The December Just Posts

...and anniversary party/baby shower to boot!



During my first volunteer shift on Tuesday morning, a young woman--no more than 24--approached me on the street and gave me a warm, solid hug. "Thank you for the work you do. It is important. I know. I had an abortion 8 years ago." Her eyes didn't tear up but her words were strong with emotion as she glanced over at the elderly man carrying an "abortuary" protest sign. Other old men, for today it was all old men, stood poised, ready to chase the cars of newly arriving patients. I hugged her in return and said, "thank you," awkwardly, for this was only my first shift, after all. The woman continued along down the street.

The volunteer I was paired with was a garrulous 20 year old, an undergrad so certain that she and her friends had invented feminism somewhere between a Poli-Sci lecture and Women's Studies 101. She was the kind of youngin' I used to be. Using that tone she asked me, "what gave you the push to finally come out a do something about all this?" Part of me wanted to smack down her insolence. IT WAS ME MARCHING IN THE STREET EVERY WEEK FOR A YEAR BACK IN '88 SO THAT CLINICS LIKE THIS ONE COULD FINALLY EXIST, SO THAT WOMEN AND TEENS WOULD NOT BE SENT TO JAIL OR BACK ALLEYS IN THIS SITUATION. IT HAS BEEN ME WRITING LETTERS, COMING TO RALLIES, SUPPORTING THIS CAUSE FOR OVER HALF MY LIFE..., but then I managed to turn down the volume on my inner sanctimonologue and find my focus. "I've got a young child, I replied. This is a small chunk of time that I can make work."

Later, as I signed out to end my shift, I glanced over at the waiting room that, on this particular morning, was filled with scrawny, wide-eyed teen girls, some with mothers weary from the long drive to get here and others with cocky, nervous boyfriends--boys who never imagined themselves in this role. Middle school sex-ed simply did not prepare them for this early morning reality. It is the image of the girls, though, that stays in my mind: scared, uncertain yet certain, awaiting the individual counseling that would allow them to decide their future free from the pressures of those that brought them yet not immune from those attendant personalities and circumstances. By the end of the day, most would be on their way home no longer pregnant. Some would have changed their minds. The choice, though, would have been theirs.

I know this work seems an odd gift to bring to a baby shower but it is the volunteer commitment that calls loudest to me, especially given the economics and politics of my region. It is the work that, at this time in my life, I feel I must do. In my job as a volunteer all I do is stand on the street wearing a clearly labeled vest and help escort patients and their families through the protesters and into the clinic. That's it. I offer no support, no words of comfort, no guidance. I'm just a non-judgmental face and a buffer body. I do not need to use my brain or my talents, which is good because I do this work at the crack of dawn, outside, in a Canadian winter. This is the time I have available to give and the clinic needs me.

Think globally; act locally.
For over a year now, I have been doing a lot of thinking and writing about global and large-scale social justice issues on the blog. I will continue to do so, but as those of you who come here regularly know, I am deeply troubled by my own stance to the local. I know in my heart that I need more engagement with local issues and this simple commitment of 90 minutes every other week should allow me to start building the connections I need to this place. I am taking it all in small steps, partly because I have precious little free time and partly because I am still exhausted from an overwhelming volunteer commitment in the arts that I let go of just a year and a half ago. Still, I am prepared to get my toes wet and hope that, once again, I do not find myself drowning in a few months time because of my sheep dog desire to please.

When Andrea came to us last month with the idea of a baby and with a shower gift of her own to give, I was floored by her gesture. I also saw instantly that this was the answer to my own malaise. Over the last month so many of you have written posts or left detailed comments about how you plan to give back to your communities or about how you have actively been doing so all along. Frankly, it's been overwhelming--like receiving a hand-made crib quilt with a map of the cosmos stitched on it in silver thread.

I know that not all of us are currently in a place to add more to our schedules (Jeepers, I can barely do it and I have 1 kid and a half-time job) and some of us know that community volunteerism is not the right match for our talents and strengths. That's cool. Totally cool. In taking on this full-family model for the Just Posts, we certainly did not want people to feel pressured or bullied; we just wanted to provide one more way that we can come together to talk and to build strength from each other. Jen and I are pleased with this new babe. Her aunties, Hel and Su, have buttons bursting. And Andrea, the maid of honour/mid-wife, is wiping the sweat from her brow, confident in a job well done. Go visit them all and then go read this month's Just Posts and shower gifts. You are honourary aunties and uncles, all.

Oh, btw, for anyone who is interested, Jen, Andrea and I will be joining the vivacious bon of Crib Chronicles for a live pod cast at 9 EST tonight. Please listen-in and pepper us with questions or frivolous requests. I, for one, would like to hear Jen sing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." If you can't make it for the live feed, we will be linking to a canned version later on but by then your chance to join in the revelry will have passed. The feed will be available at bon's site.

The Just Posts
Laura at Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference
Lawyer Mama with Christmas in Omaha
Magpie with 13 Ways to Help
Painted Maypole with God loves Fags
Reluctant Memsahib with it's the corruption that's the problem
Victoria with Give
The Chick with AIDS facts you should know
Jeff with Bless the invisible children
Mir on blogher with Dutch Diplomats, a Korean Adoptee, and the Unthinkable
Suzanne Reisman on Blogher with Dec. 17 is International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers and When Will We See Some Female Geeks?
Chatoyance with Books will fly through the air for children
Jenn with full circle
Sin with 28
Frieda with What I would pray for, if I prayed
Hearts in SanFran with Only the good die young
HearthTalks with Putting it in perspective
Liz with AIDS: No longer your friendly neighborhood appetite suppressant
Chani with Sanuk is not a four letter word
Veronica with Give
Jen with it's coming on christmas, two little girls, two little girls, pt 2
Lost White Kenyan Chick with Electioneering and corruption
Laloca with Joseph Heller couldn't've come up with this
City Girl with thinking out loud
Ida with Gay and Homeless: The numbers to back it up
Quaker Dave with There are no words
Denguy with Everyone should eat
Jangari with Intervening into the intervention
Emily with Lazy mother's guide to saving the planet
The Individual Voice with Christmas in Iraq and Afganistan
Babylune with it's series of posts culminating with the generous december group writing project
MauiGirl with No more death penalty in New Jersey
Reya with What's important
The Psycho Therapist with If you can't find money to kill people

Baby Shower Gifts
Jenn with Let's change the world, shall we?
Omaha Mama with Giving more and Teaching to Give Back
Andrea with Enough, again.
CCE with A words: Altruism and Asceticism
De with Oh baby,I can help
Sage with Birthing in chains
Karen with Baby shower treats
Alejna with Gifts and thanks
Jennifer with New Year's resolving
Reality Testing with Project Snuggle in conjunction with Flutter's original idea in 2006 there once was a girl
Aliki with Newton's third law
Painted Maypole with Unto us a child is born
Sin with Win-win
The Psycho Therapist with On giving to organizations

Those who listened
TIV: The Individual Voice
Crazymumma
LawyerMama
Painted Maypole
Chani
Jennifer
Mayberry Mom
Pundit Mom
Susanne
Hel
Mad
Jen