WWO: The Meeting

Phew! I'm exhausted, and it's getting to be my bedtime.  But I do want to give a quick update on the local meeting I went to with my friend C.

It was held outside on the giant parking lot across from the house I live in.  There were maybe forty, fifty people?  It was a bit disorganized-- um, no, make that more than a bit-- but overall things did get accomplished.  Honestly the most important part was probably just the support.  People really needed to get out their emotions.  There was some shouting, some crying-- but there were some really wonderful, courageous things said too.  There were many different energy levels going on, and it took awhile for the group to function as a group.  A pleasant surprise was seeing a neighbor family I had met once briefly in the fall (the father had vouched for me about my residency for same day voting registration) but not really interacted with since. They were great at the meeting-- they had such a calm, practical, down-to-earth approach to things. 

For most of the meeting I was quiet in regards to the rest of the group (though I did have side conversations with C.)   Mostly I was listening, taking in the  state of things.  And trying to hold space.  I think it was Thich Nhat Hanh who once said, in regard to refugee boats in Vietnam during the war, that the fate of that group-- whether people would turn to rash acts such as cannibalism or jumping overboard--- could be entirely turned around by the influence of having one calm person on the boat.  Someone to absorb the negative energy, and project reassurance help get things back in balance.  So I just tried to sit and be PRESENT.  I don't know for sure whether anyone noticed, besides C., but if it was only good for her and me then that's something too.

I think it did prepare me to speak up later in the meeting.  I got excited remembering that I have a distant relative out in Oregon who is an expert on many relevant agricultural subjects.  She apprenticed with one of the most knowledgeable botany-specialists on some national forest ranger staff-- apparently so well-regarded that the US Forestry Service prefers to hire people who apprentice with him-- without any other higher educational credentials; even over graduates of the top forestry programs in the country.  She's studied as an herbalist, and is an amazing gardener.  (When she and her husband moved into their house, the side yard was dominated by a long driveway.  Within two and a half years they had torn up all the asphalt and converted it into a garden-- and not just any garden, but a PERMACULTURE garden.  I don't know much about those personally, but I gather it involves a pretty tricky balance of nutrients & minerals to establish).  Anyway, I told some people I'd get in touch with her to get her advice.  

I made another suggestion, too.  I'm going to separate that into another post.  I'll just sum up the reaction-- which is that, it fell a little flat on the group as a whole (most people were thinking on a much more immediate time scale, and I can't blame them), but there were several people who came over to thank me and chat a bit more about what could be done (seeing as I don't have any mechanical aptitude, I couldn't really contribute much to what they were suggesting, but it sounded like they came up with some handy ideas!).

The disorganization saved me some embarrassment in the end, when people were signing up for long-term regular commitments here.  I was able to weave my way through the fringe conversations, and duck out.  My friend C. stayed.

I did feel like a bit of a fraud, walking away like that, knowing I'm going to leave, but overall it was worth it.  It did get me thinking...