Memphis Democrat
February 18, 2008

Hi all, Geneveive here reporting on this fine February week at Dancing Rabbit. We've officially concluded our yearly retreat, which was held in two parts: we spent six days in meetings about two weeks ago, and this past week we met for three more days. This having been my first retreat, I have been very pleased at the opportunity to be here during this fascinating time of 'visioning and decisioning', if you will.

While the first part of the retreat was focused more on broader vision and values topics, these past three days were devoted to more of the nitty-gritty details of budgets, a yearly assignment of village tasks (called the YIP: Year in Preview) and checking in with some of our village committees to get a sense of where we want to direct our energies in this coming year.

After the last meeting of the last retreat day, the retreat planners surprised the group with some refreshing juice and snacks, and even distributed a couple party hats to keep it festive.

Of course, when there's a five-foot snowball in one's courtyard, it's hard not to feel festive... despite vandalous attacks on said snowball with beet water, giving the impression of a grizzly slaughter-site. But there is no slaughter; no indeed. There is only perspective: particularly when standing atop such giant immortal memorials to snowfalls past. There is also talk of a betting pool on how long the snowball will stand before it melts.

The snowball has already stood as quite a charming background for our yearly group photo which was taken right in conjunction with our Validation Day celebration. After a scrumptious potluck brunch of hash browns, cheese souffle (for the non-vegans), cinnamon rolls, juice, and tea, we passed out our Validation Day cards. It was really sweet for me to receive a handmade card with affirming messages written by friends and neighbors. With neighbors like these, who needs a Valentine, I ask you?

And by Valentine, I mean one of those big heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates. Chocolate is sweet, but music just has to be sweeter. I've always been so very grateful that there has been a piano in our common house on which I could practice. And now the arrival of the Carleton family has brought not only a wonderful piano teacher in Meadow, but since the Carletons have officially moved out of their house back in New York, they have returned with lots of useful furniture that they're graciously sharing, and they have elected to share their piano as well. It was bittersweet for me to watch the instrument I've been playing on the past couple years be replaced with the Carleton's lovely piano, but I'm so glad that its generous lenders still have a use for it and that it will continue to be loved after its departure of Dancing Rabbit.

But first, it is I who will be departing Dancing Rabbit, for I am leaving in the morning to spend a month visiting friends and family in Delaware. Dave and BJ will be leaving the same day: BJ and I will be on the same bus as she heads to New Jersey to do some visiting of her own, and Dave will be heading out for a business trip. It will be nice to see friends back in Delaware, but I'll sure miss everyone here too, and though I haven't even left yet, I'm already looking forward to returning next month to milder weather and the first signs of spring. So here's to that!

Back to list of Memphis Democrat Columns