one human family.

There are moments in my life when I pause to breathe and to give thanks.  Moments that feels so right, not for any one reason or because of any one person, but just an over all lovely feeling.  Tonight I've been feeling like that. I spent my day relaxing and being fairly efficient.  I went grocery shopping where I caught the eye of the attractive deli guy and asked a complete stranger for her advice on making Thanksgiving stuffing.  She was more than happy to share her tips ... "remember to put half an orange in your turkey!" she shouted at me from half way down the isle after we parted ways.  People are so friendly here.

Tonight I was intending to go swing dancing with a friend from work and some guys we met speed dating (another story for another day)... although I was really apprehensive about going and was trying to think up excuses to get out of it.  Dancing is just one of those things that I never feel comfortable doing... but it all worked out because my friend had to bail anyway.  I sat in my kitchen for a moment arguing with myself.  I could stay home and relax, but I've done that for the past 2 nights, I need some human interaction.

I had met a friend at the garden a while back - an older British man, William, who is a doctor and upright bass player - he invited me out to play with his group sometime.  They played every Tuesday and were very casual (meaning they wouldn't care if there were 2 upright basses).  I had his number written on a napkin and so with my rediscovered desire to make friends, I called him.  It was so great.  He invited me for dinner before hand with his lovely wife and Will.  Will is a meat farmer and band nerd.  We had met over the summer on several occasions through the garden or farmers markets.  Nice guy.

Dinner in itself was a very North Carolina-esk experience.  First of all, getting directions went like this:  "take the road all the way through town, when the road hits a straight-a-way make your first left by the vegetable stand.  the house number won't help you." So, I followed directions and low and behold I found it!  It was the only house down this road - a big brown log house.  Kids were running in and out, one of them let me in even though they'd never seen me before, and so I welcomed myself in meekly saying "hello?" looking for anyone else in the home (still seeking confirmation that I was in deed at the right house).  The house was great - so comfy and lived in.  It reminded me of what an old farm house would look like - cast iron stove and all.  I did find William and he led me in deeper into his home.  I met his wife, Susie, who seemed to be the perfect North Carolina farm wife.  She is short, her back is slightly hunched (from too many years of hard work, I suppose) and she mumbles a little when she speaks.  She made homemade tomato soup, biscuits, salad... all from scratch, of course.  We sat down and ate and, like all good Southern women she forced more food down a person then you'd ever expect.  "Will needs more soup."  It was a statement, not a question, so Will got more soup.  She sent about a dozen biscuits to the neighbors and we still had plenty for us.  I love that culture.  Everything was delicious and it was the community that I've craving so much since I moved out here.

I follow Will and William in my car out to the depths of the hills to play music.  It gets dark real quick out here, but it is so peaceful.  A guy in a really big pick-up truck is there to unlock the community center for us and we go on in.  Its a small group of musicians, but we sit in a round and play old traditional bluegrassy tunes for a few hours.  There is something about music that instantly creates community.  I entered the room as a stranger, but by the end we had a great time and were planning our next meeting.  There's nothing else quite like it. When we leave it is raining - hard.  I'm still not used to real rain storms... especially not at the end of November.  But we hurry and get our gear in our cars and take off.  I left before everyone else and I definitely had a moment when I realized that this could turn out really bad.  I am in the middle of nowhere, as far as I know, in the midst of a bad rain storm and all by myself.  Luckily my memory serves me well and I successfully make it back to the main road and home safely... even if I had gotten lost I took comfort in knowing that Will and William would be taking the same road back to town and would run across me and my car eventually.

I think what I love so much about moments like tonight is just being witness to the innate kindness that lies within all humans.  It reminds me that we are all one human family and we have to take care of one another.

So this thanksgiving I am thankful for my family.