This blog post has been simmering in my head a while and I figured now would be a good time to jot it down - because I do that often, I think of things I want to write about and then neglect to put fingers to keyboard and then sadly, the moment has passed. As the title may suggest, it's about art, it's about community but it's also something deeper than that. And maybe my thoughts are still lingering on the topic as I mark my 20th year as a resident of the USA - so here I am, to chit chat and dig deep.

I think this really stems originally from a recent conversation with a neighbor and he talked to me some about something he loves, something he enjoys and something I'd assume that many too would enjoy as well. Art! And as we all know, art is totally subjective of course so what some may consider gorgeous, others may not. I'd spent many days walking past my neighbors house, watching after they moved in as they started creating a landscape filled with unique finds - an area of garden full of wild flowers, various recycled materials used to create interest in areas that would be considered utilitarian. Borders thoughtfully lined with bowling balls. And while it may not make sense to some, it made sense to him and all told, I really enjoyed seeing the evolution of his hard work. While it wasn't something I'd do myself, I appreciated it all and could see the love and labor that went into it; and as the months of lockdown and pandemic plonked along, seeing his yard was something that would make me smile and gave me some joy during the darkest of days.

Fast forward about a year and I finally meet this neighbor during my biannual trek around the neighborhood, dropping off treats to the people I knew and the people I didn't. No reason other than to say "hello, someone is thinking of you and wishing you a Happy Easter" - something I've done for a couple of years now at Christmas, and now Easter. My route has grown as I get to know people who live a few blocks away or around the corner and it's a true joy to do this random thing without any expectation of anything in return. I do it to foster a sense of community and to let people know that someone out there actually cares.

So I chat with my neighbor who thanked me for the letter I'd dropped at his door at Christmas, as well as a garden statue that had been sitting in my basement. It felt like it belonged there with him and I wanted to let him know his garden was appreciated. And it came as quite a surprise when he expressed such gratitude to receive that letter and statue, especially considering he'd been getting heat from other neighbors about his choice of yard art, the type of heat that ended up involving the local city council. I was just floored to hear that and especially glad I'd taken the time to drop that letter to him since it obviously meant more than I expected. Again, art can be completely subjective and sometimes it can stir emotions of a negative scale. Or it can be admired. But who would take someone to task for using recycled materials when they themselves (he has an idea of who the suspect is) have a yard full of art that likely has come from a discount store? What is the difference? One is new - one is not. The chain store stuff is okay because it was purchased and "makes sense"? Yet a thoughtful placement of bowling balls to edge a garden bed isn't okay because it's not "new" so to speak? Baffles me when I try to wrap my head around it and all else I can say is that I'll champion my new creative yard art friend any time because he doesn't deserve to be in strife for thinking outside the box. He keeps things tidy, it doesn't look like a junk yard and he deserves to be thanked for creating something visually enjoyable.

I'm glad I met him and I hope to enjoy his garden in the days to come when I stroll by. And after that chat, I also got to meet some other neighbors whom I'd yet to meet - people who strolled up our driveway to say thank you for the treats, people who've lived here for many years and told me all sorts of interesting facts about our beloved neighborhood. And that is a reward that I wouldn't anticipate, yet am so thankful for. An email recently with an invitation to drop by for socially distanced snacks and adult beverage (oh yes please) from a neighbor we'd not met and barely seen in the 5 years we've lived here. This happens because I'm NOT afraid to reach out and remain stubbornly determined to foster a stronger sense of community, something that seems to lack all over the board in this day and age.

I was raised in an extremely small town where community was important and have missed that greatly over the years. Small town living had it's downside for sure - you couldn't get up to mischief as a child without someone knowing about it and there were plenty of "Aunts and Uncles", the town elders who'd not hesitate to dob us in to our parents if they busted us getting up to no good. Sometimes it felt like there was nowhere to hide. And the TALK, oh heavens the talk. The gossip! A scandal was chewed on for days, if not weeks and if you really screwed up, then you'd be stuck with that mistake for life. But for the cons, the pros were so vast and great. A community of people who cared about your well being. A community who rallied during peoples times of need. People who taught us how to be strong, how to grow up, how to just enjoy being kids and people who'd have your back if needed. That did not suck and gave us a sense of security which is rare these days. Oh and lets not forget the great convenience that if you had to go to the outhouse (yes, I grew up with an outside toilet) and it happened to be occupied by The Big Flea during his quality newspaper reading hour, we had the option of leaping over the fence to use our neighbors outhouse - while something not highly encouraged, it was there during times of emergency.

Just sayin,' if I had an outhouse, the door would never be locked to my neighbors. Yeah, take the girl from the country but you cant take the country out of the girl.

Our community stretched wide from our little hamlet to the other small towns in the surrounds and it was beautiful, like a carefully pieced together quilt of different components that somehow came together in something worthy of being displayed in a museum. It was art. And I miss it so very much.

As I get older, it's harder to connect with people and a pandemic certainly causes some challenges that were not expected. I find myself disconnecting more from people, more from the world and spending more time creating - the busier my hands, the quieter my thoughts. If I'm busy doing something I enjoy, I'm less prone to thinking about the troubles of the world and also keeping my hands away from snacks (v.important!) - unless of course I'm keeping my hands busy baking, then that's a whole different kettle of tea. Or bowl of flour? Eh, whatever. So recently, I got a bee up my bum to make a bowl. I've never made a bowl before and just felt the need to do so and after some research, I got started. Each day led to another step, another layer, I drove poor husband nuts by talking about this bowl every day until it was complete - it took a little over a week. And every day as I sat to work on it, it calmed my mind and was a soothing process. People annoying the living crap out of me? Work on the bowl. Feeling a little sad? Work on the bowl. Sick of doing endless laundry? Work on the bowl. Scorching PMS? Work on the bowl. Let me just say, I worked on that bowl A LOT during that week. Might have to make some more because it was a therapy unexpected. And maybe people may not like the bowl, some may appreciate it, however it is my interpretation of art and if I love it, then that's all that matters.

So that my friends is pretty much it for today. Maybe a little random, maybe not. But it's here, it's been typed out and I can breathe knowing that my thoughts have been transferred from the noodle to the blog and then undoubtedly I'll simmer up a new one before long. And in the meantime between now and then, I'll probably make some more bowls!!

Stay well, stay happy.....and please remember, little random acts of kindness can sometimes make more of an impact than you know. Our world has become so small. I urge you to reach out to someone. Cross a barrier. Make sure they are ok. Make a difference. 

Thanks for reading.

Sam.