Squam Snapshots (2011)

Diana+ camera with medium format film. Photos of me taken by Jolie Guillebeau. Hammock: Jolie & Jenica. Also pictured: Carol Michael, Program Coordinator

Favorite Squam 2011 moments:

• Dreaming up new possibilities with Maya and Jolie on my cabin's porch while Jolie painted the view.
• Meeting fellow teachers like Helene, Shari, and Penny for the first time, 
• and spending soulful sessions with my oh-so-gifted students.
• Stealing long chats with Flora
• and receiving a much-needed dining hall intervention from Linda about the value and worth of my work.
• Sharing a cabin that was both a quiet, sacred space, and a place of celebration with Pixie and this Maya.
• Dancing in front of the fire, letting myself party and play with my peers in a way I don't get to do often.
• Meeting, as always, the people I'm meant to meet.
• Being entrusted with the stories of others and reveling in the ways we intersect and find one another.
• Letting myself receive as much as I gave.
• Savoring a soy hot chocolate and a morning of refuge at Mocha Rising,
• and teaching the cute kid at Holderness General Store how to make one of the same with the kind of authority that New Yorkers in particular can summon.
• Kate in all her wild honesty, turning the drive into a sacrament.
• Watching dear ones take their place behind the microphone, or tell a long story for the first time on a stage.
• Being among friends in a place in which only two years ago I was a stranger.
• Truing up my heart in a simple conversation or embrace with touchstones like Mary Beth, Cal and Sarah.
• Getting to show up, give my humble offerings, and find myself--welcome, loved, home.

Comments

[stefanie renee]

i miss you dear one, i sure miss you and i can't wait to see you in the coming months.
much love xoxo

[Jolie]

So grateful to be a part of so many of these moments. Once again, Jen Lee-- I'm so glad you're my friend.

[Mary]

These pictures carry such peace with them. They, like your words, are beautiful.

[shari]

meeting you and taking your class jen was a definite highlight for me. i swear i'm feeling braver these days. i'm hoping our paths will cross again very soon. xox

[Meghan @ Life Refocused]

Oh how I missed Squam this year and missed seeing you. Hope it's soon when I can be amongst your loveliness.

[penny]

So beautiful to meet you in person, too! I told Pixie this already, but I wish I could have split myself in two to have spent that lovely quiet time with my family on one hand and to have had some meaningful, fun girl time on the other. I guess I just needed quiet this year! Every experience is right, yeah? But I do hope we can connect more next year! :)

[bella]

:) I'm so happy to read about your time there - and so happy the experience was a good one for you!
Love your pics.

[Helene]

I had my hands clutching the manual you wrote and gave me Saturday morning when I left to the point where TSA had to remind me I had to let it go to go through security. I listened to the sign. I opened it up and read it on the flight home. How you knew I needed to hear your voice and read your words at that exact moment is mind blowing. But you saw it. The worry of the re-entry, the worry of the work week ahead and like a gentle friend you placed your hand on my shoulder and gave me tool I needed to take care of myself so I would be able to take care of and nurture the creativity inside.
The manual is beautiful Jen. Bravo. My only regret is that there was not enough time to sit down and chat. But I also know there will be many more opportunities in our future to do so.
Your voice is so calming and generous. Thank you!

[Karen D]

It was really great taking your class again this year, it really is the perfect way to bring Squam to a gentle closing..

I hope all is well as you return home ..
Karen