Historical Summer 2022 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Remember the adage ‘Never go to the grocery store hungry’? You should also never write an editorial while crabby.
I have been putting off (procrastinating) writing this piece until there was a day without another mass shooting, without frustration about ideological differences that can’t be discussed with civility, without hearing about hatred against other races and religions and orientations, without the illogical dismissal of science and research, without a political lies and scandal and lust for power and money that affects every level of government from our city to the capital.
I think I would have to wait forever.
This time has been particularly challenging for myself and my family and friends.
I personally have put on all the weight that I worked two years to get rid of and my mood and stress level are often in the toilet.
My daughter is moving to New Zealand in the fall and helping her find a place to live and looking for jobs for her has gotten me to think that it looks like a great place for the whole family to go.
The weather is better, they are progressive, they basically eliminated covid 19, and they had one major school shooting and then got rid of military assault weapons and have not had another.
It is times like this when it is a struggle for me to decide ‘When is it time to give up, and when is it time to continue the fight’? For me it must be the latter.
I still believe in America, and I really believe in Skinker DeBaliviere. Andy and I looked for over a year when we were baby newlyweds to buy a house that we could afford in this neighborhood.
We saved and waited because I felt that this was a unicorn of a place. Andy had grown up here; his parents are wonderful and therefore their friends were wonderful.
There is a unique mixture of people with so many races, ethnicities, ages, and incomes that have been able to work together for many, many years.
I am not saying this neighborhood is perfect, but I do believe it is unique.
There are so many active people who are willing to step up and get involved to work to maintain the stability and beauty of our place. Getting out and visiting with our neighbors is therapeutic.
To meet like-minded and engaged people is a gift.
A cocktail makes that even better!
There are some great activities happening in our neighborhood in which you can participate and even volunteer to get to know your neighbors better.
We just had the breakfast garden tour, there is a community garden to visit, a playground to play in, we have a couple of food drives a year, and we are having Porchfest in the fall and Wintermarkt in the winter.
I still feel like we live in a unicorn of a neighborhood and even though I am sometimes overcommitted, it is important to engage and contribute.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2022.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source New Zealand school shooting claim retained as historical commentary, not independently verified description.
Original source: SD_Times2022_06.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
