Hello,

 

Since we last emailed, I finally got to see the elephants! We drove to NYC, and it was an incredible experience to hug them in the Meatpacking District. We also got up close and personal with the Statue of Liberty and experienced the vibrant chaos of Times Square for the first time. I’m not usually one to get overstimulated, but Times Square is truly unlike anywhere I’ve ever been—what a sensory overload!

 

I also attended the Hockomock Area YMCA Board of Incorporators meeting, where I learned about all the exciting happenings at the Y this summer and engaged in group discussions. One of the key topics was: "What does social isolation mean to you, and how is it affecting individuals in our community?" It was enlightening to hear about how various communities—like workplaces, K-12 schools, and beyond—are significantly impacted by social isolation. Very “on topic”—since I don’t get out much these days IRL to network with peers, I truly love being part of my Y community.

 

On top of all that, I’ve been busy with my journal-making and photography. I’m in the process of organizing my personal digital photos (starting around 2005). It’s a wild trip down memory lane as I sort through years’ worth of images, deleting what I no longer need and restructuring my collections. Oh, and I scored some 1TB drives on sale for $80 at Amazon to create backups for NAx2 (Nik & Nate)!

 

✌️, 

Melanie

PS: My digital journals are live, featuring my own nature photography! You can check them out here: link to digital journals. It’s been refreshing to blend tactile creativity with digital design templates.

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