After early summer’s two trips, mid-summer also brought two trips. The first was a couple of speaking engagements at a renowned adoption camp (RNO/Lake Tahoe), and the second was in my husband’s hometown (Boston).
Keynote in Tahoe
The annual PACT Camp took place the week of our anniversary, so my husband came with me to Reno/Tahoe for a working getaway.
I cannot say enough good things about this camp, held at the beautiful alpine Granlibakken resort. I was a bit of an outsider in that I am not part of a transracial family. But everyone at camp, from the young campers to their parents to the staff to Director Beth Hall made me feel incredibly welcome and included. Walking the talk, you might say, cultivating a culture that expresses the opposite of Othering.
On the 4th of July I presented a keynote (The Open-Hearted Way to Adoption) and a workshop (Living Open Adoption: Practical Guidance for Challenging Situations). The response to these got me more than a little high — the kind that’s legal in all states.
PACT Camp West at Lake Tahoe 
Meals with PACT campers (oh, no! a middle-aged woman in a selfie!) 
PACT mementos 
Beautiful Lake Tahoe 
Anniversary ride along Truckee River 
Enchanting Granlibakken resort
Roger and I got to enjoy the gifts of Tahoe and environs with some hiking and biking. A gratitude-filled shout-out to my mom and dad for taking over our teenagers while we were gone.
Check out PACT for resources and events for adoptive families. And if you’re a transracial adoptive family, keep an eye out for opening day registrations for 2020’s PACT Camps West and East. I’m told there is always a waiting list because PACT IS THAT GOOD.
BOS for Family
It had been 3 years since we’d been to Beantown to visit Roger’s family. I may be a landlubber, but my kids are beach babies at heart. The four of us got to hang out on watercraft, cruising ponds (Washakum) and capes (Ann). My husband got to return to his people and his roots.
I’d like to mention here that I adore my sister-, father-, cousins-, and friends-in-law. I’d choose them if I hadn’t married in to them.
Son averts middle-aged selfie at father’s alma mater 
Captain Reed: Boston Harbor to Cape Ann 
After the cruise, a meal in Gloucester. 
My family on the lake (approved)
We said our goodbyes one night and took a 6 am flight home the next morning. Our dog Dexter greeted us with the zoomies, and my parents (Dexter’s dogsitter) had a yummy breakfast ready for the weary travelers.
Now it’s late summer and we’ve been back in school for 2 weeks!
(Still an abomination, but less so. Old habits die hard, Son.)
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This post is part of #MicroblogMondays. Whazzat? A post that’s not too long. Head to Stirrup Queens to join the fun.
Lori Holden, mom of a young adult daughter and a young adult son, writes from Denver. She was honored as an Angel in Adoption® by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
Her first book, The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole, makes a thoughtful anytime gift for the adoptive families in your life. Her second book, Standing Room Only: How to Be THAT Yoga Teacher is now available in paperback, and her third book, Adoption Unfiltered, is now available through your favorite bookseller!
Find Lori’s books on her Amazon Author page and catch episodes of Adoption: The Long View wherever you get your podcasts.
3 Responses
Wow, you’ve had a great summer of trips. I’m so glad you’re getting opportunities to share your open adoption wisdom – both for you, and for the recipients.
And the trip back to I-had-to-look-it-up Beantown looked like lots of fun too. Thanks for sharing your photos!
Those sound like some fantastic trips too! What a great summer… Are you staying home for a while now?
My sister’s pup gets the zoomies – unfortunately, it’s usually at 10pm when no one really feels like playing with him.
Looks like you had fun! Well deserved! 🙂