I am currently packing for the 5 days that I will be spending at the Oregon Country Fair – working the at the General Store. I say that knowing full well that there may be more than one of them – but I’ll be working by one of the music stages and will be camping with my team right behind the booth. I went out yesterday to get a view of the land and am sure I just got a small glimpse of the entire footprint. This will be the first time camping with others since Mel’s passing, but I already know at least one person there – and that’s all I really need.

A few weeks ago I made a list of things that I would need and ran it by a friend to make sure I had everything I think I could need. I have spent the evening packing the clothes and toiletries in the rucksack, and the rest of the stuff in the wagon. I am told it will be a long jaunt from parking (or drop-off) to where I’ll be camping. But I have tried to think through the daily needs step by step, something that Mel helped me with (by sometimes over packing) to be sure and include as much as possible in smaller bags. I appreciate her preparedness even though I was typically the one schlepping the bags around for her.

I am going from never have gone in the 29 years I’ve lived in Eugene, to spending 5 days camping onsite as staff. I am not sure what this weekend will bring for me but I am jumping into the foray of a new experience trusting in the man souls before me who were changed forever by the experience. Thank you to everyone who has helped me prepare.