On the weekend of March 9 – 11, 2007 the Southern Appalachian Young Friends gathered at W.  Knoxville Meeting House for a service project retreat.  This is our epistle:

 

Wow! This retreat was more work, less free time! Which is not a bad thing!!! I feel that everyone here contributed so much time and effort on helping those in need yesterday, that we have found what we are actually here for....HELPING HANDS! (That made a little more sense in my head, but you know what I mean!). I had a lot of fun racing the bikes down to “South Asia”... but not so much on the tires with water in them!. YUCK! But...I still had a great time! Anyways...wink was fun....but as usual, someone had to get hurt (Emily), but I didn’t expect it to be my lovely wife! I LOVE You  EMILY! I hope you are okay! Jacob....you were actually the only newbie! Welcome! I hope to see you again soon! You’re great! And Chris I’m glad that you came to! It was fun playing football with you! It really sucks that some of you are graduating so soon! I am truly going to miss you all! Well....this retreat was amazing, and the car ride from Atlanta wasn’t all that bad either! But...this is getting to long...and my hand is starting to go numb, so I think I’ll go now! I love you all! Hope to see you soon!!

                        Love always,

                                    Chrissy

P.S. Casey...you don’t owe me a dance anymore! I give up! And...yea....I’m through now!!

P.P.S. Max...you need to do something new with your hair...it looks weird not all colorful! I ♥you!

P.P.P.S. Samantha...I love your pants! They is as sexy as you be! Hehe! I ♥ u sissy!

 

 

 

You SAYFers are truly awesome! I was concerned about how the service retreat would work out. How would we find our work? Would we know what to do? Would we work safely? Would the work be done with Spirit? Having seen everything work out beautifully, I hear small voice saying “Oh ye of little faith...”. Once again I have learned to trust in the SAYF community and in individuals who comprise it.

Lovely, Spiritual Hard-working even playfully working SAYFers, I thank you for making this a beautiful, and for me fulfilling retreat.

                        - Sig

 

 

This was a great retreat. I had fun fixing the lawn tractor. She thinks my lawn tractors sexy. Well Jacob got his newbie bearing when he got dragged by the lawn mower!! Well this may be my last retreat till sayma so I will relieve my DJ duties to George and give my offensive jokes to Joseph. Well I gtg.

            Love yall

                        Nate

 

 

 

I really liked my first retreat and every thing we did. The retreat got me out and about. I also met a lot of other people. I was the newbie & I didn’t know what was going on, but I caught on quickly.                  - Jacob Frieson

Well, I almost wasn’t allowed to come to SAYF anymore, my dad didn’t understand what we do here, he thought it was fun ‘n’ games, but when he read the forms he said it was fine. One of the main things I wanted to do was get my legs (as in pants) filled up ton of crazy stuff which has happened, of course I have the “grab me” on my butt and –hehe- “penis” on my pants 2! Christina.....you stole my ex-husband. Oh well ya’ll look cut! Will...my score will be emailed 2 you soon! Max....you’ve grabbed my butt a lot this weekend! That was annoying, but I’m used 2 it now. So newho this actually turned out to be a bit of fun. I loved traveling the world with Christina! Well the back of my pants are empty! People need to come draw on them with Sharpie! Nothing bad though! Well I ♥ you all very much & am glad I can see you more these upcoming years!

            ♥ always,

                        Samantha

PS Alise = Samantha

PPS Give me emails & phone numbers! I have nothing else better to do!

PPPS Christina I own your SOUL!  BWAHAHAHAHAHA & you penis!

PPPPS I’m not ready to go home! My pants are empty!

PPPPPS I agree with Christina about Max’s hair!

PPPPPPS Christina thinks my pants R as sexi as I am.

PPPPPPPS Ivy you R my other wife! I demand it, not reli!

 

 

 

I didn’t really want to write a worship journal; but I do want to emphasize:

Casey: You are coming to SAYMA or I will hunt you down in college & shave your head.

Sig: Amazing retreat! And thank you again for that film.

Nate: I’m definitely getting you on the way home for scaring me.

