On Thursday night, I'll be attending a fundraiser for a local organization that's fighting for public transportation equity in my area. Afterwards, I'm having some folks over to watch the game.
It's hard not to get swept up in the joy that is Boston in October. We are Red Sox nation, and when things are good, they're really good. It's fun to be a part of it all; checking the scores, sharing them with friends and strangers, singing sweet caroline in the streets or on the subway.
Getting excited about public hearings about public transportation is a whole lot harder. There will be locally-made chocolates at the fundraiser, which should make it easier. The governor has recently said that he's planning to put up the funds to get the greenline extension finished ahead of schedule which seems to have some people hopeful. I'm still thinking a lawsuit is likely to be necessary, given the current timeline, the history of postponement, and the health risks involved. The Big Dig has not been kind to Somerville.
I'm feeling really connected to my community, and it certainly helps that my community includes people I can call friends, but it is sad to me that my involvement with the Quakers in the area is so limited. Is the disconnect because I am a "young adult" who'd rather not hang out with the Young Adults? Is the disconnect because New Englanders are decidedly less friendly that Southerners? Or is it because of the theological differences that separate us? I imagine it's all of the above. The reticent New Englanders expect the young adults to take me in, but I have no interest in their potlucks. I hung out with young adults while I was in college, and even then I didn't always feel that our age was significant enough to bind us together. Once I get the "real grown-ups" to really talk to me, they don't seem to like me very much.
I'm loving my community right now. I just wish I felt as involved, included and welcomed at the Quaker meeting as I do elsewhere.
Love,
Elizabeth Bathurst
3 comments:
I used to go to YFNA gatherings oh so many years ago. They were fun. It's a good place to find out that all Quakers are kind of likeyourself. Is YFNA still going?
There are adults who love you as you are. I was put on the panel discussion today at Representative body about how we educate our youth. (Yeah, Me). We reflected on how fortunate you and M.E. and G, and the others were to have Janie O. and Lib and Mary L. and all the others at Woodland to love you the way they did. Everybody asked for you. Shame on them for not loving you!!
Lurking Luddite
Ooooh, a STANDELLS reference in a Quaker blog! I LOVE it!
I was saddened by this line: "I just wish I felt as involved, included and welcomed at the Quaker meeting as I do elsewhere."
Do come to San Francisco Meeting some time if you're ever here. Lately we've been pretty good about intergenerational chatting, and Robin and I like to joke it's San Francisco Monthly Meeting (Conservative) -- not that there's integrity in that name, but we do have a larger-than-usual number of Conservative-leaning Friends for Pacific Yearly Meeting.
Oh, and I get excited about public hearings, too -- for transit-oriented affordable housing, though, rather than transit per se...
-- Chris M.
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