last call for aha moments in eugene
Eugene, Eugene, why did we enjoy you so much? Your location is superb (in between the coast, mountains and desert), your weather is far from demanding and your residents are always smiling. There is such a peace in the community and the people we met were genuinely happy. We were set up downtown and never left a five block radius but what we saw, we enjoyed. I found a great thrift store across from the 5th Street Market (our filming location), and loaded up with all the remaining things I’ve been meaning to collect (vintage maps, anyone?).
Okay, now to some of the sad stuff: This was our last tour stop. Twenty-five of twenty-five. The final installment. It’s a strange sensation to work hard towards something definite–a finish line–and then finally reach it. I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to pack up for the last time. I wanted to go back a month and relive the moments playing frisbee in the street in Dayton or walking across the bridge in Jacksonville. But as many people who come in to record their aha moments discover, it’s not about the destination but about the journey getting there.
I will cut off here before I get too sappy (don’t worry, that post will come later this week), but before I do I’d love to highlight a few of the people we saw in Eugene.
Meet Haralee:
When breast cancer threw me into menopause with drenching night sweats and I couldn’t find any wicking and comfortable clothes for sleeping, I said Aha and started my own company! I now make cool garments for hot women at Haralee.com and sell a better night sleep for women like me.
Meet Dan:
My aha moment came in 1991 while looking at my late father’s logbook. Louie “Papa Louie” Pimentel had 25.1 hours logged when he was hit with a massive stroke that year and passed away suddenly. He had yet to solo, but I remember him telling me how happy he was to finally be starting flight training. I picked up where he left off and began flight training and flying planes.
Meet Yona:
I suffered a serious brain injury not long ago. I lost all of my basic functioning and had to relearn how to speak and walk. I have always been an artist and while I was in recovery I discovered some old paintings I had made before my injury. I realized that the pieces I had been painting foretold what was going to happen to my brain! That moment made me understand the complexity of the human brain and the resilience of the human spirit.
