Summer 1980, somewhere near Los Angeles, Camp Whittle…

It was a glorious time to be alive, to be 10 years old, to be popular and cute.

Laurel did not think much of sleeping in cabins, or bugs or hiking, but that summer, Laurel discovered the fine art of lanyard weaving.  Her lanyard key chains exemplified both the highest quality of craftsmanship, as well as an innovative sense of design.  Her most ambitious key chain was 36 strands, 3 inches wide, and 12 inches long.  Her peers marveled with envy at the tautness of her knots.  Her counselors, who were all 16 and beautiful, were inspired by her unique color schemes.  She enjoyed the praise…

These days, Laurel avoids cabins at all costs, and instead sleeps in a warm dollhouse in Oakland, California.  She has parlayed her dexterity and design sense into a potentially lucrative career as an artist. She looks back with fondness at her formidable years as a master lanyard weaver, and contemplates time and space, and how life comes full circle round.  At night, snuggled up in bed with a sketchbook, drawing polka dots, with Joni crooning in the background, Laurel is reminded of the warmth generated by the camp fire, girls locked arm in arm rocking side to side, singing round, and round, and round, in the circle game…