A table, food and building a community

We all have one of those friends – that totally together person who can do it all – and even when she writes about what she views as her shortcomings she further cements our total admiration of her. My friend is Kim Foster – gorgeous blonde, sexy husband, beautiful children, words spray magically from her like a fountain, champion to so many (including myself) and just when you think that this woman can’t be more incredible – she sucker punches you with her class. Her post Kitchen Supper blew me away – she makes me want to be a better person.

As I was putting together a June preview post, I came across this title The Turquoise Table and it made me think of Kim and all the things I want to do to make the world a better place. Kristin Schell put an ordinary picnic table in her front yard, painted it turquoise, and began inviting friends and neighbors to join her and her community changed.

Instead of talking about the things I want to do – I need to do them. Yes, I take food to the Salvation Army Thrift Store staff who are in the rehab program, I donate to causes, I have people over, I throw brownies over the fence to my neighbors – but I want more. I want to be in a place where anyone at any time can come and sit and enjoy a meal. I want to be Kim damn it. 

When I was younger, every year I had Friendsgiving – all the folks from my life who had nowhere to be came and ate with us. Food can be the Pied Piper – set it out, ring a bell, yell over the fence and people will come together – that is my hope. Wouldn’t the world be a better place, if we all came together more and celebrated our differences?

When we were visiting with my son’s psychologist on Wednesday, we talked about volunteering at a soup kitchen, taking care packages to the homeless – it is time to stop talking about it and to start doing it. I want to find one day a month to open up my backyard to people in our neighborhood and beyond – to come grab a sandwich, sit down and get to know each other better. I want to stop wallowing in my own troubles and truly work toward being the Kim Foster I know I can be – one meal and one good deed at a time.

Photo of Kim in her kitchen from her website taken by Emily Wilson. Photograph of picnic table, mine – it’s not turquoise but it will do.