A Summer I'll Never Forget

As hard as it is to admit, the Celebration Iowa 2004 tour is over. I am now back at home in Davenport thinking about how amazing my summer was and how I can't wait for next year.

I can't imagine my summer or my life without the program, and will never forget the fabulous support I've gotten from my family, friends and this community. From all my sponsors who helped me raise the funds required to be involved, to the people who read this column, the experience wouldn't have been the same without your help.

After traveling all over Iowa this summer I've realized how incredibly hospitable the people of this state are. Among all the host families and contacts that took care of us, there was not one place where I did not feel welcome. From the Karrs of Vinton, who hosted the entire cast not once, but twice; to the Orthmans in Hartley, who took us to the local street dance celebration; to the host parents in Jesup who made chicken soup for our tour coordinator when she got sick; everyone was incredible. One of my awesome host moms actually caught up with the tour bus to bring me the laundry I'd forgotten at her house. That out-pouring of kindness is what keeps this program alive from year to year.

We sang an acapella ballad in our first set called "For All We Know". At camp when we started working on the song, we studied all the phrases and words in order to sing it musically. As we started on tour everyone went on autopilot and focused on getting enough breath to sing the song after finishing up a long dance break. Later, on the very last leg of the tour, I started really listening to the lyrics again and had a new understanding of them. "For all we know we may never meet again, before you go make this moment sweet again. We won't say goodnight until the last minute. For all we know this may only be a dream, we come and go like a ripple on a stream."

Through the program this summer I have made 44 amazing friendships that I will never forget. Celebration Iowa has put me in contact not only with incredibly talented, mature and smart people, but people that care. Every single person I've met along the way means something to me and has helped me grow in some small way. Thank you so much for letting me share the tour with you this summer. I hope it has encouraged you all to remember a special experience in your life and think about how much it touched you, as well as how you've touched others.