No, I didn’t die, but I am sort of doing an autopsy of my experience here.
The pictures included here are from the camera of my dear friend Cristy as well as some random thoughts.
I am sure my mug is on many cameras and phones of others, more so than mine.
It takes at least a week for me to make sure I walk into the appropriate public restroom.
I am always sick as a dog for a while after these conferences.
Erie about killed me, Keystone left me sniffly and hoarse for quite a while.
The event is very bittersweet. While there, it is mostly surreal, an escape, friends all around, many more to be made, limited only by the hours in the day.
Then we all return from Oz, back to Kansas. There is an adjustment period. It’s like when you go into space, splash down and then need time to readjust to the Earth’s gravity. This was written only two days after getting back home and I am still getting used to the atmosphere on your planet.
I still hate the run up and all the packing, the agonizing drive and the unpacking. I am very fortunate to be able to get back home by midmorning Sunday. I cannot image a day long return home.
Someone wiser than I said this, Keystone is like a school reunion. It absolutely is. At a reunion, you are all bound by common experiences over usually four years. Here we are all bound by “this”, microwaved. You are immediately a sister, my blood forever.
Keystone 2025 is now in the Kandi’s Land books.
You may have noticed an increased frequency of my adventure posts after a few months of a dry spell. That has been a confluence of events with Keystone and The Cleveland International Film Festival basically back-to-back. I have been making more of an effort to get out as well. The volume of events will now slow down (although you have yet to see many of them yet), as I continue down life’s twists and turns and bumps in the road. Maybe one day I will figure this all out…
4 Responses
Great pics Kandi! Such a good time for all of us. FYI I have been having the same issue with using the proper rest room – NJ law states it is legal to use the restroom of the gender you are presenting, so I’ve got to watch it! And what was the issue with the hoarseness – I had that for two days after also, altho I felt fine. Neither of those things diminish the “Keystone Afterglow” however!
I’m still coming off that high!
I experience the same sentiment after every conference, Kandi; except for it does take me a day to get back home. Hoarseness is always an issue as are hurting feet and, this year, nursing a skinned knee. The memories are unforgettable as are the friendships built. Oh, and in case we forget, there are photos, hundreds or thousands of photos to refresh our memories of a few days that seem to fly by, but are filled with enjoyment, camaraderie and lots of fun! Thank you, again, for making my Keystone 2025 so special!
Until the next time…❤️