'Ogichi Perfect' Brings Laughter, Friendship

By Kathy Dix

Ogichi perfect shows up, gets things done, multitasks. It’s quite an impressive force. Where perfect paralyzes, Ogichi perfect energizes.

It’s the force that says yes and, to the best of one’s on-the-spot, in-the-moment-ability, gets the job done. It’s the doing with laughter and teamwork and learning and failing and being “good enough.”

A camper helps construct a kayak in boatbuilding class. (Liz Hattemer)

It’s getting up and telling a story without memorizing it and getting anxious about every word. It’s clapping encouragingly for the false starts and do-over moments in the Talent Show. It’s being creative and innovative and invigorated by the outcome.

Possibly the best part of being Ogichi perfect is the stories we can laugh about: painting the bathroom floor in Crow and cutting carefully around the not-yet-installed toilet, glimpses of unpainted drywall near the vaulted dining hall ceiling, an unusually dark stain on the showcase window of the Great Lodge, curiously familiar footprints showing through the finish on the staff cabin floor.

Ogichi perfect creates friendships that are, well, perfect—because they are real and accepting and empowering.

The article was originally published in the Fall 2019 issue of Songs of the Paddle.