If anyone has ever told you that smart isn't sexy, they have never met Camille. She's prodigiously gifted with intelligence, empathy, and beauty, and yet, all this pales in comparison to her heart of gold. I've never met anyone who has been able to tell when and how I wanted to be touched, and know the exact time to crack a mild joke. Her ability to read you like an open book would be frightening if she wasn’t also one of the most compassionate individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
My date with Camille (and Chasen) was part of a longer road trip across the west. I wanted to have some new experiences; it had been several years since I had really done anything exciting, and ennui had been settling in my mind for several months. Camille’s mellifluous voice was more than enough to chase away the tedium. I could not keep track of time at all while we were talking in the bar; even the small talk was stimulating.
Both of these women are wonderful in their own ways. While Chasen inspired me, Camille was extremely supportive. It had been such a long time since I had had a connection with someone who could follow me through a conversation, and actually look at me while we were talking. She can read any situation, and almost immediately know how to make it 10 times better. A simple conversation with Camille had been one of the most exciting things I had done on this trip. More exciting than hiking up Mt Rainier, and more exciting than driving down the pacific coast in a muscle car. And yeah, the more "physical" parts of the evening were incredible.
Whether she intended to or not, Camille helped me want to be around people again. After I got back, I got in touch with a few friends from college. We went to a concert a couple weeks ago, and we’re meeting up again before the end of the month. I feel like me again, and it’s thanks to Camille and Chasen.
I honestly don’t know if I’ll make it back to the desert. Part of me feels like I’ve seen all I need to see there. But I want to go back, and if I do, Camille is the first person I want to see.
