At mid afternoon I drove to Forestville to get my hair done. Every day, Sue's husband takes their dogs into the hills for a long walk. The dogs love it and for him, the exercise makes a huge impact on his health. It lowers blood pressure, improves mood and reduces stress. And we talked about a long distance backpacking trip that our friend John H. is doing in the fall. He's working at her school now and everyone loves him. Then we were off to the funeral home to visit with friends who lost their mom and grandma. She was 94 and they were so very fortunate to have her in their lives for so long. Their close knit family was all there and they were so grateful we came to pay our respects. That made me think about how our community is bound together by friendships and shared experiences.
The entire day prompted thoughts about the extraordinary friendships we've formed over the life of Quest. John's children were two of our most beloved student leaders and after they graduated, they became our friends. How lucky we've been to have these fine young people in our lives. Anna, Pete, Alycia, Vince, Alissa, Ben, Amanda, Shane, Sean and so many more. So those reflections contributed to the successful completion of the last few paragraphs.
It may seem strange that I am not leaping all over the house to rejoice. Seven years of work on this book is coming to an end. There's lots more to do to get it published, but I am incredibly satisfied with the product. The universe must always find balance, it seems. Major events in my life always seek counter measures. My father died and Evan became valedictorian. My mother died on our anniversary. And on the day I finish my book, my son lost his job. Just can't be too happy on a single day. I'm not going worry about him because he has many high level skills and lots of experience. My prediction is that he'll have a new job within a week. But why today?
Putting those morose thoughts aside, I am extremely grateful to so many people for their assistance with this book. Foremost among them is my husband. He has constantly contributed his thoughts, insights and experience to the content. He's reviewed every chapter and made many suggestions. Plus, he has patiently stayed away from the house for hours at a time each day for months so I could work.
I owe sincere thanks to Lee also because he was the one who created this program we love so much. He shared his vast knowledge and many materials with me. I have a whole book shelf filled with books, binders and maps from him.
For the book, Penelope writers deserve a great deal of credit. They read and critiqued nearly every chapter. Without their thoughtful comments and encouragement, I don't know if it would have happened.
There were many more important contributions, too. All the folks who sat for interviews, completed questionnaires, sent comments via email or Facebook, my family and friends.
Ahhh, gratitude, relief, joy and satisfaction. That's how this moment feels.
The backyard feeding ground has been trampled completely by a dozen turkeys, eight deer, a half dozen squirrels and tons of birds. Good day.
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