Keep looking! I found that when we moved our garden to the front yard, I spent the summer meeting all of our neighbors because I spent so much time out there. We had already been in the house for two years, but it took coming out from the fenced-in back yard and being present in the neighborhood to start building organic (pun intended) relationships.
That's so great! Unfortunately, I live on a rural road (from which my house isn't even visible), but I'm looking for other opportunities! You have encouraged me.
💡💡💡💡💡💡💡 AAAAA! First of all, thank you for the mention. Second, I so appreciate your voice, not just what you say but HOW you say it. Third, if I were there I’d share cookies and drop by fire night. I agree that that is the most important thing we can do — to not let this drive us away from each other. I believe that the manipulation and weaponization of that very basic human impulse (“protecting ourselves from the bad people”) is what got this administration elected.
You are reminding me of something that happened years ago in my life. I woke one night to a strange man in our home. It was terrifying, as we lived in a rural area and it took the police a bit to get there. When the dust settled, the man turned out to be a neighbor who lived on our street. My then-husband's response was to be more closed-off; the neighbor was dangerous. Mine was to be horrified that, even in our small community, I didn't know him. I hadn't recognized him. I realized then that my husband and I had fundamentally different ways of seeing the world. I really appreciate this reminder to seek the cookie-givers. To be a cookie-giver.
Keep going strong, dear Jen! Sending lots of love and light in your direction - for your whole family, neighborhood, our city, our country, and our world. Oh how we need to be comforted in our pain and to comfort others in need. We are on the better side of darkness.
Man, so relatable. So many fears and anxieties right now. Having two tiny children this round definitely adds to it. Haven't slept a full night since that fateful day. Oof.
Thank you. Just the thing for me to read at this moment. I’m generally quite good with “all that,” among many other things, unifying my Seattle block w a highly successful book group that’s lasted 9 years. But today… well, I was spiraling down, and your words landed well.
Community is so important, and I'm still struggling to reconnect after that first lockdown in 2020 and beyond.
Buuuuuuuuuuut..... I had a friend over for a workday lunch this week! It was awesome. I hadn't done that for YEARS with anyone other than close family. 😲
Thank you. Always comfortable with solitude, I'm feeling a need for people now. I haven't yet figured where to find them. I'm working on it.
Keep looking! I found that when we moved our garden to the front yard, I spent the summer meeting all of our neighbors because I spent so much time out there. We had already been in the house for two years, but it took coming out from the fenced-in back yard and being present in the neighborhood to start building organic (pun intended) relationships.
That's so great! Unfortunately, I live on a rural road (from which my house isn't even visible), but I'm looking for other opportunities! You have encouraged me.
Well said, Jen!
💡💡💡💡💡💡💡 AAAAA! First of all, thank you for the mention. Second, I so appreciate your voice, not just what you say but HOW you say it. Third, if I were there I’d share cookies and drop by fire night. I agree that that is the most important thing we can do — to not let this drive us away from each other. I believe that the manipulation and weaponization of that very basic human impulse (“protecting ourselves from the bad people”) is what got this administration elected.
All this AND you managed a “that’s what she said.” Seriously, Jen, I bow down.
😂😂😂
Thank you, Asha! If you ever find yourself in Seattle on a Thursday, I hope you drop by!
You are reminding me of something that happened years ago in my life. I woke one night to a strange man in our home. It was terrifying, as we lived in a rural area and it took the police a bit to get there. When the dust settled, the man turned out to be a neighbor who lived on our street. My then-husband's response was to be more closed-off; the neighbor was dangerous. Mine was to be horrified that, even in our small community, I didn't know him. I hadn't recognized him. I realized then that my husband and I had fundamentally different ways of seeing the world. I really appreciate this reminder to seek the cookie-givers. To be a cookie-giver.
Thank you for this story. And for putting in my head to “seek the cookie-givers.”
Keep going strong, dear Jen! Sending lots of love and light in your direction - for your whole family, neighborhood, our city, our country, and our world. Oh how we need to be comforted in our pain and to comfort others in need. We are on the better side of darkness.
Thank you, Jen!
Man, so relatable. So many fears and anxieties right now. Having two tiny children this round definitely adds to it. Haven't slept a full night since that fateful day. Oof.
This might be one of my favorite titled essays ever. 🤗
Thank you. Just the thing for me to read at this moment. I’m generally quite good with “all that,” among many other things, unifying my Seattle block w a highly successful book group that’s lasted 9 years. But today… well, I was spiraling down, and your words landed well.
What a great song by Allison Russell! It's on repeat here. Thanks for sharing.
I loved this story SO MUCH!
Community is so important, and I'm still struggling to reconnect after that first lockdown in 2020 and beyond.
Buuuuuuuuuuut..... I had a friend over for a workday lunch this week! It was awesome. I hadn't done that for YEARS with anyone other than close family. 😲