On Squam Art Workshops
September 22, 2009
When I looked up the word good on dictionary.com, it listed 41 variations on the definition. Good is a word that can mean so many things within so many different contexts, it can easily be dismissed as generic, trite and vague. But on the first leg of my journey home, which was the drive from Elizabeth's haven on the hill to the Manchester Airport, it was the word that filled my consciousness. This week was good. These people are good. What we shared was good. And as tired as I am…I feel good.
As I rolled this word around my mind for over an hour, I realized I usually see it as a tiny, bouncy word that flits and floats about like a little bird. And while this isn't a bad thing, it was a different experience to see it as a word with weight and depth and substance. It had the consistency of a warm, hearty stew in the middle of winter, and the weight of a hand-knit blanket. It was something I could dig my fingers into, like a mound of red clay; it was a solid foundation that could hold all the moments and memories of the past many days. It was a rich word, a solid word, a word that could hold everything I wanted to bring home with me.
The word is good – like an egg, like milk, like the first leaf that bursts forth from the earth in spring – pure, clean, whole, enough.
So good to see you at Squam! I had to bounce Saturday afternoon. You added much sparkle to my visit.
Love,
Trish
patriciadolancomcast.net
It was so great to give you a big hug at the art fair, Christine!! xo
mmm… just soaking in you words and trying to wrap your warm blanket of “good” words around me. searching for every bit of squam after-glow I can find. this was just right… and very good:)
yep.
good (as you describe it) does sound like the word to be using for the experience.
well, in my opinion anyway…
Am so thrilled you had another batch of amazing experiences at Squam! (I hear you met one of our fellow Jordan adventurers).
xo
Loved getting to meet you in person at the art fair!!!
it WAS good….
GIANT HUG!
you’re AMAZING!! and i miss you.
BIG hugs, smiles and love~ jill
nalettejm@yahoo.com
really really good. Linda E
Good, Good and Good… hmmm 41 variations… even good-er than 31 flavours… Good is damn sure good… xxoo
it was so very, very good to embrace & share space at SAW, Christine.
you are good – like soft clay in the hand, two feet on the path & sun tickling the surface of the lake.
thank you for being.
xo,
gem
when my grandson was a toddler learning to speak i would say, “life is……” and he would answer, “dood” – eventually, he could say, “good!” then we would high five and hug.
life IS good, very, very GOOD.
lots of love
and high 5′s,
grace
it was def 41 variations of good! i’m still trying to process all of it… which i think is holding me back from processing any of it. ;-D
(((hugs)))
i know! can’t believe we didn’t see more of each other… i think there was a post between us at vendor night and i was on the verge of collapse. we’ll blame it on that. i did love that older woman who was just absolutely convinced that i was you… : ) she sure loved your book! (she told me so!)
so nice to chat here and there… although it just wasn’t enough!
there’s always next time…
xoxo *s
i know! can’t believe we didn’t see more of each other… i think there was a post between us at vendor night and i was on the verge of collapse. we’ll blame it on that. i did love that older woman who was just absolutely convinced that i was you… : ) she sure loved your book! (she told me so!)
so nice to chat here and there… although it just wasn’t enough!
there’s always next time…
xoxo *s
teaching with you. I’m gonna have to say “great”!!!
And YOU. Good. Wicked good.
What else? Being with you. Good. Hugging you. Talking with you. Watching you. Good. Feeling when I’m with you? Good.
Like, duh! Duh duh!
And YOU. Good. Wicked good.
What else? Being with you. Good. Hugging you. Talking with you. Watching you. Good. Feeling when I’m with you? Good.
Like, duh! Duh duh!
this is completely deeeeevine, darlingheart.
so, so….. goood
i’m so heart-glad that squam was such a precious time away for so many souls… nothing like the healing balms of nature and community and connection and creativity…
may your days since then be imbued with the same love and beauty!
Oh Ms Swirly….this is wonderfully Good! So well put! XO L.
I love the word “good” – it is a meaty kind of adjective, with weight and depth in it.
I’m so glad Squam was good, and especially that it was good for you. x
what a beautifully written and evoked post. Pure poetry.
So glad it was a “good” trip for you.
Love and light,
Shannon
Yes, Good is right. Perfect description.
And I gotta know, did you buy that strapless plaid dress, tee, hee!?!?!?
All I can say is that this is some GOOD writing, girl! Of course I’m jealous of all the goodness I missed out on, but I also feel so darn lucky that everyone is willing to share all the GOOD stuff, and therefore I can have at least a handsome bite of it all, through lovely photos and words like yours. xo