I love Utopia v 3789
Yesterday, some of the neighborhood kids decided to build Thumper a bike with training wheels. Yep. Build him. A bike. They had a frame that fit him. They had wheels with tires that just needed a wee bit of patching. A couple other kids from the block had some long-outgrown training wheels lying around. And entirely on their own, without adult prompting whatever, these eleven and twelve and thirteen year olds got together and built the bike. (With some supervision from my visiting friend Adam, who–handily–has been known to moonlight as a bike mechanic. But he just instructed. The kids did the work.)
Billy and I picked up a boatload of ice cream to thank them, and yesterday evening found our front yard filled with all of the neighborhood kids and their parents. Fifteen or so kids? And their parents. And everyone standing around talking and laughing and eating ice cream, the kids running around and playing and Thumper so very, very proud of his new bike.
I have no pictures to show you, because they would be pictures filled with other people’s children, and I have a policy not to post those. So just trust me. It was chaotic, and sugar-filled, and totally magical.
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Heeee! What a great image. no pic needed.
Heeee! What a great image. no pic needed.
What a wonderful little story. It really sounds like you chose a great neighborhood to move to.
What a wonderful little story. It really sounds like you chose a great neighborhood to move to.
God I needed to hear something like that. I’m sitting here with cramps, grumpy and fretting. Thanks.
God I needed to hear something like that. I’m sitting here with cramps, grumpy and fretting. Thanks.
That’s so awesome!
That’s so awesome!
You really ARE in Utopia!!!
You really ARE in Utopia!!!
wow, girl, you made such a great move when you found this utopia. i can just see that little boy on his bike, watching the big kids and learning how to grow up proper. just awesome.
wow, girl, you made such a great move when you found this utopia. i can just see that little boy on his bike, watching the big kids and learning how to grow up proper. just awesome.
Now that is an image of America we can all love.
Now that is an image of America we can all love.
Thanks for the good news. I LOVE good news!
Thanks for the good news. I LOVE good news!
That’s lovely.
That’s lovely.
So portland
So portland
Wow. Glad to hear you found the right place.
Wow. Glad to hear you found the right place.
Total Utopia (sigh). I need to make another visit out West. Friends from college who were visiting just left to return home to Portland. I miss them already.
Total Utopia (sigh). I need to make another visit out West. Friends from college who were visiting just left to return home to Portland. I miss them already.
This story makes me so happy. To know that teenagers — who have every right to be surly just b/c, well, b/c they’re teenagers — are so fond of your family that they wanted to build a bike for Thumper, seriously warms my heart.
I have to tell you: every story that I hear about something good happening in America is set in Portland. Last week I had a total, “I HAVE TO MOVE TO PORTLAND!” moment while listening to a story on NPR. I don’t know if I could move that far from the village at this stage of my life, but if I ever decide to shake things up, Portland is my Mecca.
xo, Jess
This story makes me so happy. To know that teenagers — who have every right to be surly just b/c, well, b/c they’re teenagers — are so fond of your family that they wanted to build a bike for Thumper, seriously warms my heart.
I have to tell you: every story that I hear about something good happening in America is set in Portland. Last week I had a total, “I HAVE TO MOVE TO PORTLAND!” moment while listening to a story on NPR. I don’t know if I could move that far from the village at this stage of my life, but if I ever decide to shake things up, Portland is my Mecca.
xo, Jess
Be careful! We’re all going to want to move to your Utopia!
What a wonderful story. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Be careful! We’re all going to want to move to your Utopia!
What a wonderful story. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Wow. That’s so nice!
Wow. That’s so nice!
I’m so glad you’ve found your place.
I’m so glad you’ve found your place.
If I didn’t love where I live, and that annoying citizenship problem, I’d move to Portland.
If I didn’t love where I live, and that annoying citizenship problem, I’d move to Portland.
Oh wow – that is so cool!
Oh wow – that is so cool!
Awww! That’s so wonderful! Sounds like you guys picked a very good neighborhood.
Awww! That’s so wonderful! Sounds like you guys picked a very good neighborhood.
That’s the cutest thing ever!
That’s the cutest thing ever!
wow. just wow. SO glad for you all and especially for Thumper.
wow. just wow. SO glad for you all and especially for Thumper.
Wow wow wow. Any doubts about moving out there must be long gone by now, eh? What an amazing community you’ve found.
Wow wow wow. Any doubts about moving out there must be long gone by now, eh? What an amazing community you’ve found.
That is just awesome. Sounds like an amazing place.
On a totally unrelated note, thanks for the words of sympathy about Kerowyn. I still miss her, but it’s getting easier.
That is just awesome. Sounds like an amazing place.
On a totally unrelated note, thanks for the words of sympathy about Kerowyn. I still miss her, but it’s getting easier.
That is absolutely amazing … just wow. How lovely of those children to think of another before themselves.
That is absolutely amazing … just wow. How lovely of those children to think of another before themselves.
watching those guys build the bike as i planted bushes all afternoon just made my day. it totally made my heart go pitter pat.
watching those guys build the bike as i planted bushes all afternoon just made my day. it totally made my heart go pitter pat.
That is truly Utopia. 🙂
That is truly Utopia. 🙂
In my neighborhood people leave their trash on the streets all the time, including a ripped bag of cement that laid on the sidewalk for weeks, my husband was so infuriated by it that he finally picked it up. We need some utopia, I think! Can’t wait to see a picture of Thumper on his new bike. What a good neighborhood!!
In my neighborhood people leave their trash on the streets all the time, including a ripped bag of cement that laid on the sidewalk for weeks, my husband was so infuriated by it that he finally picked it up. We need some utopia, I think! Can’t wait to see a picture of Thumper on his new bike. What a good neighborhood!!
Gah! Utopia! What a fantastic summer memory.
Gah! Utopia! What a fantastic summer memory.
Oh wow. That sounds perfectly lovely.
Oh wow. That sounds perfectly lovely.
and such is life in utopia…
and such is life in utopia…
Having been there, I can honestly say that it was all that. What a treat.
Having been there, I can honestly say that it was all that. What a treat.
Yup, magic. I love those spontaneous community moments.
Yup, magic. I love those spontaneous community moments.