WildTurkey of Shadow

We were away for two nights at a retreat. It was a pleasant place, only about an hour away, on the lakeshore. It was inspiring, and we also had some fun times hanging out with people during gaps in the official activities. Relaxing it was not, however. I slept really badly, and we got up early both mornings. We were in a cabin with two young women and a couple from Costa Rica via Miami. We pooled resources for breakfast, and the Sparrowhawk took on the job of making some really good coffee. He brought his equipment in a box. I supplied some sausages, which had to be cooked, so I got up too and was an assistant. The young women brought fruit and coffeecake, people in the next cabin came over and shared bagels and cream cheese, and our Miamian friends kindly stopped along the way and got some eggs, raisin bread for toast, and butter. This morning, we got up early because we needed to pack up and go home, and we were hoping to give the Miamians some breakfast before they left for the airport. They slept in until the last minute and regretfully had to leave without coffee. We fondly imagined we might have had a walk by the lake during our afternoon break, but at the time, a shower and a nap seemed more urgent. I only heard later that Fearless Leader and some other young people went down to the beach and jumped in the water! Why, those little whippersnappers! If only I'd remembered to bring my bathing suit, I could have showed them a thing or two. I missed my window! Perhaps it's just as well. Fearless Leader's wife, Dancer, gave me a lovely henna tattoo which I'm still enjoying, as I have taken pains not to wash it off. Now I'm exhausted and can't wait to go to bed. (Oh wait, have I said that before? Deja vu.)