Dr. Z: You better come to SAYMA too!

Samantha: I am greater than or equal to you

            Buuut I love you anyway.

                        Much love I suppose,

                                    Alise :heart:

Pee. Es: Christina – hi

 

 

To all the sayfers, faps, and even Nate, Erin says hi to everyone, and she wishes she were here, but she is sick.

 

 

Wow, my 3rd retreat. No longer am I a noobie, or a twobie. (How on earth do you spell that?!) Yay! There is so much that I could and should write, seeing as how this is my first epistle. First off, I would like to say thank you to everyone here, you’re all amazing.

...huh, my mind just went totally blank. I’ve forgotten everything that I wanted to write.....of well.

Anyways, I liked this retreat a lot. I feel like I’ve made a difference in the world, changed it some how. Working was lots of fun to tell you the truth. Hauling heavy rocks around, fighting with the hoods of several lawn mowers, searching for useable batteries.. – Soooo I would do it all again, and so much more.

Ow, this window ledge thingy is poking into my spine, which is somehow making my hand cramp. I love you all J

            Toodles,

                Jo J

PS Nate, you’re awesome!

PSS Mmmmmmm......muffins!    muffiny goodness

Shining happy faces.

This is my world when I’m falling apart

When you laugh, triggers mine

I don’t think I was listening

But the smile on my face says otherwise

This is where I am I

Instead of me

People always smile to see me coming

But there will be SAYF arms to hold me where it fades

Today I see some for the last time

This day should not end

But when it does, know this

I will hold your memory, & your love in my heart

For as long as I live.

Until we meet again

-        Solitaire

 

 

♪  I see you windin’ grindin’ up on da flo’ I know you see me lookin’ at you & you already know, I wanna’ SEVICE YOU! ♪

Yet another spectacular Knoxville retreat. The service projecto was super duper, however I probably could have used those comfy wheelbarrows more for dirt-hauling as opposed to a napping spot. So many shining people that I have to part with. I am growing tired of good-byes; they seem so prominent in my life lately. Ori you are so beautiful. My first memory happens to be of you and Sam L.M. breaking down to a techno ring tone in the middle of the hall. I feel like I am finally getting to know you & now you are being snatched up by the Graduation gnome. Ellie-Ellie-bo-BELLY! I don’t have to say farewell now because – NASHVILLE baby doll. Jimmy! Expect an indie-fabulous tape coming your way. Rachel is a happy, happy flower, frolicking her way through the broad expanse of field that is life. Casey is a witty, crazeh-coo pranksta. Brittany... I don’t remember if you are going to Nashville retreat, so I will love you now. AAAYEEE! RACHEL JUST TOLD ME SHE IS A JUNIOR!!!!! Yesssss, Well, you are still a flower or whatever. George, what a whiner. “Write about ME Bonnie!” Ah my dear Hoar-hey, you blow my mind with you amazing creativity. I am glad that you are also not a senior. So I have rambled about nothing for toooo long. I just keep getting distracted mid thought. PANKATZ! Ahem so I love you all.

            ♥ Bonnie

                        Princess   Bonnie

PS Oh no Mark & Nate senior TWO. Braetemerk

 

 

 

Leaving SAYF is never fun

But life is FULL of Quakey opportunity

                        ♥- George R. Pettis

 

Yey! Optimists make me happy.         Rachel

So, on this retreat I really feel like we all made a difference on Saturday. However from this point on this will be a very selfish epistle and for that I’m sorry....hmmm, seems I’ve been a completely awkward jackass this retreat. I don’t know if it’s even me being worse than usual or everyone just getting fed up with my usual. Whatever it is I feel like SAYF would’ve just gone a bit smoother, a bit less awkwardly, overall just a bit better had I not come. From the moment I met up with my group to leave I started to feel awkward, and the feeling didn’t stop when we got to the Meetinghouse, in fact, it just got worse. It seemed all weekend that I just couldn’t do anything to make it better, that everything I did made it worse. So at this point, to everyone that I made feel uncomfortable in any way, I’m sorry. I’m very very sorry. I really hope that I didn’t burn any bridges this weekend, and if I did I hope that they can be rebuilt.

