and a Camp named Widow
“Camp Widow is a gathering for widowed people by widowed people. Over the course of three days, attendees speak candidly about death, forge connections with others over shared experiences of loss, and find ways to navigate the tricky waters of grief. Founded by Michele Neff Hernandez, who suddenly became a widow at age 35, the camp offers a way to both recognize tremendous loss, while at the same time celebrating continued life. The film follows an ensemble of campers who are weary of platitudes about grief, and speak to one another from a place of radical honesty that is by turns heartbreaking and darkly hilarious, embracing irreverent humor as a cathartic means of self-expression.” –SXSW Austin
After a brief practice run on flying to Austin, today’s the day. For reals. It is all so surreal—most anyone would want to land there in advance. 😉
My trip will take me into the orbit of three very special daughters who accompany their moms into a great adventure named Camp Widow–The Documentary.
You’ll have to wait for next week to hear the entire story.
In the meantime, I find myself musing on mothers.
Only poetry
can hold
the wonder
of Life’s
best
magic
tricks.
Mothers are mystery
even
to themselves.
Archetypal
strength
beauty
and fire.
Though
if you pin them down
they’ll deny it.
Where does it come from?
The surprise
of strength
as we stand helpless
before
life
and
death?
Wounded
themselves,
they hold space
for their children
when
life’s
calamities
strike.
The woes
that befall
our precious ones
(aren’t they always our precious ones?)
The ones
who
name us
mom,
mama,
mother,
mommy,
or
some pet name
both recognize.
Through
the requisite
growing pains
and
times
of
being lost
in
the dark
forest
of
fear
and
doubt.
Where does it come from?
The surprise
of strength
as we stand helpless
before
life
and
death?
Mothers are mystery
even
to themselves.
