OCTOBER CAMP

The fingernail on my left index finger is painted with blue nail polish. All the other nails are bare. One night around the campfire, maybe the first night(?), Rosie came around asking people if they can paint a nail and that’s the finger I held out for her to paint. The next morning I was looking into the mirror to apply moisturizer to my face and was visibly startled by the sight of that blue nail because I had forgotten all about it. That’s really all I need to say about camp.

Except, that’s far from the truth.

There are lots of things I could say about camp. I could give you a long list of things I did not do for four days and an even shorter list of the things I did do for four days. The thing I did the most over those four days was laugh and laugh and laugh. My body still aches from all the laughing. The most important thing was that Michael and I walked away from camp with new framily members. One of our camp staff members, Shiny, had one word for camp and it was community. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word ‘community’ as a “unified body of individuals. Such as:” and then goes on to list various types of communities. The list contains other words like ‘fellowship’ and ‘likeness’, yet none of them really fully encompass the feelings of being part of a community. Being part of a community is so much more than being “unified” or sharing common interests. Community comes from the way we care for one another, encourage and support one another.

This is the essence of Camp Wildling.

I had two words for camp: confidence and gratitude. I one hundred percent feel like a total fraud when it comes to photography. It doesn’t matter the amount of material I have read on the subject or the practice and practice of photo taking that I partake in daily. For me to be able to share my knowledge to others and to see them engaged and really truly learning from me, stops me in my tracks.

I mindfully create energy to pursue my own advocacy goals of abolition. Sometimes it looks like a calming practice. And sometimes it looks like play. - Zuri Adele

I did not once sit down with my Lightmaker’s Manifesto and journal to start brainstorming what I can do to be an activist. When I returned home on Sunday, that quote above was posted for our prompt this week and my memories of camp were still fresh in my head. Camp provided me the space to grow energy, to build up and charge my energy supply. At times, camp was calming, but honestly…it was a whole lot of play.

Somewhere in the middle of all that play, I discovered that I do have gifts worth sharing.

THANKFUL FRIDAY

I love these bookends @potatobiker sent me. She's the coolest. #365

"I love these bookends @potatobiker sent me. She's the coolest. #365"

This Saturday is the 27th Kansas City AIDS Walk. Today, after work, I'll head over to the park to help set up the tent for the Memorial Flags and help out where ever I'm needed. Because this year, I told myself that I was going to do more than raise money for the AIDS Walk. Let me talk about the money part for just a minute though. You guys? You guys are just the most amazing. Thanks to your generosity, I have raised well over my fundraising goal. I keep that goal kind of low because I am always surprised that I raise any money at all, but every year you guys step up and pitch in and remind the world that the internet was made for good things. I am humbled and so grateful. Your generosity is a gift.

This has been a week of little gifts. Monday, I had my doctor's appointment where she ordered tests, but said everything looked fine. She said I was healthy and the tests would just be proof of that. Wednesday, Stephanie sent me a text telling me she had her first nursing interview this week. I don't know if she got the job, but the fact that she's barely out of school and already getting job offers sounds like good news to me. I'm so proud of her. That evening I came home to a package from Amy containing scooter bookends. And not just any scooter bookends, but scooter bookends that look just like my scooter. They are propping up my sciencey books on my desk at work like Biochemical Calculations.  I look at them and whisper "vroom, vroom." Then on Thursday, I had just rolled out my mat for some yoga when Shannon (my yogi friend) came in to teach her lunch time class and said "I have something for you!" She gave me this really cute little bag with chickens all on it. Those bags are her new obsession and when she saw that they made one with my new obsession on it, she couldn't resist. Finally, the last little gift was hearing that my dear Jen just landed a new job working in an art museum. This is where she belongs and I couldn't be more thrilled or proud of her. I am thankful for all of these little gifts. 

This life is good. There are chickens in the yard, a puppy chewing on my fingers, and things popping up in the garden. We are healthy, fat and happy. I've even gone so far as to make some impulsive decisions that makes me feel a little exposed and vulnerable. I realize now that these things have to be done because it's all part of the roller coaster ride. I love roller coasters! I am thankful for tofu tacos and sunny scooter days even if it's been really cold for my morning ride. I am thankful for the Spider Girl picture the Cabbage colored and hung on our fridge. Most of all, I am thankful for you. 

Here's an eventful weekend and hopefully dry AIDS Walk and a truly Thankful Friday!