“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”.

– Anais Nin

This year Galentine’s Day was a virtual celebration. Despite the cold weather, and the physical distance between attendees it was an event filled with warmth, laughter, and some epic 1920s garb! (Feathers, sequins, hats galore)! It was a fun evening celebrating with women from several towns throughout the Upper Valley. Friends both new and old were made sharing poems, stories and photos. When asked, “If you could spend lunch with any woman throughout history, who would it be and why?” the range of answers was fun to hear: from Mother Theresa, Joan of Arc, Janis Joplin, Michelle Obama to our own friends and family, it was evident the world, and our Zoom screens are filled with empowering women!

We were awed by a beautiful recitation of E.E. Cummings’ “i thank You God for most this amazing” (Read the poem below.) We enjoyed our very own video of Helen Reddy’s I am Woman, sung by several gals and accompanied by images of important women in our own lives, thanks to our kind and talented friend, Thomas Chapin.

To Peyton Place Restaurant: Thank you for your generous and continued support of Galentine’s Day! Four lucky ladies are looking forward to your fine cuisine.

Most of all, thank you to all who attended, who shared so openly, and who came ready to focus on self-love. It was a wonderful and empowering way to spend Galentine’s Day! I look forward to continuing these new friendships as we move forward in the “Roarin’ 2020s!”

Shelby Wood
Manager of Program Development
CommunityCare of Lyme
Shelby@cclyme.org
802-468-7776

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

– E.E. Cummings