The “Just for Me” retreat ended six hours ago but Demian’s voice still echoes in my mind. It brought back our first meeting, when she drove 30 miles to Harrisburg and sang two songs for the young women at Camp Ophelia (as a volunteer, no less).

I got to hear them both again this weekend, and to think about how well they capture the dynamics of relational aggression. “Backstabber” describes how women hurt themselves with this kind of behavior, with very tense music. “For the Sake of Love” is the exact opposite, flowing and connecting and encouraging us to all reach out to each other.

No, Demian didn’t ask me to write and praise her work–she’s not that kind of person. She really does live to give, and for me, her music beautiful medicine.

And guess what? No surprise–we are both “rubies.” That’s right, the fun “Find Your Treasure” personality quiz we took as part of the retreat landed us smack in the same category–although she has a bit of diamond, and I have a trace of emerald.