Once again my dad and I packed up the van and headed to Lake Geneva for Escape to the Lake, an Under the Radar music getaway. Once again we listened to some great music, walked a lot and met lots of interesting people. Over the three days I decided to work my brain and try to remember everyone’s name that I met without asking; so once I met them, that was it. I actually did a pretty good job considering I met over 20 people. Here are a few of them:

Tom and Melody- both there last year. Tom takes Melody for her birthday present each year. Melody is a school teacher. They have a son named Nathaniel.

Mary- drove seven hours to get to the camp. She just graduated college with a degree in interior design.

Zak- came by himself. Has a legit mustache.

Sheryl and her son Craig – Sheryl’s husband is in a wheel chair.

Sarah- Came up on the third for the Burlap to Cashmere concert. She lives in Chicago.

Amy and Walt – I remembered their names with A&W. Walt started going bald when he was 17. As he puts it, “God gives some people perfect heads and the rest he covers up with hair.

Sherri and Tim – were there with Sherri’s sister Grace and their family. Their oldest daughter went to college and with no help from them graduated debt free and was able to study abroad in Spain. Previously they had homeschooled their children.

Erica- Singer for Mercy Child. Her main occupation is photography. She shoots lots of weddings. Lives in Nashville.

Madeline- Mercy Child. About to be married. Also is a photographer. Introduced the Jones to the Cryars making it possible for The Vespers to form.

Kyle- Mercy Child. Amazing at instruments. He learned one of my songs so I could sing for open mic. From Texas, moved to Nashville ten years ago.

Nate and Andrea- Have a record label for people who do music as a side. Host house concerts. Nate is worship leader at their church. Andrea teaches piano.

Lishia and Dave- Gray Havens. Debating wether to homeschool when they have a family.

To remember peoples’ names, I remembered something about them and said their names over in my head. I also reinforced them by saying their name’s whenever possible: “Hello Erica” or “Hey Andrea can you pass the salt?” Very educational.

Although it is getting harder to travel with just my dad, everyone thinks we’re married. which is awkward and funny.

Mercy Child: Madeline, Erica and Kyle Taken on the porch where I got my selfie with The Vespers