Aj Schwanz

Yearly Meeting has started off with a . . . well . . . with a pleasant day! YM weeks are notorious for taking place during the one week out of the year that the Willamette Valley recognizes the seasonal event known as summer. Due to the rather temperate climate, air conditioning is a rare commodity - and let me tell you, thereís nothing more appealing than staying in stifling dorms that turn into ovens with the slightest temperature increase - bleck. Iím rather grateful that Iím now a ìtownieî and donít have to stay on campus.

But this week the weather is rather pleasant - temps in the 80’s, not a high degree of humidity. Judah and I sauntered over to the Edwards-Holman Science Center to register - had our first run-in with friends. I picked up my packet, my nametag (which will be worn grudgingly, particularly due to a Little Personís belief that itís a toy - a pull toy - to snap back into his momís face).

We strolled through the clocktower lawn as the Family Fun Day events were in full swing: a dunk tank, carnival booths, etc. Other booths littered the lawn as well - Twin Rocks, International Family Services, Barclay Press (which I had to slink by - they had pictures of all of their writers up. I made my husband look to see if my ìIím a new mom, and sleep in a concept rather than a reality in my lifeî picture was up - sadly enough, now everyone gets to stare at my bloodshot eyes).

I ran into tons of friends. One friend who is living at the beach is engaged - just bought a house. Another friend just bought a house in Nampa, but is working in Meridian and Boise (Iím jealous). Friends from Idaho, friends from Washington. I ran into people who know my folks, and one of them said I talk about Judah just like my mom talked about my brother and me (she said this right after talking about my main duty of the day being mouth-patrol: ìAre you hungry? What are you eating? Donít eat bark!!” I donít know she meant it as a compliment or not ).

Judah had a blast - his first Yearly Meeting event! And what did he do? Sit on the grass with my former youth leaderís baby, and ate crackers . . . and dropped them on the ground. . . and picked them up and put them in his mouth. It doesnít get much better.

This is my favorite day of Yearly Meeting. Not that itís all downhill from here (though by Thursday Iím generally ready to retreat back to my sanctuary), but rather than I *love* seeing everyone. Most of these folks have been integral at some point in my life - emotionally, spiritually. Theyíve seen me grow up, Iíve seen them change. Theyíre my mentors, my leaders, my friends, my family. It meant so much to be able to take my son. Not that heíll remember much, and if he does, it will mostly be of the taste of crackers and clover together - hey, memories have to start somewhere. =)