This post could be titled “On Laity Lodge,” but I didn’t want to jump in with all the really wonderful things that have already been said from last weekend’s participants. Besides, I’m not exactly new. I’ve been going out there for 20 years and to the canyon for more than 30, back to when I was a camper at LLYC.
Also, I really hate when you can’t go to a special event and everyone else is gushing about it over all forms of social media. I’ve been in that position many times, so I wanted to spare some of you who may be reading this.
But I will say this one thing because there are three people I want to thank.
When you arrive at Laity, the first thing you do is hug people. You might say I was hugging “in name only.” One person later said I looked “crumpled.” Another said I “didn’t feel solid.”
The second thing you do after you arrive is check in. I checked in to find out they’d lost my roommate reservation, and by the way, would you mind switching rooms because an older lady has a special need. I honestly didn’t mind switching rooms, but what was I supposed to do with my stuff? It was all still in my car.
“We’ll help you bring it down,” said a friend. Two other friends said they’d help, too.
“I guess we’ll just leave it all out here? By the fountain?” I said. “I mean, nothing’s gonna happen to it.”
They all laughed at the ridiculous idea of someone taking your stuff at Laity Lodge when it’s laying out in the open.
So, the four of us went to my car. Everyone took a bag or two. Then we walked back down and set them in a heap on the stones until my room situation got resolved.
I know I’m over-spiritualizing here, but it honestly felt like those three friends carried my burdens. One of those friends knows everything that’s happened this past year. One knows a good 75 percent. The other knew nothing. Everyone took a bag or two.
And that’s kind of what the whole weekend was like. At meals or at sitting-around-talking time, everyone took a bag or two. I never had to carry too much at any given time.
So, thank you to you three—you know who you are. Maybe someday I can return the favor.
