A Vision Made Reality

I am back after my two month summer break and with so much to share. Friends and family following me on Instagram and Facebook had a near daily photo-essay to keep them informed of the goings-on. But for my blog followers that do not participate in social media, I will endeavor to share a slice of what this summer came to be.

I have to say–it exceeded my hopes in every way and it was difficullt to pack up and leave Dalyan on August 10. But I did, and I am back in Izmir and back to work. 

It is a bit surprising when I look back at last fall. On September 15th of 2020 I created a Facebook Group called “2021 Soul Sister Summer Retreat.” My initial post into the group included the following:

“Hey friends–in my experience HALF the fun of any trip or vacation is in the planning and anticipation of it. I have created this group for those women invited to the 2021 Soul Sister Summer Retreat so that we can share in the FUN with one another.

You are an assorted group of women whom I consider “soul sisters”–genuine, authentic, REAL women that were there for me (once, and then forever so), and with whom I feel I can pick up just where we left of–no matter time, distance, or life interferences along this crooked road we know as Life. Bottom line–I support you to chase your bliss, you support me in chasing mine!

I KNOW that as of now no one is committed with tickets in hand. I understand the state of the world. No matter—Ziggy and I will be in Dalyan for one month (maybe 5 weeks!) and we can’t wait to host you!”

My friend Ginger and I had only just returned from our two week summer vacation the month before I created that group. If you missed my post about LAST summer’s “killer vacay” then feel free to review it. 

I had traveled back to Dalyan the first weekend of September 2020 to see Servet (my summer fling turned thing), and to scope out rental options for summer of 2021. It seemed like a lark of an idea…and yet, I felt strongly that I wanted to stay IN Turkey for the summer, and I wanted to invite people to COME and see and experience Dalyan. We all needed something to look forward, something to shoot for. COVID had made life so tenuous and tedious. That line from the film “Field of Dreams” came to mind: “If you build it, they will come.” And so I gave it my best shot. 

That weekend last September when I traveled to Dalyan for what was just my second visit,  I met a lovely British couple by happenstance. We became friends over the ensuing weeks and as they were unable to travel to Turkey this summer, they kindly rented me their villa. The rest is a history I will try to share with you in the coming weeks–but I rented a car, packed up Zigzag, and drove down to Dalyan on July 6th. The next five weeks became what I now refer to as, “the summer of a lifetime.”

While I did not receive as many guests as I had originally dreamed of, the summer unraveled in perfect form and everything was just as it should have been. I had roughly six stages across the five weeks and each and every one of them offered gifts of precious time with people I appreciate, and all of it was spent in a place that holds a piece of my soul and which has become a “home,” of sorts, to me. 

In the coming weeks I have a few reflective posts in which I will share with you snapshots of the fun that was had, the joys shared, and the beauty experienced. Consider this an introduction and please return!