I'm Home

Imagine...

Being a first grader attending a school hundreds of miles away from the closest ocean shore. Taking a trip to the beach to collect seashells to prepare for your moment of glory at show and tell when you returned home. Walking along the glossy, packed strip of sand and marveling at hundreds of colorful, glistening seashells nestled in ocean foam just hours after a turbulent storm. Plucking them from the sand and placing them carefully in a basket. Knowing that this moment alone on the beach was a rare gift, just as these natural works of art were, but knowing you would have to choose only a small handful of them to share with others during a short period of time.

How would you select the ones to share? How would you feel about this heavy basket full of treasures, knowing most of them would go unseen by others?

This is how I feel about my memories of Sophie's Run this weekend. This year was very special, and I am excited to share my memories of the event but realize that even my normally endless supply of words I use to describe my experiences will not do them justice. I came back happy and full of energy. I will sort through them all and bring out the most colorful ones to share with you but will hold the others close and draw from their strength and beauty to keep me going through the year.

For those of you who were kind enough to share the day with me, thank you very much. I feel stronger than ever. It was truly a celebration this year. And for those of you I just met this weekend, I'm honored to know you and am looking forward to spending more time with you.

Thank you.