church retreat
Posted By Sherry on November 5, 2007
Last weekend we enjoyed gorgeous fall weather out to the Oregon coast during our third annual church retreat. One highlight from our first and second years that rests toward the top of my list was a serendipitous deja vu. The first year, during some free time, I moved from place to place around the camp, taking pictures of people doing what people do at retreat. I went into the Shelter and found a young boy named Gabe (son and grandson of friends) playing air hockey by himself. As I snapped a picture of him, he looked up at me and asked, “Wanna play a game?” I did, of course! Here’s that picture:
The next year, last year, I was doing the same thing, and there was Gabe at the air hockey game. I said hi and he answered, “Wanna play?” I did, of course, quite taken with the joyful repeat experience of being invited to play. And here’s the picture I took:
This year it was tempting to try for a triple, but it wouldn’t be the same, contrived. So I walked over to the Shelter with low expectations, just hoping for some good shots of retreaters to publish in the newsletter. Who was at the air hockey game? You guessed! Gabe was there playing air hockey by himself. Would he say it? Just as I moved that way, his cousin called out “Let’s go tie-dye!” And the moment was gone. For the sake of a series, I asked if he would pose for me, which he willingly did before scooting out the door toward the arts and crafts building.
Cute story. Cute pics. Thanks for sharing.