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.
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
Posted by: gypsyalex | September 25, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Yes, Good is right. Perfect description.
And I gotta know, did you buy that strapless plaid dress, tee, hee!?!?!?
Posted by: Mary Beth Shaw | September 25, 2009 at 07:39 AM
what a beautifully written and evoked post. Pure poetry.
So glad it was a "good" trip for you.
Love and light,
Shannon
Posted by: Shannon | September 24, 2009 at 10:35 PM
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
Posted by: Marianne | September 24, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Oh Ms Swirly....this is wonderfully Good! So well put! XO L.
Posted by: Lisa | September 24, 2009 at 05:44 AM
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!
Posted by: Goddess Leonie | September 23, 2009 at 05:00 PM
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!
Posted by: The Boomer | September 23, 2009 at 10:40 AM
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!
Posted by: The Boomer | September 23, 2009 at 10:40 AM
teaching with you. I'm gonna have to say "great"!!!
Posted by: Marisa | September 23, 2009 at 09:30 AM
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
Posted by: sarah Ahearn Bellemare | September 23, 2009 at 08:38 AM
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)))
Posted by: jenica | September 23, 2009 at 08:10 AM
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
Posted by: Grace | September 23, 2009 at 06:33 AM
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
Posted by: gem | September 22, 2009 at 08:58 PM
Good, Good and Good... hmmm 41 variations... even good-er than 31 flavours... Good is damn sure good... xxoo
Posted by: Liz | September 22, 2009 at 08:55 PM
really really good. Linda E
Posted by: Linda | September 22, 2009 at 05:35 PM
you're AMAZING!! and i miss you.
BIG hugs, smiles and love~ jill
nalettejm@yahoo.com
Posted by: Jill Nalette | September 22, 2009 at 05:35 PM
it WAS good....
:)
GIANT HUG!
Posted by: pixie | September 22, 2009 at 04:32 PM
Loved getting to meet you in person at the art fair!!! :)
Posted by: Jennifer Lee | September 22, 2009 at 04:18 PM
Am so thrilled you had another batch of amazing experiences at Squam! (I hear you met one of our fellow Jordan adventurers). :) xo
Posted by: Paris Parfait | September 22, 2009 at 04:07 PM
yep.
good (as you describe it) does sound like the word to be using for the experience.
well, in my opinion anyway...
Posted by: postcards from... | September 22, 2009 at 02:01 PM
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:)
Posted by: mayaluna | September 22, 2009 at 11:19 AM
It was so great to give you a big hug at the art fair, Christine!! xo
Posted by: leah | September 22, 2009 at 10:48 AM
So good to see you at Squam! I had to bounce Saturday afternoon. You added much sparkle to my visit.
Love,
Trish
patriciadolancomcast.net
Posted by: Patricia Dolan | September 22, 2009 at 10:44 AM