Many Thanks

Voltaire said:
"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well."

Mille fois merci to Joni Holling for her gentle spirit and her support and involvement as part of the planning/facilitation team. She listened to so many of my ideas and sprinkled hers in, too. Planning for the retreat brought Joni from California to North Carolina for the first time; and now she’s signing up to be a Tarheel.

Many, many thanks to Shannon Pope, in Raleigh, North Carolina, for his endless hours, early morning and late nights, working with me to create the Filling In The Blanks retreat website. His technical talent and sense of humor are a blessing.

Merci beaucoup to Anne-Emmanuelle Grossi, Cultural Services of the French Embassy to the US – Education Attache’, whom I’ve never met in person. My good fortune has been meeting her, via email, through a mutual acquaintance in Raleigh, North Carolina. Anne has been helpful in providing feedback as I was selecting the retreat location in Corsica. Her family has a home in the village of Piana and she says, “Anita, I am glad you made your decision about the retreat location being in Piana. I don’t know many places that are more breath-taking and peaceful as the views of the Golfe de-Porto from Piana. But, then again, I might be a bit biased!”

Also, a special thanks to Anne’s Dad, who on our behalf without asking him, made a trip to the Hotel Les Roches Rouges to chat with the owner about our upcoming retreat. Maybe we’ll meet him while we are there.

Lucia Batchelder, a special woman, who was instrumental in planning the third day of the retreat and who had planned to be with us, as a yoga instructor, will be with us in spirit. Life calls her in another direction during October. Thank you, Lucia, for your participation and for helping to bring Donna Norfolk on board.

Anita K. Bess – Bess & Associates, Cary, North Carolina