How Was It?

"How was it?" they ask.

The answer is trickier than I expected. It's as though I've returned from war -- but a really great war, if there is such a thing -- and I have no idea how to put the intensity of the experience into words.

How was it?

It was life-affirming. It was inspiring. It caused me to think about things I've never thought about before, and it forced me to think of old things in new ways. In the span of ten days, I made friends with people I'm quite convinced will be my friends for life. I woke up every morning before the alarm went off and felt all of the enthusiasm and excitement bubble through my veins, until I was afraid I may actually burst from over-happiness.

Over-happiness? How could I ever describe such a thing?

The experience was so profound, and so unique, and so potent, that I don't even know how to put it into words. The writer in me fails. I could never tell you just how much it meant to me and just how big my love for the experience is.

So when they ask me, "How was it?" all I can really say is this: It was amazing.

And I mean that.

And when they press me for more details, and I can't figure out a way to say the right things, well ... that's part of it, too.

There exists inside of me this uber geek who wants nothing more than to spend my days reading, writing, and talking about reading and writing with people who love reading and writing. For ten blissful days, I got to do just that. I didn't need to censor my weird, geeky thoughts. I didn't need to think through my weird, geeky actions. I was allowed to just be and I was in a place where no explanation was necessary.

Out here in the real world, it's not so simple. I don't know people out here who just get it, get me. Everyone here requires an explanation. To not have to explain myself -- not once -- over a span of ten days: It was such a gift.

So, how was it? It was so incredible, it really was -- but I just don't know if you would ever understand unless you were there.

So please, when I say, "It was amazing," accept that as a valid answer.

And the next time you find yourself in a situation where all of your wildest dreams are simultaneously coming true, I'll ask you: How was it?