Change of perspective

(Arthur has been promising and promising and promising a post, but failing, so I'm here retroactively filling in the gaps again.)

I've found that while going to UUAA regularly hasn't changed my beliefs - I still believe/disbelieve the same things as before we started attending - it has made me more reflective about certain things. And it has also reframed some perspectives.

This was made evident by an encounter I had earlier today.

I've spent the better part of today chasing around town looking for jelly babies. One of those stops was a candy shop across the street from the British-friendly grocery. (I WILL NOT BUY VEGEMITE FOR A DOCTOR WHO PARTY.)

As I got there, a woman was turning the sign to "open" - which confused me for a moment, because the store had opened over an hour prior. Turns out that she's just a friend of the owner, who had just stepped out for an errand and asked her to watch the place (and had turned the sign to "closed" when she stepped out).

She asked what jelly babies were, we got into a conversation about old PBS shows (the only source for British shows when I was a child), and then classic comedy. And we were chatting while I browsed, but the conversation was taking up a lot more time than I had since I still had items to track down so I was starting to get antsy, but just before I left she thanked me. She'd been having a rough time and had stopped in at the store to vent and cry at her friend so they could pray together. She'd had the chance to cry and vent, but they were going to pray when her friend got back. And our conversation made her laugh and feel good for a little bit, and she really needed that. So thank you.

I stopped and took the time to laugh and chat with someone who really really needed it at the moment, even though I had other places to be. And I was rewarded with an unexpected thank you and the realization that I had helped someone. 

And this is the sort of moment that just happens in life - like it always has. The difference to me, now, is that being around a religious community, I'm more reflective and sometimes the spiritual framing slips in without my realizing it. My being there was what this woman needed. It was my equivalent of praying with her and helping her feel better. There was no actual prayer, no Jesus, no solemn, intimate moment of silence. But it was a moment where our shared laughter was healing for her and that was a religious act. Part of the "inter-connected web" that UUs talk about.

Yeah, that sort of thinking is new to me.

Another local ballot

It was definitely strange to be reading all the posts from people voting for mayor yesterday, and not be able to participate. It would have been nice to vote in a Boston mayoral race in which there was an actual race occurring. *sigh* It'll probably be another 20 years before the opportunity returns.


Voting in a local election here makes me feel uncomfortable. I'm not putting down roots here; why should I have the power to decide tax levies? I'm in student housing. I don't pay property taxes. And I'm within the University bubble - my vote impacts local authorities that don't really have much to do with me. I mean, some - I use the libraries and other public services - but I feel like I'm a resident of the University, not Ann Arbor. And voting just drives that home.


So I tend to skip most ballot items. I spent October being very busy and feeling settled in and it was great, but... then this pesky election comes up, and reminds me that I'm still a transient.

October Highlights

• My partnership made 7NT. Only bid 3NT, but partner made 7. Go partner!
• Trick-or-treat. I once again took advantage of living in a closed community and baked cookies for trick-or-treaters. Arthur thought I was overproviding and stopped me from baking more. Except I ran out at 120 kids and thankfully had an emergency peppermint patty backup supply.
• Baseball binge. I didn't watch a lot of baseball this summer because the local stations don't air Sox games (why would they?). But starting in September there was an uptick in available Red Sox games, and then it was the postseason. So I've had two-month orgy of late night baseball games to scream at. Wonderful! And, of course, the Red Sox won the World Series!!! - even better. (Now to figure out how to get to sleep at a reasonable hour again.)
• Cheese, Gromit. I found an affordable goat gouda that I like. And it even melts nicely...
• Pumpkin products. Need I say more?
• Great weather and foliage. After all, what's the point of October if not the stellar landscape?  Also, I helped Arthur put together a volunteer afternoon performing trail maintenance in the back 40 acres at UUAA. It felt good to be outside being productive.
• Pestopalooza. Harvest time! Basil and peppers, peppers and basil... I think we're finally done.