            Apologetically yours,

                        Philip

 

 

 

I love it when my chosen communities begin to intersect. 29 years ago, when I was 7 years into my marriage, I had to face the fact that I was gay, and worked to build some sense of community with my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Wherever opportunities opened, but the ‘bar scene’ did not fit me well. I felt sometimes like an odd man out, queer within the ‘queer’ community. So going to my first Friends for Gay Concerns midwinter gathering was like stumbling into heaven. A real community of like souls. Now we call ourselves Friends foe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer  Concerns. We have learned to widen our embrace of radical love, and to feel like a welcoming community to more and more individuals who once felt that they were alone, the ‘only one’.

Many of us travel great distances to be together twice a year, at best. From Florida, the Pacific Coast, Ontario, 3 weeks ago we met near Greensboro NC for Midwinter. It was wonderful to see some of my new-found SAYF community there. Laura, her partner, Hannah, Mark, Ceal, Joseph & his parents. This time I was clerk of the planning committee, which meant many long hours at the computer, hundreds of emails to pull it together. But we had a great committee. Yuck, I hate committee meetings. But we felt like we got a lot done, after each of our 4-hour meetings, and grew to love each other. Then the miracle of the weekend. A spirit-led, enlightening, and fun weekend, with time to relax and to play and to hang out with old and new friends. Thank you, Guide and Spirit.

Yesterday was one of those times. We worked hard (I worked hard), and we got so much done together, and it was fun. Ow, I just hate to imagine doing it all alone. Wish I could have some of you working beside me on my own projects, and that I could help with yours. This is the way we humans are meant to get our stuff done. In community.

                        Gary B.

 

 

 

There is a good chance that none of the Chapel Hill Seniors will be back again. This makes me a sad ________. I love you all Chapel Hill seniors.

 

 

 

 

Postcard from James’ Home

Warmth seeps into my skin from the sun

soft green grass folds neatly under my shoes

the hard metal edge of my shovel slips into brown dirt

my arms ache from hard work

sweet song drifts to my ears from a high

calm voice sitting in the grass

stones click together

a breeze, like warm breath flows over my shoulders

orange fur brushes against my leg and purrs loudly

We saw a snake in that grass.

Chris picked it up and told me it wouldn’t bite till

It was big

It was beautiful. Just like that place.

I love you all so much. Yesterday was absolutely amazing! Thanks for working so hard!

            ♥always Sara – hugs &  kisses

PS  To my beautiful seniors since I won’t be @ Nashville You make my heart warm and I love you to the moon and back. You don’t know how much of an impact you have made on my life. Remember you are beautiful. love you!

 

 

 

This retreat marks one ear of coming to SAYF for me. Before leaving Berea and through most of the car ride here, I still felt that I shouldn’t be here. I was convinced that my presence was unimportant, and that I simply had too much to do back home, thus making the decision to come irresponsible on my part. These feelings dissolved very quickly once I finally arrived. I love all of you, and though I think I’m ready to graduate and leave, this retreat has been somewhat bittersweet because the fact that it is one of my last has been ever present in my mind.

The service aspect of this retreat was great, and it astounded me to see how much can be accomplished by our group, and how much good we can do.

I’ve been tired this weekend, far more physically exhausted than I have benn any time I’ve come to SAYF before; but I feel comfortable. I feel warm and loved and That I may have done some good for someone, and I enjoy that feeling, however much the fatigue may mask aspects of it.

Again, I love you all, and I  probably will not be at the April retreat, so I will see you all in June, though that seems much further off than it really is.

                        So Very Much Love,   Brittany

 

 

There was a boy. A very strange, enchanted boy. They say he wandered very far, very far, over land and sea. A little shy. And sad of eye. But very wise was he.

And then one day, a magic day, he passed my way. And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings, this he said to me,

The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

Nat King Cole

With all my love, especially to the Chapel Hill seniors,   Ellie

Hmm, doesn’t this forkful of spinach and lemon pie look great. But you know, I think I’ll put it down and get a nice forkful of lettuce, ok? No! No! Umph....

