Smuggling Grace

On last night’s walk, I was traveling alongside the left side of the road, and someone was walking that same side of the road but traveling in the opposite direction. The road bent just a little bit, and when I turned the corner, she did at the same time, and now we were wandering aimlessly toward each other. It was one of those, “Do you want to dance?” moments.

We caught sight each other well before we would have collided, or for that matter, danced. But this situation just cracked this woman up. She thought it was so funny. And her disproportionate laugh the moment made me start laughing too.

This wasn’t a major moment of my day or even the funniest thing that happened yesterday. It was a little laughing moment that snapped me out of being in a foggy funk. And I thought, we really need these silly surprises, don’t we?

I’ll take it.

–Renee Roederer

While taking a walk, I saw that my neighbors have a fun, cute little set of shelves called the “Little Free Native Swap.” (Pictured above) It says, “Take a treasure… leave a treasure!” So there are fun seeds, twigs, leaves, and shells from the beach. People are changing them out bit by bit.

This made me smile so much. I’m going to have to make a swapperoo soon.

–Renee Roederer

A friend and I were walking to lunch in Chelsea, Michigan when we saw people holding signs on all the street corners of the main intersection in town. “Chelsea Welcomes Everybody,” one sign read, as they also held anti-racist signs and LGBTQIA+ flags.

“Thank you for being out here,” I said to one of the folks. I’ve been aware that they come out here every single Sunday. They get some resistance occasionally, but mostly, they receive honks from people driving by. This becomes an occasion to quell violence and stand for values that promote inclusion and affirmation.

“This is week 130,” she said back to me. I smiled and thanked her again. I’m very moved by what they’re doing.

This group of people, mostly white Boomers, began doing more than two years ago this when young people in Chelsea held an anti-racism protest and were arrested. “We’re not letting that happen to them again,” she said.

What a beautiful expression of affirmation and support.

–Renee Roederer

— Photos by Renee Roederer

@open_future_learning

#intellectualdisabilities #developmentaldisabilities #downsyndrome #autism video ft David Pitonyak

♬ original sound – OpenFutureLearning

https://twitter.com/B_S_B_S__/status/1575839481092972544

When I cut open this watermelon, this lovely pattern greeted me. It was tasty too.

I came home from work yesterday, and this cute, oblong pumpkin was on my porch. Where did it come from, and from whom? I do not know. I have asked my neighbors. I have asked Facebook. No one knows.

It’s a mystery.

Maybe if I touch it and say magic words it will transport me to a vacation.

Wise words from cassie batterbee.

@expiredgranola

#socialjustice #criticalconnections #criticalrelationship #discourse #community #performativeactivism #performativeallyship #relationship

♬ original sound – granola

When Trader Joe’s was filled to the brim with people shopping on Sunday, I stood with my cart in a long checkout line that reached back into the grocery aisles. We were still having fun though. There was R&B/Hip Hop style jam on, and lots of people knew it. So I noticed multiple people dancing a little in place as we stood there to wait.

And that’s when a woman walked by, jamming, and she was carrying an 8 pack of Spindrift Sparkling Water over her shoulder. And it looked too much like an old school boombox not to burst out with laughter. That was delightful.

— Renee Roederer