when she needed to. Lilac’s recent brain surgery left the right side of her body short of the immediate controls. For Lilac this onslaught of her headache ripped her from her first dream job in New York City, post college and placed her in a hospital for five weeks. Since than she has been trying to get back to life and laughed when she realized in the story she was telling me that she only saw her apartment in New York City a couple of times before never returning. Life has changed for Lilac now and getting back to something of a normalcy is her goal. I have a feeling she will go far beyond that. For “Rainer” Cancer attacked her at 15 and ended her skating career as well as slowing almost everything in her life down. She fought it and went on to graduate from John Hopkins University and now is part of this FD camp as a volunteer and medical staff. It was no surprise that she had overwhelming patience helping every participant out when needed but yet when put on a difficult climb tore her perfectly manicured fingers apart to clear the last pitch. I sat roped into the cliff her above snapping pictures, while from the floor of the small canyon each participant pushed one another verbally as they ascended walls all around. Or would be off sitting with one another talking it through than turning to a guide saying give me some guidance I want to try again.
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With each accomplishment self-esteem was built. With each hug, strength was exchanged, with each story around the campfire bonds were created and with each day healing happened. I’m still not sure what the meaning of life is. And the path I have been on has been more confusing than most. But one thing is for sure. I love the new catch phrase from First Descents put out there this year: “OUT LIVING IT”!