Here I Go...

So, it turns out that Twin Oaks is about 12 miles from Little Flower, so we went swimming there the other day

It’s funny, because I’ve heard quite a bit of Twin Oaks from other folks in the Intentional Community circuit and I even bought the book Is it Utopia Yet? for Hillary during a particularly trying time in our household last year.It’s interesting to read that community’s history and how they have managed to stay together so “successfully” for so long. It’s both a relief and a disappointment to know that even “successful” communities are wrought with drama and discord.

Bill and I spoke out this briefly the other night and we shared both our respect for these kinds of communities and our concern that communities like these are really just creating new systematic constructs that are, in effect, no better than the world we really live in. That is why I feel so called to Christian community and working to manifest the upside-down kingdom here on earth. It’s certainly not easy, or perfect or maybe even possible, but at least it is seeking something truly peculiar (or even… queer?).

I didn’t get to see much of the actual community, but I saw some hammocks and some plants and some people running about.

And the pond! Where we went swimming!

The childrens were mostly concerned about how many “booty butts” they were going to see (mostly, J was preoccupied by this gnawing question), but once they got there, they were pretty into it. Oh, “booty butts”, when are you ever NOT funny?

X joined me on the raft for a bit

And then decided she would rather learn to swim by herself, thankyouverymuch and would definitely have nothing of this “being held” business

Sue-per mom at work again (oh know, J…. your bootybutt)

then we went back for my last night with Little Flower!

Bye, Twin Oaks!

Chris and Melissa’s friend, Chris, will be picking me up this afternoon to go to PAPA Festival for the weekend. I’m sad to leave Little Flower, but think I may return next week for the children’s baptism, if I can work out a ride. There is a lot going on here right now, and I would really like to be able to spend some more time with these folks. There might be a more detailed post about this later, if it is decided that it is appropriate to publicize this trauma. That being said, if you have money that really needs to go to a good cause, contact me!