What has been lost in a year that much has also been gained?  That’s a question we asked when thinking more about our first in-person, outside, masked cluster event with APIA au pairs.  Our answer was our personal relationships suffered.  Sure, it is great to see au pairs on video – in zoom rooms, in WhatsApp video chats, but nothing beats in-person, get to know you-s.  In light of that, we kept our first event SAFE, but also as powerful as it could be and that power comes in connection.  We set up blankets outside in a park – 3 feet apart – and went from one to the next to chat with each other like we have in the past on the Mt Rainier bus trip.  A speed dating of sorts.  And it was an energy boost and made this CC tear up…waiting made meeting up all the sweeter….