Three things I did this weekend that might make me grown up, or at least make me feel/sound that way:
1.
For the first time in my life, I volunteered for a political campaign. With voter registration forms, a handful of Obama handouts, ridiculously uncomfortable flip-flops, and a list of addresses, Andrew and I set out on Saturday to wander (in an orderly fashion) around a Richmond neighborhood knocking on doors and begging for votes.
And it was awesome, and rewarding, and just plain fucking great and ultimately, loved it. Having never volunteered in this capacity before I had absolutely no idea what to expect and while I was psyched for the experience and glad I would get the opportunity to help people get registered to vote, I was not expecting all the other side effects that followed the experience. First, I’ve got to admit that I was a little leery of the neighborhood we went to just because it’s not the best, although, that said, most of the neighborhoods I know and love in this city of mine are not the best either. Anyway, everyone we met was super friendly once they realized we were canvassing for Obama and not selling dictionaries on a Saturday morning and we were able to have some great conversations with a lot of interesting folks. Most memorable of all were the conversations we had with what the government labels “felons,” men who had, in their earlier youths committed felonies and who now can’t vote without going through miles and miles of red tape. One man had committed a felony 34 years ago and despite a desire to vote, hasn’t ever had that chance and hasn’t even been given a straight answer on how to get his right back. We gave him a few phone numbers and I hope, pray even, that someone helps him.
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2.
One of my good friends, E is a chef, and is VERY talented in the ways of delicious food making. Seeing as he has these talents, the porch crew has been discussing, for months now, setting up a dinner party (grown ups do that sort of thing, right?) of sorts in which we would all pitch in and E would cook us delicious nom noms. And so finally, it happened. It was our kind of dinner party, one without a real dining table or dining chairs, but instead with the best of friends, loud and passionate chatter, camping chairs around a coffee table and some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. It short, it was very, very us.
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3.
Because we can’t seem to get enough of food or each other, the porch crew, less some usuals and plus some stranglers, went to brunch. And let me tell you what, saying your going to brunch, much like saying you’re attending a dinner party, sounds so very grown up of me.
Oh I love dinner parties! Especially the kind with good friends.
This all sounds so lovely.
YAY for volunteering! so glad that your experience was positive for the most part. so, you know how i went to that AIDS conference last week? well, i found out that we just got some funding to work with ex-offenders and went to every conference session about that. and yes, the inability to vote or difficulty in getting voting rights back is a big issue for that population.
first of all – campaigning is exciting. i was the campaign manager for a local sheriff’s candidate and did quite a bit of what you did for obama – it was fun!
dinner parties and brunch – how fun! our crew of friends is in the process of setting a dinner party up – i can’t wait! 🙂