Every time they take the stage I appreciate where they were yesterday, how they are today and what might be possible for tomorrow. I see potential, nerves, hard work, frustration, delight. I see Penny pushing herself in her solo and owning that stage, alone. I see Oliver overcome what were paralyzing nerves nine months ago to have fun and let his personality come through in his performance. I see their release of endorphins as they come off the stage, chatting with their friends, and giving me the biggest hugs. I see their bonds with their teammates as they recall every moment of the routine and I see them doing something that is hard but giving them so much joy and fulfillment. I see them making lifelong memories.

What does a 17 year old wish for when more years lie ahead than they can comprehend? When potential and opportunity are things they hear daily that they have to maximize. When they are told to dream big, seize the day and anything is possible. How does a 17 year old hold all these ideas and ideals, hold their dreams and those of their parents and plan for a future that is seemingly limitless? What does a 17 year old wish for when every wish counts? 
DanceMakers always kicks off our competition season, the first convention for the team. This year it was also Oliver’s first convention. Each of my children came into this weekend with different levels of nerves and expectations, Oliver simply wanting to survive it, Penny wanting growth and Lucas hoping he and the team could achieve beyond last year.
It calls to me
People make a place. The people that stay and the people that come and go. People leave a mark on the spaces and on each other. Bocas Town, at the tip of Isla Colon, will be viewed by some as rustic and some as touristy, by some as leisure and some as work, by some as destination and some as home. Wherever we lay our heads, whether for one night or many, we take from it what we will. People make the place and make of the place and both experiences deserve appreciation.
Isla Zapatilla are actually two small islands that are part of the Bastimentos National Marine Park and are completely undeveloped. Small in size, they can be explored and circumnavigated in just a half hour. We arrived first and enjoyed the beautiful island to ourselves before the boatloads of tourists arrived. 