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I volunteer for City of Portland's Active Transportation division, handing out free biking/walking maps at various events. It sounds boring and/or intimidating, but turns out to be fun and nourishing. People like being given things, and I enjoy getting to do that. The staff people I work with are always great to talk with. Plus I bike to and through parts of the city I might not otherwise visit.
Yesterday morning I biked out to the St. Johns farmer's market. It's the third year I've done this event with the same staff person, and as always it was fun. Plus the produce at their market costs half as much as at my local market! Not enough of a price difference to encourage me to make the 7 mile bike ride out there on a regular basis, though, even with the beautiful route along the Willamette River bluff.
It was pleasantly warm for the morning shift, revving up for the only truly hot day we've had this summer. Yes, I've been appreciating our weather luck!
Because no one else was available, I also volunteered to staff a table on my own at an event 10 miles in the opposite direction starting at 4pm. I pulled the bike trailer to St. Johns, filled it with maps before I left, biked home, rested for a couple of hours, and then pulled it out to East Portland. Long, hot ride!
The National Night Out event was only lightly attended, perhaps because of the heat. I got to see some skilled child dragon dancers across the park from me, and mostly talked to the people staffing other tables for community organizations.
East Portland has a lot of Portland's minority and low-income population, and it made a positive statement to have a City of Portland organization represented. The other table staffers I chatted with were uniformly warm, kind, and compassionate. Even in the heat, even at a sparsely attended event. I felt nourished and encouraged by our brief conversations.
I often feel alienated and disconnected. With these people, I felt accepted and recognized as kin. I'm not even sure what tribe it is, but it's good to know I'm in it. Tribe of people who care, perhaps, and are willing to take some sort of action.
I'm glad I don't have to do it again right away, but it was totally worth biking 35 miles in 100 degree weather pulling a trailer full of maps. I felt exhausted and happy at the end of the day.
Yesterday morning I biked out to the St. Johns farmer's market. It's the third year I've done this event with the same staff person, and as always it was fun. Plus the produce at their market costs half as much as at my local market! Not enough of a price difference to encourage me to make the 7 mile bike ride out there on a regular basis, though, even with the beautiful route along the Willamette River bluff.
It was pleasantly warm for the morning shift, revving up for the only truly hot day we've had this summer. Yes, I've been appreciating our weather luck!
Because no one else was available, I also volunteered to staff a table on my own at an event 10 miles in the opposite direction starting at 4pm. I pulled the bike trailer to St. Johns, filled it with maps before I left, biked home, rested for a couple of hours, and then pulled it out to East Portland. Long, hot ride!
The National Night Out event was only lightly attended, perhaps because of the heat. I got to see some skilled child dragon dancers across the park from me, and mostly talked to the people staffing other tables for community organizations.
East Portland has a lot of Portland's minority and low-income population, and it made a positive statement to have a City of Portland organization represented. The other table staffers I chatted with were uniformly warm, kind, and compassionate. Even in the heat, even at a sparsely attended event. I felt nourished and encouraged by our brief conversations.
I often feel alienated and disconnected. With these people, I felt accepted and recognized as kin. I'm not even sure what tribe it is, but it's good to know I'm in it. Tribe of people who care, perhaps, and are willing to take some sort of action.
I'm glad I don't have to do it again right away, but it was totally worth biking 35 miles in 100 degree weather pulling a trailer full of maps. I felt exhausted and happy at the end of the day.
