This is exactly what happened to Odia, next in line to Candace, the oldest in the family. Odia shared how it wasn't till she was 19 years of age that she realized this error in her perception of a 13 year old girls vulnerability, hero or not!
There were just the right people in her artist talk audience, everyone unique and special for this occasion. There were past friends from both her high-school and U of M Fine Art Classes. Others continued to arrive. Interestingly, later folk were also coming in from events winding down in other parts of the building.
Personally I was struck by how Odia set herself up to speak from behind the table/alter of bowels representing the pain and suffering of others. What a contrast and message of healing she communicated...just by sitting there and speaking from this position in the room. It would not have mattered what she said for just the tone of her voice, her inflections, her body language, the giggles and humor all communicated an overall message of peace, contentment, emotional health, confidence, courage and forgiveness.
Then there were the words which she spoke, meshing so well with the whole image. What a message of the power of faith, family and surrender to a wonderful loving power beyond herself.
Thank you Odia for your presentation which expressed on so many levels what we can or could all become.