So having Ellen play the part of my arms at dinner last night was definitely a highlight of this retreat. You know, goldfish, and brownie lasagna isn’t so bad, if you don’t think about it too much while you chew.

Props to the Knoxville planning committee for thinking of doing the heart circle. I liked that. The service project was also a stroke of genius. It was laid back, meaningful, and the fresh air was good.

Chris and Jacob, I’m glad that both of you came. It was good to meet you. You are both awesome to the max.

ATTENTION: The Nashville retreat has been moved to the weekend of April 28th. Everybody come! Chapel Hillers, if you are hard core you will catch a ride with Asheville.

            That is all.

                        Love,

                            Sophie

 

 

Too short. Those words seem to describe every SAYF retreat since the world began, but especially this one. The service project has been a valuable experience, something very right for our community to be doing even if it did take so much of the brief time we have together. Thanks to Chris for having the courage to join this crazy pack of (pardon my French) betches. Seniors, your leadership and dedication to this community has been a gift that we will miss very much. This is my last retreat of the year, but I am definitely expecting to see you all through other Quaker lovefests. Thanks to everyone for making this weekend fabulous. Even though we didn’t have a dance party. Hmph. Hugs to all!

                        Much Love,

                            Lydie

 

 

Wow, it’s been two whole months since I’ve seen ya’ll, but it feels like it’s been forever. Being a somewhat newbie (this is only my 5th retreat) I find that I thrive and live because of the love and support that I get from the community, and I don’t know how I’d survive without each and every one of you. This retreat brought up the closeness of SAYMA, and thus, the graduation of the seniors. This shocking realization was probably the worst part of the retreat, especially since a lot of the seniors * glare * will not be at SAYMA for their own graduation. Also, even though I will admit it was hard and exhausting, I actually enjoyed the manual labor service project. It helped me realize how much I miss giving back to my community in Atlanta. None of that probably made any sense, but since my brain and I are having an argument, I shall stop writing.

            Love you all,

                        Emily

 

 

This retreat so fun. I can’t wait to see all you awesome Quakers again.

            Love,

                  Maico

PS Keep on Rockin! Ha Ha!

Thank you for being here. I started this retreat feeling worried, and wondering if this was where I was meant to be this weekend. I’ve had a rough year, and before now this always helped, but for some reason I felt it might not this time. I’m glad I was wrong.

This retreat was truly wonderful. Working on Saturday was so much fun. Julie and I, and later Will, moved cartloads of rotting arsenic wood across the area. One of my favorite parts was taking a break and playing with and petting the extremely friendly, cute, drooling cat. My pants were pretty wet from the cat by the time we started working again.

I forgot to take my camera, and for some reason when I came back to the meetinghouse I simply did not feel like taking pictures. Considering how many pictures I took at the last two retreats, that’s kinda shocking. Working at that place was especially meaningful to me, after I found out exactly what we were working towards. Through different parts of my family, I’ve learned a lot about the foster care system and how to become a legal guardian and all that. I’ve seen people get pretty close to giving up on someone. Seeing this weekend gave me hope. It made me so happy to see that someone cares that much about someone who they don’t even know. Thank you so much for that. Little things keep me having hope for humanity, and that is one of them.

I think I have learned something about myself. I have very low self esteem, and one of my projects of late has been attempting to raise it. I’ve always had trouble dealing with the fact that some people come into totally new community and find friends so easily. I can’t do that. However, throughout the five years I’ve been in this community, I’ve become closer friends with many of you than I have with anyone at my school or neighborhood who I’ve known foe my entire life.

            I love you so much,

                        Rachel

 

 

This retreat was awesome! As it used to be. (Not only in my imaginary world) hahaha just kidding! But I’m sure it was wonderful. How’s everyone doing?

I’m doing fine in Japan....though I have to study hard!! Aww.

Sometimes I dream about SAYF retreat and have really neat time with you guys. I think it’s very sweet!

Anyway, hope you guys had the greatest time!!

Till the day I come back, please remember me!!

