A Community Thread

Erin's name was sent my way on a couple of occasions, but I can officially give Amanda Stuermer the credit for connecting us for this interview. And then again, just after Amanda's referral, I met Erin briefly at a Community Conversations event. So, without reading too much into it, it seemed like we were meant to meet. And it might not have as much significance to him, but this being interview number 100 means quite a lot to me. Erin is so obviously doing heartfelt work and so articulate about it. Whenever I meet someone who seems to be living in line with their values, it warms my heart and encourages me. We don't always get to know the effect we have on folks, especially as we go about some of the more mundane details of our daily routines, but people are watching and taking note and we are having an effect. I'd like to say thank you to Erin for the positive impact he made on me and likely whoever takes the time to listen here.

Jim Radloff referred Wade to me way back in early summer, but due to a number of scheduling conflicts, it took a few months for us to finally meet. In answer to my needing a quiet place to record our conversation, Wade suggested we pile into his truck and head out into the woods. On the ride out there, Wade pointed to swaths of forest where logging and controlled burns had taken place. He pointed out healthy and unhealthy patches of forest and he gave me a political and cultural education about logging. I loved seeing the world through his eyes. I was once again reminded that there are so many things I don't know - so many things I have an opinion on that I simply just don't understand. And I'd venture to guess that the same is true for you. I enjoyed my time with Wade very much and I'm excited to introduce you to him here.

Tim is another Liz Goodrich recommendation. And another gem! We exchanged a few emails before meeting and each of them brought a smile to my face as Tim's got a lovely way with words. I find it really interesting to correspond with a stranger and then show up at their door without any idea of what they look like or how old they are or anything about them other than a few kind words passed along from another. After sitting in the wrong driveway for several minutes (I'm habitually early) and then realizing it at the last moment, I made my way to Tim's front door and only made it a few paces inside before we were deep into conversation. Tim and I have many points of commonality in our backgrounds and likely the most impactful is our growing up in and then leaving the fundamentalist church. There are many things to discuss in that realm, but one of the more interesting and lesser discussed points is what that does to the use and understanding of certain words. Purpose is one. Belief is another. Good and evil are a couple more. Anyway, it's a long list. I loved chatting with Tim because he seems to have found a way to put judgment aside while navigating life. I'm still working on that, so I'm thankful for the example.

I met this Barbara at a gathering that Rose Archer and her husband put on. Barbara Hastings was there, too, and she recommended I interview this Barbara. These community connections sure are starting to thicken. I found chatting with Barbara to be very easy. She has a lovely, no-nonsense way of getting right to the point while still being soft and welcoming. And she's not afraid to be real. I'm not afraid to be real either and I'm learning that that either works or it doesn't for some people. We've managed to create quite a facade, haven't we? And some people seem to be quite comfortable there. Well, not me. And, if I may speak for her, not Barbara. Enjoy the interview below. I'm quite happy to introduce her to you.

Liz Goodrich recommended me to Dan. She asked if it was okay to send some Redmond folks my way. It sure is. Especially if they are of Dan's caliber. Dan and I share a deep sense of curiosity and I enjoyed learning about how Dan's has shaped his experiences. He exuded kindness and humility and openly admitted to his accumulation of information and knowledge and experiences as having helped him change his mind on some pretty significant social issues. I like that. I'm pretty sure we could all (me, too) use some mind-changing. And the time is now. You can put off some other things tomorrow, but let's get right down to it today.

David Lutz introduced me to Jamie. We had only conversed through email prior to our meeting for this interview, so I was surprised by his accent when he met me at the door. Because he’s such a joy to listen to, I do highly recommend listening to this interview, but Jamie's got a lot more going on than his accent. I particularly enjoy that he speaks his mind and has a solid set of values including caring about being a good man. It's not every day I meet a man who openly admits to wanting to be a good one. I share that desire. When the time comes for someone to remember me, I hope that is one of things that comes to mind. I love it so much when I meet a stranger who is ready to engage in real, vulnerable talk right away. Thanks for that, Jamie. We sat on some cushions on the floor in an empty yoga studio and I spent our time together thoroughly embarrassed by my poor posture...

My partner and I had a yard sale some months ago and we advertised free coffee to lure people in. It worked and ended up bringing Andrew by. We chatted for just a minute and I passed him my card on his way out. Then a couple of months went by and, seemingly out of the blue, I got a text from him, asking if I wanted to meet for coffee. And, just like that, we became friends. I don't meet many people like Andrew. He comes across as happy-go-lucky and optimistic. Nobody would ever refer to me as happy-go-lucky and optimistic probably isn't the word that comes to mind when most think of me, although it might actually be a fair descriptor. Anyway, I found Andrew's take on things to be refreshing and thought he might have something to contribute here. Be sure to keep an eye out for him. He will surely brighten your day.

Carol Delmonico referred Ed to me. We met for the first time at his home and dove into good conversation right away. While he graciously made me a cup of coffee, his cats, Katniss and Norton, sized me up and quickly gave me the okay. A grandfather clock served as a metronome to our time together - you might hear it in the background if you pay close attention. My grandparents had one of those clocks and I think of my grandmother whenever I see one. She used to always yell, "Pick one!" when I would make frequent trips in and out of the house, the screen door smacking the frame with every back and forth. That was back in Maine. And it turns out that Ed also spent some time back there. I like meeting New England folks; they have a different way of talking and I realize how much I miss it every time I reencounter it. It's matter-of-fact, but not rude. Ed has that way and I really enjoyed chatting with him. Maybe you'll recognize it as you read or listen below.

Carol Delmonico introduced me to Liz at a Stoke Your Woke event at the library and recommended her to this project right then and there. Not even two weeks later we were diving deep into it in her office. Liz is fiery and really fun to talk with. She's got a lot on her heart and mind and is putting really positive energy and good work out into the world. Our interview ended up being quite a bit more conversational than many others have been. If you listen to the audio, you'll hear a bit more of our back and forth than I transcribed. The main course is below, though, so you'll get a fair portion even if you choose to read. Liz tells it like it is. I like that. I come from Maine and maybe I'm romanticizing it or suffering from some nostalgia, but talking with Liz brought me back there. High-five, Liz! I'm looking forward to talking with you again and again.

My dear friend Adam introduced me to Britt a few months ago. He was in California for a wedding, so I made the beautiful drive down there to meet up with him. And Britt, a friend of Adam's from college days, made the trip up from Southern California. Somehow our first meeting felt like a reunion and, without missing a beat, we got along splendidly. We tried to do this interview then, but it just didn't fit into our busy social schedule. As luck would have it, though, Britt came up to Oregon for a wedding and came through Bend with a lovely group of people in tow. We all became fast friends and the entire day was filled with love and a special kind of camaraderie. We carved out a little time for this conversation, which, for the first time in this history of this project, took place in my home. Britt is a lovely human who is incredibly thoughtful and patient and kind. I am so grateful for our friendship and am very excited to introduce you to her here.