The Farm!!!

(Written Yesterday, but no internet!!!)

Today was the first and main day of the Farm Sanctuary Former Intern Retreat.  Apparently, they have one of these every five years, so now I have something to look forward to in five years!  I forgot how incredibly beautiful it is up here.  It’s a really unique landscape--low mountains COVERED in trees.  Looks like broccoli.  Random lakes and rivers.  And the most amazing gorge in the history of gorges.  You could even say it’s GORGE-ous.  And I have.  Often.

The retreat was great for a lot of reasons.  I really wish some of my fellow July 2009 interns could have made it.  It was really nice to see people reuniting, and I would have loved to reunite with some people!  I’m really glad Rachel was able to come to the farm with me because so far, I haven’t gotten to share the farm with anyone I know, outside of the farm.  

Here are some things:

1. The animals are still amazing.  Goats and sheep are still incredibly sweet and affectionate.  There are baby goats who act just like puppies.  
2. Being at the farm felt like being home.  If home was a place where there were about fifty people who were very strange and socially awkward.
3. I feel empowered to make a change for farm animals.  Not that I didn’t before, but sometimes you get caught up in your own life and forget that it’s not all that hard to put in some time and effort for animal rights!  I think I should leaflet.  
4. I went to the gorge, as I previously mentioned, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Dylan, who passed away last year.  I remember standing behind that waterfall with Dylan.  Dylan, who was a magnet, whether he wanted to be or not.  Dylan, who was mysterious, but still made you feel like he really “got” you.  Dylan, who, between intense, enigmatic, profound words and thoughts could be immensely silly and fun and carefree.  Dylan’s dance moves.  Dylan’s smoothies.  Dylan’s stream of consciousness surrealist games’ poetry.  Dylan’s warmth and lack of judgment.  We all loved him and were confused by him and wanted his friendship and feared his depth.  Dylan, who I miss.
5. To Lauren and Jackie and LeoLin and Dawn: I miss you!  Being on the farm has brought back so many wonderful memories of friendship and sadness and growth and fun.  I wish you could have been here.
6. Everything is put into perspective.  Being away from SLO for awhile has helped me to let go of some unwanted...stuff.  I feel a lot of things, but primarily, I feel free.  I feel stronger.  I feel good.  I remember who I am and what I am and what I believe and what I want and mostly, that I am a person who has some sort of value and identity and lust for life.

Today (as in right now, as in when I actually do have internet):

I got to spend some more time on the farm this afternoon, getting all licked and exfoliated by a calf tongue.  One that is attached to a calf.  Cause I realize that sounds like gross meat or something.

Here are some things:

1. Some vegan activists really know how to be weird and turn off the non-vegans (and vegans)...what a shame for the movement.

2. There is a really gigantic and beautiful waterfall/gorge near Ithaca at Robert H. Treman State Park.  I think waterfalls and gorges might be my favorite very pretty thing in nature.

3. I wrote a memory page in the Intern Memory book for Dylan today.

4. Sesame Nuggets.

5. No internet SUCKS.  I'm sitting in a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot receiving WiFi right now.