Post workshop musings...

Graduation cake

It's been three days since the workshop ended, and I'm late with the blog post. My dad and I just had new carpet put in the living room, and I had to get all of the lamps, candles, dvds, and various loose items scattered all over the living room and put them in the dining room. The carpet guys came this morning and blitzed their way through the installation, upending couches and moving buffets and end tables as if they were toothpicks instead of heavy furniture. Now the carpet is in and I get to put all of those items back.

It's not unlike the workshop experience. Life is full of lots of myriad things - commitments, family, schedule, work, play. Then you go to a workshop and if you are lucky, it's an intense, immersive experience, and you try to absorb every second, every bit of information. Then you go back home to your life. And you find that some things don't seem to fit or to look right any more. 

Lisa Cron jump-started the week with five classes in less than 48  hours. As I write that I have to check myself to see if that's really true, and it is. Monday night, Tuesday morning & evening, Wednesday morning & afternoon. Then she met with every student one-on-one Tuesday afternoon. She poured herself into the teaching with extraordinary generosity, and the students responded with commitment and enthusiasm.

For me, it was a flashback to my first workshop with Gary, who taught with the same generosity. It's the spirit of that generosity that for me, is the most important legacy of this workshop. And it was continued with Caitlin McDonald's visit Thursday afternoon. She talked with the group, then she too, met with every student and all of the staff as well. During my time with her she had some great suggestions for things we could try in future workshops if we have a bit more time.

The final three-and-a-half days were spent in classes, writing, and one-on-ones. The work never really let up, because the dedication of the students never ended. It was inspiring, exhausting, and when Jason and I sat on our stools at Primanti's Brothers in Pittsburgh, eating our sandwiches that came with coleslaw and fries in the sandwich, it felt pretty darn good.

I  won't be posting a new blog on Tuesday, Oct 31, since I was so late posting this one. Have a happy Halloween!

Take care,

Doc

Lisa Cron, teaching

Caitlin McDonald and Gail Provost Stockwell (co-founder of WRW)

Tired, and still talking...