The Importance of a Gathering Place
Author: Ken Homer Issue: 2024-02-21
The Importance of a Gathering Place
by Ken Homer
For years our friends Kiki and David Had the perfect party house An enclosed courtyard in the front A spacious deck in the back overlooking a creek And in-between a house with a large living room Commodious kitchen – a dining room table that seats 12
Plus Kiki is a fabulous cook At least two to three times a month She’d put the word out to the 3 or 4 couples Who made up our inner circle Bocce at 4PM followed by potluck at our house She’d make an amazing main dish And we’d all bring sides Wine flowed freely – weed was plentiful too
On special occasions – birthdays and holidays mainly They’d host a party with up to 20 or 25 people This went on for over a decade It kept us all close and engaged in each other’s lives
Then came their announcement We are subletting our house We’re going to travel for a year There was a big farewell party There were tears too
Six months later they came back This time with a different announcement: We’ve decided to move to the Pacific Northwest (To be closer to the grandkids) This is a permanent move
All of us were happy for them and sad for us No one else has a house that can accommodate us all Well, in the summer we meet at the bocce court Or out at Samuel P Taylor or on someone’s deck But “party central” had closed with deleterious effects On the couples who had so regularly gathered over the years
We still see each other - in smaller configurations It’s not the same and it's not as often When we meet we talk about how much We miss the good old days - which ain’t coming back
It’s amazing how the right place to meet Can enhance or diminish a community
Related:
- Ken Homer (author)
- 2024 (year)
- Topics: Events and Gatherings