Love you guys all!    Maico     XOXO

PS Keep in touch with me!

PPS I’m sorry if you don’t know me. I’m just a crazy stranger in Japan. Ask Jimmy if you’re curious about it.

LOVE QUAKERS!

 

 

Many wonderful things happened during this weekend. It was a joy to witness everyone’s welcoming of Chris into SAYF.

Saturday afternoon, I had the privilege of sitting with Joseph near the bottom of the hill, listening to him describe his program and projects while watching the accomplishments – service and camaraderie.... wind down. The day was pretty perfect.

                                    Buffie

The Sam Fish Page

 

 

You Fnord drew on                                                                 Sticky legs nearly

my face so go jump off a                                                       let drown an open

ten story building                                                                   surfacing dog face.

                                                                                                penalized,

The worst of hand script                                                        and for George’s sake

is found on early morning                                                      not at all, but

with ADD child.                                                                     remotely full

                                                                                                of filler words from

Write in the journal                                                                English language.

a haiku about Fnord which                                                     Smile up at sun but

ejaculates jokes                                                                      you can’t even look it

                                                                                                in the eye, bright

You can outcast most                                                             Light smites and decides

anything counting Q’uog blink                                              tomorrow is,

of each fluorescent                                                                 after all, a better

Light in e’vry class                                                                day ( )  ( )

on every single last                                                                for golden frogs who

day time flight story.                                                              do not believe

                                                                                                that toads are evenly                                                                                                              divided from them                                                                             

Booshiba!                                                                               In terms of their goo                                                                                                               translation for                                                                                                                         fool!  I Love you.

Unhand my pen

lest I run you through with

(cheesebits)

antichristian woman.

 

Hit me in the face

I’ll hold you in the Light, or

till you die! (I stole)

 

George...Fox!

 

God it feels good to be a

gansta

real gangsta hinied

ninjas don’t make rap CDs

 

 

This weekend was outstanding. The service project was great and I hope there will be more to come. Thanks to everyone for making this retreat wonderful.

                        Cheers,   Mark

It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to list all theways that SAYF, friends, and the Quaker lifestyle have influenced me, mainly because of those ways are unknown even to me. As for what I think I will become as a result of these things, I can only guess/hope that I become a stronger person both mentally and spiritually, and that I may one day set an example for the lil’ Quakebabies of tomorrow...

-        George Pettis

(And now; haikus)

 

Me and the Bonnie,                                                    Samuel Fisher

Total Beatles maniacs,                                                            Crazy in like 13 ways,

listening right now.                                                    Planning to eat me.

 

William Harmon,                                                        Rachel to the Monk,

Plays music like straight gangsta,                              Quiet, but secretly pimp,

OMG his bangs!                                                          She’s always laughing.

 

Wee little Lauren,                                                       Chris is the newbie,

Red hair and Mathias clone,                                      Says so much without speaking,

Actually....NOT.                                                         Conrad impression! (lol)

 

Newbie number 2,                                                      Oriana leaves,

Named Jacob and he is black,                                                I feel a great disturbance,

Joseph not alone! (yay!)                                              somewhere in the force.

 

 

MORE HAIKUS (you know you like it)

 

Ellen and her hair,                                                      Secret, sly, Julie,

Go together like magnets,                                          Stabs in sleep with prison shank,

Or like purple things.                                                 My side is bleeding.

 

Farty old Phillip,                                                         Ivy shaved her head,

Oops! That was a cold prickly,                                   Her hair is shorter than mine,

Phillip U R hot!                                                           My fro will return.

 

Josephine asian,                                                          Joseph is crying,

Secret ninja kick to face,                                             I kissed him too hard in Wink,

Yet I love her still.                                                      I kissed his face off.

 

Forest is sexy,                                                             Ernest, BFG

He’s hot like David Bowie,                                         Slow-moving, silent and red,

That’s saying something.                                           Already sleeping.

 

Hey look it’s Casey,                                                    WTF, Jimmy?

I gave him major wedgie,                                           Why you got to be so cool?

In crotchal region.                                                      You make me look bad....

