What a crazy ride for the month of July! I’m remembering our second day at the Hudson Valley Writing Project’s Summer Institute as Tara Smith joined me early on that Tuesday morning to travel up the New Paltz and get a hands-on experience and just yesterday she began her annual TC SI. She is one dedicated teacher learner/writer.
And now we are into August and tomorrow I turn 64…what? Let me say that again…64! No way 🙂 My best gift will be knowing that Tuvia is healthy and ready to spend more great time with me. Right now he’s probably up waiting for a morning call from me in Englewood Hospital, all prepped for a colonoscopy. We have been here before and I’m hoping for the same results, a clean bill of health so we can continue spending quality time together.
Fingers crossed and a few prayers might help.
Funny how fast we move. Just last Tuesday I was up and getting ready for the last Tuesday at our SI. I didn’t even have the digital piece below on my mind, but it was soon clear to me that my plan with Christine to create a taste of our documentary project: The Most Excellent Educational Adventures of Bonnie and Christine in Finland, was just not going to happen in time for our celebratory Thursday. An alternative started perking sometime that day as Christine and I worked out a skeleton for a piece that would acknowledge the group. We were going to work on it together but, no that didn’t happen either. Late on Tuesday night I worked up a revision and as quietly as I could, once Tuvia was snoozing I created the voice over smoothly, so that I still got to sleep for our last full day. But Wednesday was a very long day with the group, and all I wanted to do was get back to my piece- lay the pictures out and start playing, mixing all the pieces together.
We hosted a dinner for our leadership team and debriefed the SI experience. But soon we were off. I was spending the night at Christine’s and with whatever energy I still had left I worked from 9-1am, slept a few hours and woke up to finish the piece and get it prepped for You Tube with an hour left before the group arrived for our last day together. It was another great creative ride.
Here it is:
What do you think?
PS. It’s good to be back on a SOLT 🙂 
Digital Bonnie 
Happy Birthday! You have the energy of a twenty-something! August 7th is my 31st anniversary!
I’m proud to share my day with you Margaret 🙂 Enjoy your celebration!
Wow! Thanks for sharing this with us. I wish I could have been in one of those chairs at your summer institute!
Bravo! What a rich, exhilarating month you all had. Being part of this online community is wonderful, but nothing can create camaraderie like time spent together in purposeful work. Fingers crossed for a good report today, and wishing you the happiest of birthdays!
Catherine
All good Catherine. Thanks so much for your great thoughts.
Bonnie
Happy Birthday…
Happy Birthday…great to relive the institute through your post!
Great to have your voice with us!
I have been thinking about Tuvia (and you) today. How did everything go?
All good. He should be going home tomorrow and able to celebrate my birthday with me. 🙂
I love your spirit and your big heart Bonnie. This institute sounds world class and what was amazing were the smiles throughout your digital story. I am also praying for Tuvia. xo
Thanks Nanc It was a great one and thanks for asking about Tuvia- all good.
Bonnie
What a great way to spotlight each person in the institute and the talents they brought to the group. Have a joyous birthday tomorrow and many more years of birthdays with Tuvia.
It was a marathon but what inspiration 🙂 I’m hoping for that as well. Tomorrow should be a great quiet one but wonderful. Tuvia feels that every day is my birthday…well most days.
It is amazing how fast time flies. I’m glad you’re enjoying each moment.
Exactly 🙂
Wonderful to see the celebration of each person at your institute Bonnie. I know I would love to do something like that-looks so great! I hope you’re proud of the work you’re doing for these groups. And, glad to hear (from the comments) that Tuvia is doing fine!
It was really an amazing month, Linda. We have a family vacation planned for early September. Looks like it will happen. I’m hoping to take Tuvia home this morning.
Hope this was a great birthday! And my prayers will be with Tuvia and with you. This is such a good reflection of an amazing time. Thanks for sharing!