About A Girl Named Sue

Yesterday, I spent the entire day with one of my best friends in the whole world, Carly Souza in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It's good to be home on the East Coast for the end of the summer, I LOVE Portsmouth. We went out to eat at Flat Bread Pizzeria followed by the last "Stranger Than Fiction" Improv comedy show of the season. We walked by Prescott Park, we drank wine, ate lots of white bean and basil hummus that Carl made and we even found time to sit on the front lawn to play some of our favorite songs...

Home Grown

I've always loved Tiger Lilies. Tall. Vibrant. Orange. Their roots withstand. I await their blossom every Spring. As the green leaves emerge, then long shoots sprout from within, they shrug their shoulders as if always ready for a hug and they lean in a little to share their love. They confidently tower in the sunlight and greet each morning with determination in their eyes. I look forward to their life each year as they grow stronger.

my lilies

This past year, I have grown stronger too. I have traveled through 30 US states, lived in a tent for 6 weeks in the desert, mentored 1,800 fifth and sixth graders, I gained confidence by leading volunteers, I helped restore a historic building, create a community garden, and ran a wood chipper! Even with all that participation, I reflected, prepared and most importantly learned. I learned how to be positive and I learned how to be inspirational.

Being able to travel, work with several non-profits, learn in-depth about diverse cultures, be a part of a community that is helping a community all while never being able to escape your teammates was life changing. AmeriCorps NCCC was a gift.

So I finish one adventure, I'm currently immersed in "home-life," stepping up to the plate of my next bold move, Habitat for Humanity in Portland, Oregon and I can't help but imagine my own future roots. I actually laid in bed last night, staring at a map of the US on my iPhone and narrowed down the only 10 states I can see myself settled in. I read the other day, "Each moment, we die to the present so the future can unfold." And with my future resting on my present, I need to grab these current moments and hold on tight.

ten states: California, Oregon, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, Pennsyvania, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island

Right now, I'm back in a familiar place but things are different and I'm slowly realizing home is where love grows. Hell, who am I kidding, love is everywhere! Home is where whomever you consider your family is and I love my family. I love planning and throwing summer parties that go off without a ounce of trouble and I even love cleaning out my parents basement with my dad in preparation for our 2012 Yard Sale Extravaganza at the house!

Tiger Lilies came with my parents house. Mom always hated them. They were rooted deep all around the front stoop and my father would tell me how committed these plants were. As if he was intimidated, he told me that when the time came that Mom wanted them gone, we would have to chop them down, hack the roots to bits, dig deep down beyond the plant and remove all the dirt… or else they would come back! Then there is the problem of, where do we put what we dug up because they'll relocate!

My roots are in New England, though I feel a pull to be everywhere all at once. Where can I set my roots? At least I've got a list of ten places now. I need a resilient system like the lilies, reroot, remove, relocate, rebirth.

Until the time came when Mom wanted the lilies gone, I never believed my Dad when he told me that they could relocate. How could something that was torn from it's roots be relocated?

This year, getting home in late July, just in time for the Summer Olympics, I quickly realized the flowers on my Tiger Lilies had come and gone. Their stems were but hollow, dried reeds ready to be yanked. Long, green, leggy leaves relaxed wilted yet outstretched on the bark mulch along the property line.

I remembered Dad and little me, standing in front of deep holes in the Earth, shovels in our hands, sweat in our eyes, looking at the dug up, tangled clumps we had thrown along the property line.

It's been a while and lots of improvements have been made in the yard over the years but the plants still thrive, several feet away but leaning toward the spot they use to reside along the front stoop.

This year, olympian Oscar Piscatorius inspired me more than my old lady lilies were able during my absence but after some time of transition, they will arise with renewed sense next year. We all will. The lilies, myself, Oscar. You will too. We always do.

Oscar Piscatorius

Back to SoCal

Camp de Benneville Pines sits high in the San Bernardino Mountains in Los Angeles County at 6,800 feet above sea level and rests upon 17 acres of land. The area is home to the elusive and endangered Spotted Owl and also the Barton Flat cilantro-looking plant that only grows wildly and locally.

The camp retrieved it's name from George de Benneville in 1961. Today, it is a Unitarian Church camp of Christian reformation. Many of the campers at Camp de Benneville are Boy Scout groups from California, Nevada and Arizona.

The buildings on the property are originally from old Military Bases. The cabins house campers throughout the season and other buildings provide space for workshop camps like Camp Bravo Those kids sure are entertaining, it's like watching an episode of Glee at every meal!

Our main goal at Camp de Benneville was to provide fuel reduction to prevent forest fires. The hot temperatures and dry climate in Southern California make for perfect conditions for fierce flames that could destroy the land and facilities. Removing fallen debris reduces the chances of natural disasters. Therefore keeping the camp accident-free and running smoothly for the many camp groups and boy scouts who frequent the area each year.

One of the camp's future goals is to obtain a secondary water tank and connect a fire-hose line from the recreation pool in case of natural disaster.

Take a moment to watch this video, laugh your ass off and get a taste of what being in the Mountains for a month is like! The team was at a YMCA camp before Lindsey and myself returned from Portland but it looks like the team did just fine without us...

While performing maintenance tasks that at times may seemed mundane, we were able to utilize skills we learned from our previous projects. We cleaned some of the facilities, we raked, removed sticks and pine needles, mulched collected debris to make wood chips and we spread the chips over the dirt roads of the camp. By keeping the camp organized and free of loose dirt in the air kicked up by cars, we improved health conditions around the grounds for the residing and visiting communities of the camp. The effects of the service we provided are long-term.

During our time in Angeles Oaks, California, my team, Green 7 lived and also served at Camp Tahquitz We focused on infrastructure improvement by repainting the ranger station, garage and handicapped ramp leading into the public lodge where we lived.

I have utilized my last four weeks of service in AmeriCorps NCCC by reflecting and preparing for what is to come. I have grown this year by learning, living, leading and serving with 10 other individuals who after graduation, I will miss greatly and cherish forever.

Gold 1000

Gold 1000 had a lot of picture perfect memories for being together only for a month. Each person selected for the team was motivated and willing to do whatever it took to get things done for the project. Fears were casted aside as we harnessed up to climb the roof. Frustrations were hidden when we didn't have the correct power tools to build garden boxes. But Gold 1000 never gave up and was rewarded in the end. Here is the celebration video I put together to show our time at Eagle Lake and in South East Portland...