What Stretched Your Neck Today?
Note: this is a longer than usual blurb, but I would encourage you to read it all the way through. In defiance of standard online writing conventions, the best part is not in paragraph one.
OK – “What Stretched Your Neck Today” is a strange subject line. And I don’t want to say too much about it because I want to use it in the Talky Bit. I am willing to say that I’m not using it in the “wild west colloquial” sense of “being hanged by the neck”. How about this…let’s have a contest. The first person who can tell me what ancient Greek word might include the idea of “stretching your neck to see” as one of it’s less common definitions will win free Timbits – to be collected when we start regathering at Creative Manitoba again. I feel great about that idea. 🙂
I do realize that I haven’t told you anything meaningful about the Talky Bit. Short version – we’ll be considering some ways of looking at the current pandemic that may be different from those we have coming at us every day.
Back to paragraph one re: gathering in person – We’ve been saying for some time now that there will come a day when we can gather in person again. That’s a complicated idea, fraught with both things we look forward to and things we may fear. In light of that, we’re going to offer an opportunity for the community to gather in person with some guidelines, and we’ll also livestream part of that gathering for those that either can’t be there or who would rather not be there for a variety of reasons.
Here’s the plan as it stands at present: We’re going to have an outdoor gathering on August 23rd (the Sunday following the coming one) at our place (the Plett house). I’ll provide more details regarding address, parking etc in the blurb next week. We’ll gather at 10:45 a.m., as we do online. We’ll sing a bit and have a chance to sit in a circle and check in with one another. Then we’ll go home. In some ways, the outline of the morning will be similar to what we do at Creative.
The details:
*Bad news first – no potluck. In fact, not even a shared picnic or communal fishy crackers. Bring your own drinks and snacks. We really want to get together in person, and we also want to limit any likely means of transmitting Covid in the interest of caring well for one another. Potlucks tend to be extended affairs for our community, and also times when it would be more difficult to honor physical distancing, so we’ve decided to forgo one pleasure for another.
*Bring your own lawn chair or picnic blanket, bug dope, etc. This event will all happen outside (there will be access to an indoor bathroom). If the weather is inclement we’ll cancel and meet online. That announcement will show up on the Facebook page as well as in a last minute email to our regular mailing list, should such a decision be necessary.
*Plan to practice physical distancing as well as you are able. If you come with kids (I MISS THE KIDS!), I know that’ll be more difficult but let’s do our best. Bring your own stash of hand sanitizer, wear a mask if you choose to…but mostly, practice keeping your own space or your family bubble space. One of the reasons we’re doing this outside is to make that possible, so take advantage of the room. To the huggers in the community…I’m sorry. Take a deep breath and save up your hugs. That day will come as well…
*We all know the drill by now…if you’re sick, have a cough or fever, or have been traveling outside of the mandated area, please stay home. We love you – get well, and come to the next gathering. We’re working on that date as well.
I acknowledge that not everyone will think this is a good / timely idea. Please feel free to check in online even if the outside gathering is happening. There will be a Community Time, and I would be pleased to share things that come via the Facebook page, or in response to this email.
In the meantime, I look forward to being “with” you on Sunday.
Peace,
Tim Plett