This freak town...

... I live in is a bit hard to take for some. I spent over two hours yesterday with the hubby volunteering and fixing the facade of a Chinese take-out place. They were so thankful they gave us water and free lunch! People complimented us as we worked. Then, I decided to run across the street to the Civil War memorial to weed there. Got "thank you" from a couple of passers-by. One guy even told me it was nice that someone even cared.

I have also been reading lots of what I bought in Portland. I like Alex Wrekk's Brainscan zine and stocked up on a few of her issues I don't have. She lives in Portland. One of the best things I read in issue 19 was about how in many towns, people talk about doing things, but in Portland they actually do them.

After volunteering, I am feeling pretty super. one of the reasons I like doing it. Then I call sister for the Pooh report - my four-legged nephew has been sick. I let her know what we spent the morning doing and she lays into this tirade about how our town "sucks" and they can't wait until after the baby is born and they are ready to put the house up for sale and get the hell out.

Then I thought back to Alex Wrekk. One of the things that makes me think this freak town is not so bad is because hubby and I work with volunteers who don't just talk about fixing things. We mobilize to get those things fixed. If we can't do it ourselves - with or without an ok ;) - we go to town hall and make ourselves nuisances until the things get done. That feels pretty good. I don't complain and sit on my butt. I write letters, sign petitions, volunteer, go to meetings. I know not everyone can go to a meeting or spare the time to volunteer. But is it really that hard to write a letter to your local paper? Heck, you can swing a few sentences during the commercial breaks! Write to your congressman, assembleyman or senator. I get a lot of form letters back, but I also have had some insightful - and mean - responses.

I can't stand complacency and laziness when it comes from people who complain. Like our friend Jim said this spring - if someone like Chris Christie was in France doing what he is doing to education, the students would mobilize and protest. Not that I advocate that, but they speak up! Granted, speaking up - especially if you are a small female - may not win you friends. This is particularly true where I work. But the thank you's I get around town - even anonymously on my answering machine - are pretty cool.

It is also nice to know that some of my super cool students - and formers - think the same way.

And now I wait to see if the rain will hold out for me to go weed at the Miller-Kingsland house...