Moving Right Along

After a few weekend side trips, I'm ready for some down time in Charlotte. A quick visit from my parents included a trip to Asheville, a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and yet another opportunity for my parents to watch me play soccer, as if they haven't had enough. Lexington Ave in Asheville reminded me of walking along Hawthorne Blvd in Portland or along Pearl St in Boulder. It was oddly familiar to be in a white liberal hub but for now I'm happy not to reside in one. Our drive along the Blue Ridge Pkwy was cut short due to rock slides but full of amazing and unfamiliar colors and scenery. In Asheville for "leaf season" meant we met the crowds around dinner time but the delicious tapas meal was well worth it. We passed on an elitist historic opporutnity to tour the Biltmore mansion and grounds for $60 per person. Dad would've enjoyed those gardens but no way.

For my visit to Sandy Springs, GA I stayed with the city's mayor, Eva, Dan's grandmother. The Galambos clan coming together from Washington, Tennessee, Conneticut, and Georgia reminded me of the Thompson clan gathering in Huntington Bay, New York for a get together. It was awesome to witness the 60th wedding anniversary of Dan's grandparents Eva and John and consume more seafood in one sitting than ever before.

Work at the Urban Ministry Center is so challenging and invigorating. So many people are eager to get involved and my job is to figure out how best the soccer team can employ their energies, talents, and skills. It's a constant challenge to separate work and the rest of my life and not internalize the urgency and struggles that people face every day. To keep up with Street Soccer 945 check out our blog authored by yours truly.

I was recently denyed food stamps for having too much savings in my account. I was frustrated that the incentive created for me is to exhaust my funds until I'm eligible. The Urban Ministry Center is raising funds to construct a supportive housing complex for the chronically homeless, those who are most likely to die on the streets and who use a majority of community resources. My frustration might be similar to someone who is experiencing homelessness for the first time, someone who has come across hard circumstances and is trying to get back on their feet. They might be denied affordable housing reserved for the chronically homeless because they're not homeless enough? and have not exhausted enough resources?

Urban Ministry Center's Voices of Love choir is gearing up for 5 performances in 10 days. I'm very excited to see some of Charlotte's community choirs at next weekend's event Give Thanks and Sing. All's well from the city of churches...