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Oct. 12th, 2004 11:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sun_set_bravelyI'm back from Atlanta. The retreat went well. We had about 35 women there, an incredibly diverse group of ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. I was staffing the information table most of the time, so I didn't really get to know many of the women. I got to speak to a few over the weekend, and I was impressed by their amazing strength, humor, and inspiring stories. My friend Courtney has a favorite quote that I experience every time I attend a Woodhull retreat: "Engrave this upon my heart: there isn't anyone you couldn't love once you've heard their story."
At the closing session on Sunday, I got my reward for all of the outreach work I've done for the last two months. I listened to the women speak about how deeply they were affected by the weekend, how they expected a boring conference, not a life-changing event. One woman stood up and said, "I learned a lot this weekend. But more than that, I am new to this country. I've been here four months, and I'm starting all over again. This weekend, I got a new community of women that will support me. And for that, I thank you." I got chills when she spoke. One young woman came up to me and asked, "Are you the one who called my college to offer the scholarships?" I said yes. She said, with tears in her eyes, "Thank you so much. I couldn't have come to this without that scholarship." I gave her a huge hug and told her that it was my pleasure.
So now it's time to turn my attentions to the Chicago retreat in November. After being with the Woodhull women this weekend, it will be much easier to call professors and program directors and tell them about our program with great enthusiasm.
~ ~ ~
It's a chilly fall day out there, but I think the sun will warm things up a bit. Merrell sits in the window now, and his bright yellow body flutters around his cage all day long, thrilled by the outside view. Yesterday, we bought a cranberry colored rug for our living room. This morning, I refilled my Aurora with a burgundy ink called "Poussiere de Lune": moon dust. It's cool enough now to wear my deep magenta hat, and the long navy blue scarf I knitted last winter. Color is exploding all around me, and I love it.
At the closing session on Sunday, I got my reward for all of the outreach work I've done for the last two months. I listened to the women speak about how deeply they were affected by the weekend, how they expected a boring conference, not a life-changing event. One woman stood up and said, "I learned a lot this weekend. But more than that, I am new to this country. I've been here four months, and I'm starting all over again. This weekend, I got a new community of women that will support me. And for that, I thank you." I got chills when she spoke. One young woman came up to me and asked, "Are you the one who called my college to offer the scholarships?" I said yes. She said, with tears in her eyes, "Thank you so much. I couldn't have come to this without that scholarship." I gave her a huge hug and told her that it was my pleasure.
So now it's time to turn my attentions to the Chicago retreat in November. After being with the Woodhull women this weekend, it will be much easier to call professors and program directors and tell them about our program with great enthusiasm.
~ ~ ~
It's a chilly fall day out there, but I think the sun will warm things up a bit. Merrell sits in the window now, and his bright yellow body flutters around his cage all day long, thrilled by the outside view. Yesterday, we bought a cranberry colored rug for our living room. This morning, I refilled my Aurora with a burgundy ink called "Poussiere de Lune": moon dust. It's cool enough now to wear my deep magenta hat, and the long navy blue scarf I knitted last winter. Color is exploding all around me, and I love it.
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no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 02:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 06:27 pm (UTC)I meant to email you-- my cell phone was dead yesterday so I didn't get your message until this morning, but I emailed the details (ooh, rhyme!) to c.le so he has the blueprints to the diabolical plan. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 08:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 02:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 01:22 am (UTC)great job!
Date: 2004-10-13 01:45 pm (UTC)It's so great you're working with Woodhull.
You're helping to make differences in people's lives!!
I wish I can participate more, but my job has been very busy...
maybe when i get the winter/summer vacation!
Hope all is going well. Have fun at the Chicago retreat!