Delicious fare rustled up by volunteer cook-geniuses
I would say that for at least 90% of my life, I have been too busy. I’ve gotten by on too little sleep by slamming redbull before french class. I’ve forgotten to show up for that over there because I was too busy doing this and that and this over here. I’ve been hounded by deadlines and up all night and rushing here and there with millions of to do lists falling out of my bag. People to see, projects to execute, i’s to dot and t’s to cross. Happy, because I was doing so many things that I enjoyed, but also stressed out, sleep deprived, running on empty, and leaving little things undone.
Recently, however, I’ve been bored. Bored and broke and with few friends. Living in the suburbs, it was hard to get out. Transportation is expensive, so is toll, food, drinks, movies, and most everything else you could do for fun times. It led to many a night eating beans and rice and watching movies on the internet, feeling unmotivated and depressed because there is no pulse to life when you’re unemployed and have no regular schedule. There are no constant places to be, things to do, people to see, stories to tell, parties to plan, entertaining to be done.
I do better when I’m not bored. When there are things to do, communities to be a part of, projects to work on, goals to aspire to. Since the move to the city, I’m still broke. There’s not a ton to do when the world is a big puddle outside, but I can feel the boredom seeping away, slowly. Even surfing online is more active. There’s the searching and planning for things to do. Cheap yoga classes to find, cheap shows, happy hours, discount movies, art openings, and bus tours.
This weekend, after we had recovered from moving in the worst storm of the year and the subsequent illness it bestowed on us, we finally got out. On Saturday we volunteered at All Access Cafe, an all volunteer-run donation based community brunch. I bussed tables and T washed dishes while mountains of delicious vegan food poured out of the kitchen. Bands played, people danced and did flips on the dance floor, tea and mimosas were served and there were big grins all around. This is what I’m talking about! I always wanted to start a secret cafe, ever since I read about one in Doris zine . It would be a place only known by word of mouth. There would be good food and good company for cheap. Sometimes live music, sometimes art workshops, sometimes dance or yoga classes on the floor. Board games, space helmet parades, good tea and bread and cookies.Everyone would feel welcome there, and everyone would be welcome. There would be no hip-hierarchy. You wouldn’t have to spend money to come and hang out. It would be like a clubhouse for whoever wanted to come. A community for people who wanted a real community, instead of feeling the isolation of living in a society that’s entirely based on money, having it and getting it.
After brunch, Tim and I walked home, the cafe still buzzing in our over-stimulated heads. We walked home to our new place, watching all the people filling the streets. We smelled all the smells, looked in shop windows. Later we went to a free event at Grace Cathedral, where hipsters were dancing to DJs in the huge gothic building. We walked through the night lights. There were people everywhere, and it made me think that this was what I was missing. All kinds of people all around me.
The cafe was a great taste of something I really need to find for myself. I can’t wait to gather up friends, projects, community, food, and music until I’m busy again, running around without a moment to catch my breath. It’s seeping in slowly, but surely, like rain that gives the park grass that satisfying squish. I can’t wait.
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where do you live????
we need to catch up!
How is it possible I don’t even know where you live?!