Biking through my neighborhood this morning to work was a treat.

First I saw Brian and his dogs, Harry and Freddy. He was sitting on the sidewalk, chatting with Babs, on older lady who spends her days on a chair, outside, in front of a local church. I waved, and they waved back.

Then, on my way up St Marks, I saw the kids of Johnnie, one of the owners of a local diner, playing hockey on their roller blades in the local school playground. Johnnie and his brother Mikey are from Canada, hence the hockey game I guess. I don't know Johnnie's boys, but we know the brothers well. When we eat there they let Ruby help with the cash register. She knows where to find the little packages of soup crackers behind the counter and is allowed to help herself. They love seeing Ruby and they feel comfortable enough showing her that.

As I got close to the playground, I saw the parents of some of the kids who are regulars. I don't know the parents names, but I know their kids names and I've seen their kids grow up alongside Ruby. I rang my bike bell when I went by the playground and John, the regular Parks Department worker in our playground, smiled and waved enthusiastically. When John is done with his evening gig playing jazz, at the end of this month, we have a date to go drink mojitos and eat dinner together at the Havana Outpost.

I saw all these people and got to feel seen and acknowledged within less than 5 minutes of leaving my house and my family. This is one of my communities. It's not always a smiling, waving hello and relaxed community, but it's real and meaningful.

Ruby is what got me hooked on wanting and nurturing this community. But only because I slowed down enough to let Ruby and my community into my life.

***

This upcoming week I'm slowing down even more--Ruby and I are going to spend a week in Montreal and Ottawa seeing my old and dear friends and their families!

I told David, who is also taking the week off to see his mom and take his nephew Blake up to Maine to see aunt Mary and uncle John, that I would try to post one picture each day while I was gone. But I'm slowing down and taking a break, so I will let the pictures do all the talking, for a change.

Peace out.