 

Lydie is dancing,                                                        Sophie plus guitar,

And many guys are watching,                                   Equals sufjan stevens songs

No one watches me.                                                   Dress looks nice on you.

 

Austin back massage,                                                 Flambouyant Conrad,

Better than eating brownies,                                      Silent Football dictator,

Maybe not that good.                                                 Sexy gyrator.

 

 

STILL HAIKUS (I’m getting tired)

 

Fearless Doctor Z,                                                       Eli’s lady friend,

Fighting antelopes in space,                                       She and he are sleeping now,

Tight leather space pants.                                          Time to steal their pie.

 

“S” to the “a rah”                                                       Brittany is so short,

She was so angry at me.                                             Don’t get me wrong, I love her,

Appease her with cake.                                              But she’s just so short.

 

Mark playing football,                                                Alise not Elise,

Styling throws it to me,                                              When I call Alise “Elise”

Hits me in the nuts.                                                    She bites my ears off.

 

Samantha baby,                                                          Christina is mad,

Dance until the sun comes up,                                  Nate is getting on her nerves,

Then we get nachos.                                                  Dormant volcano.

 

Nate is still wrestle,                                                    Me and Joe L rode,

Please god, tell him to stop it,                                                Broken bicycles down hills,

He might wrestle you...                                              More damage than good.

 

                                                Finally I’m done,

                                                I wrote a haiku for all,

                                                Why did I do that?

- George Pettis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What                                                               SAY What?

OK                                                                   Yeava

I’m gona get my doploma                              What?

I’m gona bet my doploma.                              What?

I’m gona bet my doploma.                              What?

I’m gona bet my doploma.                              What?

I’m gona bet my doploma.                              OK.

What?                                                             What the hell was that

What?                                                             Man this is boring

OK                                                                   Oh, I see how it is

I am Dexer or = to Samantha                       Yeava, Yeava, Yeava, taco

I could use a taco                                            Yeava, tacos are good.

Yea Better with jam.

Oh, we’re not supposed to talk about TACOS in worship I mean “epistles”. Jimmy will be angry and you won’t like him when he’s angry.

Good point. I think we broken the rules.

Yes, that was the wrong thing to do. What could we have done to avoid this moronic talk of tacos?

How the hell should I know

We could talk about muffins            Muffins?

I think we should end this so                        NAW...

It’s getting kinda long                                                What?

Not that                                                          OK How about this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        “What you just read was a real talk”.

 

FIN.   Slap some jam on that.

Hands covered in Earth’s dark soil,

In a safe and happy place,

This is where we toil,

Each with our own unique grace.

A loving kiss on the face

Is all anyone needs

To end a rowdy race,

Assuming no one bleeds.

Representing all the breeds,

Our temperaments could conflict.

But like water, stones and reeds,

We all just seem to click.

And with angelic voices you truly pronounce

My heart’s weight, ounce by ounce by ounce.

 

A big thanks to SAYF for being that place-that-everyone- needs for me. I think I now realize that I have to come to SAYMA. I’d be so down if I couldn’t come, you have no idea. You folks are the salt of the earth, the trees of the forest, and the days of our lives. OK, I’m done.

            Peace,

               Jimmy!

PS I less-than-three you all!

 

 

 

This is not an epistle entry for that is the word of the devil. By embracing this word you are bringing about the end of the world, rivers will flow with searing hot magma, Hillary Clinton

will become president, and NAZIS will once more ride on dinosaurs. I blame the schools.

This retreat was fun, the work was hard but it went to a good cause. Chris is one of the coolest people I’ve met, communication is a tad hard but its really fun to talk with him. Chris kicks ass. Also Alise is Great as is everyone in this room, except Nate. Nate is Hairy and Great. I believe Austin and Nate must have an epic battle of hair to see who is the master of being hairy. Then we shave them both.

PS Alise is better than or equal to Samantha.

(Alise > Samantha)

(Samantha > other things)

(Nate = Hair + little dude)

Peace Ya!

PPS DBZ kicks ass. Anyone who disagrees is a communist.

