Building Community: One Signature at a Time
My kids were home for Thanksgiving and we shared many happy moments. They are at an age where we can have meaningful conversations about the world. I feel a sense of wonder as I watch how thoughtful they can be about issues, how we are willing to learn from and challenge each other and the sense of humor we share. I think about the numerous meals we have shared as a family over the years and appreciate how far we have come.
This past week I volunteered to collect signatures to put Tom Malinowski on the ballot in our district to replace Mikie Sherrill’s vacated congressional seat. I reached out to friends and acquaintances and I went to their homes to have them sign the peition. The door-to-door nature of this endeavor felt old school. It made me realize how rarely I go inside people’s homes. It was so fun to see people getting ready for the holidays. Expanding tables from the dining room into the living room, organizing a small kitchen for the unending dishes they are assembling for their Thanksgiving meal. Witnessing sisters home from college on the couch enjoying the Thanksgiving Day Parade together. Seeing beautiful rooms I have not seen before, watching the rituals of the holidays in real time including cleaning every last piece of glass from a crystal chandelier.
While I was so excited to visit people’s homes, I must admit that people were excited to have a visitor. I loved chatting with the young adults who were home from work or college and catching up on their exciting lives. Starting new jobs, picking majors, applying for internships, joining fraternities and sororities and clubs. And little kids were happy to have someone new and different over. It was fun for them to welcome a visitor into their home.
My husband Gideon is a black belt in community building. Just ask his high school friend group or his multiple college friend groups or his law school friend group or his first job out of law school friend group… you get the idea. Every year he plans a potluck Friendsgiving feast at his tennis club. For the first time this year, they added a cranberry sauce contest. I got a kick out of the men preparing their delicate cranberry sauces at home; sending photos to each other trash talking about the superiority of their cranberry sauce. I am proud to say Gideon somehow won 2nd place 🏆🏆.
And I am grateful for all the ways my community supported me during Thanksgiving week:
-our friends Nealy and Dave picking up carrots and milk for me even though they were not shopping -they were simply driving near a supermarket - because I didn’t want to leave the house again…
-people coming over to my house to sign the petition to save me a trip
-my daughter packing up my son’s suitcase because he was out late seeing friends before he returned to college
-my neighbor giving me cranberry bread because she had too much for her meal
-Gideon’s Aunt schlepping the best cheese and bread on subways and trains from NYC to our house in the suburbs
-running into one of my favorite people at a local bakery where our excitement to unexpectedly see each other (and to see my daughter Gabrielle) was palpable.
-My friend Nealy driving an hour away to shop at my sister and brother-in-law’s new store Party Fair in Skillman, NJ to support their business
I realize that I sometimes take my community for granted. But this past week has reminded me that a community is what we make it. Reaching out for support is a foundation of community as well as sharing each others ups and downs and showing up when needed. It is active and participative. There is reciprocity and a deep desire for connection. How do you build community around you? What are some things you want to do this coming year to connect with your community?
