Street roots., March 16, 2012, Page 12, Image 12

Street roots
March 16, 2012
Fate puts us in unexpected places; we’re on our own from there
shoulder in a bar nine years ago. Which is
known, were debating who to have emcee
C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N I S T
why I had a kid at all - meeting the person
the event and what to put in the slideshow
who I could do that with. Fate puts us in
when I glanced up and saw a one-year-old
’ve been lucky enough for the last five
boy who was seated in his mother’s cart pull unexpected places, and once we re there,
years to write a monthly documentary
it’s on us to perceive what we ought to do.
column on my ever-changing kid Ramona one leg out of the (leg-hole?). He was
As it happens, I got to catch a baby
for Metro Parent Magazine. Basically, it was smiling. He was studying on an adventure
spiraling toward brain damage. As it
that involved getting out of the cart. And
a parenting column by a non-expert parent
happens, my friend’s
when he pulled out the other leg and stood
who was (and is) going at it blind, but with
mom was able to talk
up, his big curly head that is a baby’s center
good intentions. Recently, I had the
me down. As it
of gravity was a good five feet above the
opportunity to move here to Street Roots,
happens, Ramona’s
cold stone floor below. His mother was
where I’ll be moving from What to Do With
I think a lot about how to
dad has a history of
across the room getting water from the
Your Kid this month to talking through
being politically active explain our family*:s position
spigot. Her back was turned.
trying to raise a socially conscious child,
in Portland, and our
Have you seen Twilight? I admit that I
among other things.
in the world, In Portland, to
Kindergartner thinks
have - all of my students love Twilight, and
To start, I’d like to talk about a recent
Ramona (now 5 l/a and very
politics is fun to do.
I wanted to remain culturally relevant to
trip to New Seasons. Yes. The grocery
Last Saturday, a
curious about things, like
them (that’s what I told myself, anyway). So,
store. Maybe the last place you’d connect
friend of ours who is
much like Edward saving Bella from the van
with a philosophy of life and parenting, but
why that man is standing at
running for mayor (all
that’s about to crush her, I found myself
it’s an important place. When I was a young,
the end of the I«5 exit with a
of the candidates are
suddenly all the way across the room, my
unattached, drifting, and quite depressed
sign isn't at home, like we're
good, we just think
chair clattering to the floor behind me,
person and not nearly yet a married, fairly
our friend is the best) about to be), as in how lucky
grabbing the baby by the rib cage just as
happy, college-English-teaching mother of
asked us to canvass
that pendulous head tipped forward into
one, a friend connected me to his own
we are, and what our
and ask people what
thin air and toward what I wouldn’t like to
mother - an 80-something suicide-attempt
responsibilities — as people
they want their next
imagine. Right place, right time.
survivor who gave me two pieces of sage
mayor to prioritize.
who are doing OK in the
I didn’t think, obviously, because there
advice: One, get used to the idea that you
Before we left the
wasn’t time to. When I do have time to
don’t like yourself, and maybe you won’t
world — might be«
coffee
shop
where
our
think,
I
think
a
lot
about
how
to
explain
our
have to react to it so much. Two, when
family’s position in the world, in Portland, to family juiced up,
feeling lost, go to the grocery store.
Ramona pocketed
Ramona (now 5 % and very curious about
Sometimes it’s about finding the right place
about 10 dog treats
things like why that man is standing at the
to be.
from the dish on the
end of the 1-5 exit with a sign isn’t at home,
Why the grocery store? It’s brightly lit.
bar.
like we’re about to be), as in how lucky we
All of the various humans moving around
We had a good day canvassing. Several
are, and what our responsibilities — as
that place are, no matter what’s hurting
doors opened, lots of flyers handed out, lots
people who are doing OK in the world —
them or giving them joy, doing what they
might be. My friend’s mom helped me when of recording email addresses, etc. A couple
must - getting the supplies to keep going.
of no thank yous, etc. It was Ramona’s job
And it is a place of color, bustle, and a lovely I was young and lost. Who carrwe help,
to knock on doors and tuck the flyer under
since we are doing OK? And how?
order. The oranges stacked in radiating
the doormat if no one answered. At one
Ramona, at her young age, actually has a
pyramids. The cereal boxes printed with
house where no one answered the door, we
pretty good head start on being a person
their messages of health and wellness lined
heard a dog barking inside. As Ramona put
who does what she can. She kicked down
in rows. Milk jugs standing in regiments in
the flyer down on the porch, she weighted it
half her piggybank to the Home Again
an air-cooled case, waiting to go home and
with one of the dog biscuits from her
project to house families experiencing
build bones. It is a place of living.
pocket. “They can give the treat to their
homelessness last Christmas. And she’s a
That occurred to me about a week ago
dog!” she announced.
brilliant political canvasser, too. She gets
after I dropped off my kid at Ockley Green
Indeed. That’s how we start. Keep our
that from her dad, who I only ended up
School and then met another parent in the
eyes and ears open. Be involved, and try to
being married to because he was wearing a
New Seasons dining room for coffee and
listen. Look for opportunities. Offer what we
planning a charity auction. Julian’s Mom and jacket I once owned and donated to
can.
Goodwill in 1998 - that’s why I tapped his
I, Ramona’s Mom, as we’re commonly
BY M ELISSA FA VA R A
I
Melissa Favara
teaches English in
Vancouver and lives
and writes in North
Portland, where she
parents Ramona, age
5, hosts a bi-monthly
reading series, and
counts her husband
and her city as the
two great loves o f her
life.
greenhotline ®
“Anytime I see a
vendor and have extra
money, I am never
reluctant to buy one of
Bll
;■ <
Street Roots! Keep up
all the good work!”
Vendor Saul Cortez
■i, 7- ' ’ ’ ' ■■
— Carrie Zuber
• v 'Ì ■