PPPS Samantha tossed our community over the rafters.

PPPPS I came to this country with my producer, my camera man and a jar of gypsy tears to protect me from Gids.

 

 

 

Brownies. Pie. Feet. Lettuce. Scratchy fingernail back scratches. Ori’s bum. Scarves. Yarn. Friends. Rakes. Dirt. Bagels. Trees. Face. Pile.

Haiku:

Service is essence

In the never ending search

For love from garbage.

I like to dedicate myself to whatever I am doing. If it’s service then I will help like a mad-man. If it’s sleep then I will sleep like a dead man. What I really love, however, is working with other dedicated people. Yesterday I had the honor of working beside a  group of some of the finest most dedicated teens I have ever met. We moved tires for a good 3-4 hours and just as I suspected my dreams last night were plagued with good year and firestone. We bonded like comrades, we laughed like brothers and finally we slept like babies (dead babies).  Being covered with mud from chest to toes, having gross “tire juice” dripping through my jeans and into my socks and then looking at my friends and realizing I am one of the cleaner ones, well, it doesn’t get much better than that.

            - Dr. Z

 

 

 

A journey passes, revealing many people who stand with the traveler, & that the traveler has accumulated quite a bit of keepsakes, friends and love. If that is true then our seniors are the travelers, the journey is young adulthood, the keepsakes are memories, the friends are us & the love is the community.

Thank you all for being here at the retreat. I wasn’t sure how it would go because I was not here for most of the planning, but let me just say that Joe, Ernest, Mark & Sig did a great job. You all are awesome.

I’m really glad that all these new...old but not used in a long time...things worked out. I cried a lot last night during & after the heart circle...not sad tears...but a mixture of love & soon-to-be-absence. You all are amazing, we are a big ball of amazingness.

            Much love,

                        Conrad

PS No back massage for me?

 

 

Knoxville is delightful. Good things happen at Knoxville. Everyone loves Knoxville. The sun, the birds, the trees, the Quakers, they all love Knoxville. Everyone loves Conrad too. If you don’t love Conrad, you either don’t know him, or have been kicked by him while he was asleep. Everyone on the planning committee, including Conrad, did an excellent job. I loved the service project; there were so many fun things to work on, an everyone who lived there was so lovely and friendly. It’s good to get off your butt sometimes and work with your hands. Scratches and cuts show character. Speaking of characters: !ORIANA!

Is amazing Most of you losers don’t get the chance to see her everyday at school, but let me tell you, I couldn’t get by without it. Imagine that every morning for an hour, you get to go up and visit the sun and tell it how you are doing. No matter how crappy you felt before then, you feel wonderful afterwards. That’s what Ori is like.

So, I love Knoxville, Conrad, Oriana, and alla you other people too. Bye By.

-        Austin

Good Jesus, Has it been four years? It feels like just yesterday Ben and I were spending every retreat watching the older SAYFers play cards. Now, well, Ben is gone and I’m just, y know, kinda here.

More to the point, I spent most of this retreat really evaluating my own place in the community. When I first came to SAYF, I was this kinda smelly, awkward dorky guy who really wasn’t that good at, well anything. Most of the more popular kids either A) made fun of me or B) ignored me.

I guess I’m still kind of awkward and dorky. I definitely still smell. And I’m not the coolest kid to ever live on this green earth (not by a long shot). But after all these years, I’ve matured into a functioning (if not all that present) member in this loving and nurturing community. I guess that’s what really matters.

I enjoyed doing a service project for the first time in what seemed like ages. It was nice to get out into the wider community for once, even if getting out into the wider community meant hauling tires for four hours L. It was a great idea to have Chris come back to the Meetinghouse as he is a good kid and a lot of fun to hang out with. Also, I’m 100% sure Patrick will make a great SAYFer some day.

Well, that about wraps things up. I guess I’ll see you all in April.

-        Ernest

PS I will bring cake in June for SAYMA. I know its been a year now, but I promised Mathias cheesecake and I don’t plan on letting him down.

PPS Joe L is the bomb.

PPPS I’m really incoherent the morning.