, spending time with my sister, eating crazy-delicious food and the lake, oh the lake! - more than made up for that. And I got to do a bunch of things I regretted not doing last year - which of course made me very happy.
Swim in the lake? Check.
Get up early enough to catch a pink sunrise over the water? Check check!
Have a nice long conversation with the amazingly energetic Elizabeth? Yup!
Take a class from the crazy talented and fun Sara Ahearn Bellemare? Yeah Baby!
And visit with friends from last Fall who are some of the most creative, lovely, spiritual, inspiring, kind people I know - YES.
I've also spent the last couple of days thinking about all that I've accomplished creatively since I was at Squam last Fall - and it's quite a list! I "Unraveled" with Susannah Conway in January, took "Blogging Your Way" with Holly Becker & Leslie Shewring in March and attended a five day personal growth seminar called "Integrate" at the same time, guest blogged on the "Do What You Love" website in April, went to the inaugural "Do What You Love For Life" creative enterprise retreat in England for my 40th birthday in May, took a weekend collage class at Pratt Fine Arts Center in June, and painted my way through Juliette Crane's "How to Paint an Owl" e-course in July & August.
And all of that was because of the experience I had at Squam last year - WOW.
It is a magical place and I know I'll be back next year for more.
Squam is such a magical place and your photos are stunning. I totally understand what you mean when you say "your people" I attended squam the very first year and it changed the course of my life forever. So beautiful.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 21, 2011 at 01:16 PM
Hey - nice post!
And I'm stoked that when I go to your site it goes straight to the blog...sweet :)
-me
Posted by: Sis | September 21, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Squam does that to you doesn't it? It gives you wings. This year's was my fourth and the experience is different every single time. But the people remain my people - every single time.
Warm wishes to you,
Stephanie :)
Posted by: Steph | September 26, 2011 at 08:59 AM