Awful day, friends (not veg-related)

[yewberry]

(Elad or Mods--if you want to move move this, please delete instead. I'm not prepared to have this post moved to a higher-traffic board. I'd really be fine with the deletion.)


So.

Some of you may know that I've been doing a year of service this year. As of today, it's over. Phew. It's been a really tough year, but I really feel good about the work I did. In less than two hours, my term will be over and I can say what I really think about my boss! (...hello, Mr. Bush!)

Well, given the stipend that we get (below poverty level,) I've been doing some pick-up work to help make ends meet. Most recently, I've been working with a Jewish organization here in Seattle. I've done a lot of volunteer work for them this year (because the feds like for us to work with faith-based organizations) and they've been kind enough to offer me paid work when I have the time, as I now know their system pretty well.

It's a hard place to work right now. On Friday, I locked up the office just about the same time as the attack on the Jewish Federation started, just down 3rd Ave. The FBI has been talking to us a lot, and we're trying hard to keep working without fear. We have double-locked doors, an intercom system, and a camera in the hallway. Pretty safe. I confess--I got pretty freaked out by a delivery guy who didn't ring the bell, until I realized that he delivering the new Yellow Pages. :eyes:

A good piece of news: the agency has a really good relationship with local Isalmic & Christian orgs, and we're setting up public meetings to try to work throught this time. (Heads up: I'm Uni-Uni, so I have a stake in and some responsibility for all of the faiths involved here.) The multi-faith aspect will help, I hope.

I was supposed to begin a call list today to get responses for a big dinner that's coming up. I looked over the list this morning, and saw Pam Waechter's name a few names from the top. Shit. Pam was killed on Friday. Shit.

I put the list away.

I don't know if I can start those calls tomorrow. I guess I'll have to. I just feel so badly. Those women--they're just like me. Just office workers who never hurt anyone. Sheesh. It's going to be hard to place all of those calls. Everyone's so freaked out.

Seriously, this sucks.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

1. these are for you

:hug::grouphug::loveya:

[yewberry]

5. Thanks

I needed that.

(And now, would you run over to dojo's and fedex me a soyburger dinner?)

[flamingyouth]

2. I'm so sorry.

It does indeed suck. My dad's former small business advertised in the Jewish Transcript back when I was a kid and I used to take the copy down there, so I've been in that office quite a few times. I feel so bad for you, having a connection like that. :hug::grouphug:

[yewberry]

6. Thanks, flamingyouth

It's strange when things like this interfere into the small part of the world that is ours.

I am really pleased (maybe grateful is a better word?) with the way that local communities are handling this. There was some incredible footage on Q13 news over the weekend of an older Muslim man, an immigrant, who'd set up a sign at the JF reading, "I am a Muslim American, but today I am a Jew." He told anyone who would listen that we don't come to America to hate and that we must love each other here.

That's the spirit.

[flvegan]

3. Wow, I'm sorry

I honestly can't imagine what this is like for you.

I can also understand not wanting this on a big board here.

[yewberry]

7. Hey, thanks flvegan.

Today was a little better, though.

And I hope nobody minds the non-veg post...I just didn't want to share the weird sense of vulnerability that this has created for me and I didn't want this to be part of the I/P wars.

[LeftyMom]

4. I'm sorry that you are facing this.

:hug:

Congrats on finishing your year of service. I wish it had been on a happier day.

[yewberry]

8. You know what?

You are the first person to congratulate me on the national service--that really feels nice. Thanks for that, LM!

[Robeson]

9. I'm so sorry, tofunut....

...I hope you know you'll always have friends in this group. I'm sure Elad knows the same.

[yewberry]

11. Thanks Robeson!

(Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner--I figured that I needed a break for a day or so. The I/P threads were pretty discouraging.)

It's nice to feel like there's a little corner of the internets where I can unload a bit!

[NMMNG]

10. I wish there was some way to eradicate hatred and violence

I'm sorry you have to deal so closely with all of this. :hug:

[yewberry]

12. Ooh, a Buffy hug!

Thanks for your kindness.

It's funny--so many various communities here have been trying really hard to make this an opportunity to work and talk together; it sucks to have it become a rallying cry for less tolerance and understanding.

:shakes head: