Driving fast on loose gravel: Come in, Come in.

Neighbourhood.
Or alternate title:
If Norval Morriseau can cure himself through colour, then so can I
EMSweeney, 2006
(Courtesy of The To For For Flora Gallery)

So D and I have been hosting these community workshops in our house for over a year now.
They are called the 160 Workshop Series. Basically every other month, we find 6 people who can give a workshop, we then invite anyone and everyone to register.

There are many reasons why they started. One of the main reasons was to bring people together. We knew people, we knew OF people, and we knew, that there were lots of great people, that we didn't know. yet.

Plus I had only been in Ottawa for 4 years at the time and I had only been gay for one. My queer social circle at the time was my computer, the S on Spruce and The Wren. Finding like-minded queer women in Ottawa was a mystery to me. I knew that there must be a lot of cool queer lady-people, somewhere, more then the two I knew and I really wanted to be meeting and bringing more of them together.
at my house.

So last December, at the second 160 workshop series, that's exactly what happened. Two such cool queer lady-people who neither D or I knew, showed up. And I might add they showed up on one of biggest snowstorms of the year. One, I've never seen again. The other was Robert's Daughter, who I'm very lucky to see more often.

The greatest thing about the workshops, is that we invite strangers to come. In fact we encourage strangers to come. And they come.
Maybe because it gives people permission to find and join new circles of people, under the hospice that they wouldn't be the only one doing so. And they will be doing something to occupy themselves, if they feel awkward with new people. A safe meeting place. community building. friend finding. sharing.

One of the reason's they have lasted is that D and I really do love them. We love community. We love being around and sharing with people. We are people people. We are Yes People.

So last night we invited people to Come in, Come in, our 7th Workshop series. We made it an evening affair and invited folks to bring food and share the recipe, bring music and share the play list, bring stories and share the tale or show all how to make gifts and share the instructions.

We could host only 30, and within 24 hours of sending out the invitation, we had started the waiting list.

It was important to us that we all eat together, at tables. D and I spent most of the day, moving tables and chairs, trying every possible combination there of, to make all 30 of us fit. By time we did and set the tables, people were pouring in from the cold, ready to share.

Now I am not one for over planning - I do not fuss or worry over much. But let me tell you, when 30 empty bellies are counting on you to be fed, you really should - just a little. Because when 8 out of 9 food-makers showed up with dessert, we realized, some quick fussing and worrying was in order. Finding vegan dinner for 30, on a budget, on a rainy icy Sunday night, in 20 minutes or less, is no easy feat.

Thank god for Nasa Grocery on Sumerset, s'all I got to say.

Crisis averted, the night was beautiful. I loved the mixed tables of people, chatting with each other, groups that might not otherwise. The candles and the laughter and the warmth. And the stories! the stories! oh the stories. Last night I flew a top a giant frozen lake, I went to a indie rocker's apartment, I went to Saskatoon and back with a family of 5 in a mini van. I went in the stirrups, up the mountain, to the island and I even went down on a lovely french lady.

The storytellers filled our imaginations, while the food makers, filled our bellies. The crafters filled our stockings while the music makers, filled the night with song.
And I'm pleased to report, that instead of just 1 or 2 of those fillers and makers, being a cool queer-lady, 1 in 2 were instead.