Maya says:
Things that surprised and delighted me during the past two days: Waking up in the campground and seeing that an Airstream trailer had pulled in to the spot next to us. Coffee from the French press. Khalia's greeting at breakfast, and the purposeful joy of her embrace. How hard she worked not just to bring The Tiny Book Show to Corryville, but also to bring people to the event. And yet this seamlessness of the effort, and the clear, uncomplicated generosity of it. What I learned from her in the span of 4 hours. Todd and his long drive from Cleveland, and the tiny bookmarks he gave me, and the look of wonder and gratitude on his face. The quiet hum of a roomful of people making things. Travis and his easy willingness and problem-solving. The little trill in my belly when we crossed into Indiana. The concert at Ellenberger Park, and Kelly B. rushing up to greet us. Martine and Jamie and their ebullience. The clear, just-right summer evening. Thai chicken pizza and ice-cold Blue Moon. Talking into the darkness. Backyard chickens. Homegrown eggs the next morning. Holly's question, "How can I be of help to you?" Brent and his stories and his hard, hard work, and the tiny letterpress printer he showed us after the event at Tube Factory Artspace. The boys we gave our scooters to on the sidewalk. Burgers on an outside patio. The twinkle lights on the porch. That wink of moon, saying "You're here. You're really here."
Amy says:
Things that surprised and delighted me during the past two days: A hot shower in the cleanest campground bathroom I've ever seen. Lightning bugs high up in the treetops. Chicken and waffles. The incredible gift of Khalia's enthusiasm. Nandita's tiny book. The wild abandon of the three young children who were hungry for everything we had to offer. The quiet conversation between friends and strangers. The lengths that Todd went to to be a part of our day and his tiny joyful offerings. Cassandra's hug. An envelope adorned with a sprig of lavender. A letter from Renee. The quick tears that sprang to our eyes while reading it. The utter relief of a park concert and green green grass under our feet. A dancing duo. Delilah's nose in our hands. Kelly's pigtails and her hug. Martine and Jamie's voices after all these years of knowing each other through a screen, the way they instantly felt like family and their living room felt like home. Plein air paintings. The quick laughter that sprang to our lips. Australian yogurt. Holly and Matt's heroic efforts to put together a huge tiny event. Tiny snacks. Tiny stacks of dogs. Tiny boxes filled with 10000 whens. Just the right tiny bookmaking soundtrack. Tiny snippets of conversation that will surely lead to something big in the future. Ideas being exchanged. New connections and collaborations. Making. Making. Always making.