So today was the highly anticipated Community Action Fair for my county, held at the Seaside Convention Centre in lovely downtown Seaside, Oregon. Bus rides were free all day today throughout the system and BF came down just before 10am to go see what they had to offer.
We waited for the bus and talked, wondering who we would see there and who we might know from the local services we do use. The day was sunny and brisk, it really felt springy today. It was good to be outside in the air with my best friend on a nice day. Seems like it's been too long since that happened.
When the bus finally came it was full of people just like us, eagerly anticipating the fair.
Our buses aren't big, but they get the job done. We rode over to Seaside and the whole bus was buzzing with excitement. People talking about last year, what was offered and what wasn't, things they needed this year but didn't need last and vice versa - and old friends catching up.
One young man had a $50 bill he was showing around because he couldn't break it at the local mini mart - the bill was from 1934 and didn't have the safety features for the safe to accept it. It was handed around gently and the group consensus was it was in good to very good condition and he should take it to the local coin shop to have it appraised.
A younger woman found a pair of gloves on the seat and tossed them to an older man to keep. He gave them to the driver in case the owner called after them and gently told the girl that he would get a pair of his own and thanked her for the thought. She blushed and was quiet the rest of the ride.
In between the chatter of all our hopes and wishes - new shoes, warm coat, toothpaste, blankets, haircuts - oh, we all wanted haircuts! I just looked around. We could have been any people in any time really - tired faces, worn around the edges, holes in cuffs and elbows, knees and collars, uneven soles and lank hair. All the men had some kind of facial hair, either from choice like myself or lack of several days access to a clean razor. And despite the worn edges and tired eyes, we were happy people, glad to see one another, sharing cigarettes and stories, well wishes and gossip, all going to the county fair.
But there were no rides at this fair, no midway games. We arrived and were given a number and a master sheet with the lay out and booth specialties. Each person or family was called by number and given a personal guide for their visit to help them find all the services they need.
BF and I went with Nigel, a young man from Job Corps. Our first stop was an intake table where we gave some basic information and were given a checklist with highlighted areas to help Nigel run is through the gauntlet - and then we were sent through the double doors to the fair.
I should point out that during the whole event of 5 hours I saw a total of six people of colour. This is a very white part of the country - while there were many bilingual guides available only 3 were needed - and two of the people of colour were volunteers.
random
It bothers me when there aren't enough people of colour around, though I wouldn't wish our collective circumstances on anyone for any reason. I have a random theory this is something almost uniquely American, this unsettled feeling I have when there are too many all white people around. Maybe it's just me, I don't know. I certainly look white enough to be white, but I know according to some white people I am decidedly not white being Jewish.
/random
SO. Fair. We are there.
Everything was laid out in sections so you could walk through like any other conventional convention set up. It was perky, friendly, upbeat and there were about 25 or so booths with information or services.
First we went to get our hearing and eyes checked - they had a Lions Club mobile off to the side. Unfortunately it wasn't a full eye exam, but I am supposed to talk to Shockwave tomorrow via phone anyway. <---- THIS? Is an awesome person for offering to help with the cost of glasses. I am simply floored and grateful at the offer and insist you be proclaimed in some small way.</p>
I do have some midrange hearing loss in my right ear, but nothing worth getting a hearing aid over yet. Blood pressure and diabetes check all good - on to the next section!
I got a tetanus vax and info on how to get Hep vaxes as well for no cost - go to the STD clinic, not the immunization clinic. I also had an HIV test, was offered information on family planning and both male and female condoms. The confidential intake form had multiple gender options available including MtF, FtM (with optional pre and post op designations), M, F and Other. I considered Other simply because it's a nice option, but opted for traditional M. Information was made available in the confidential HIV testing area for women and men for genital and urinary health, including access to appointments at a later date.
The local schools were there, the local pools were there offering scholarship and grant information on memberships and free day passes to all who stopped by. The bus service had new 2011 mini schedules and green bags, as did several other booths.
The DMV was there, Social Security, food banks, shelters, addiction support and recovery groups, a real pregnancy clinic that offered real choices beyond be a happy mum or adopt out with calm, sensible mum-type ladies there to talk to worried women in a private area. There was one of the other kind to, but not many women seemed to talk to them.
I stopped at the NAMI booth and the gentleman seemed very cool, there is a local depression support group I am going to check out. Maybe they can help me sort out my UI difficulties too as I was effectively fired for being depressed.
The salon was in a corner area with three working stylists and a waiting list. We put our names on the list and were checked for headlice, then approved for cuts. In the end we never actually made it to the haircuts - they were so busy we accepted vouchers for a local barber shop to let some older ladies get in before they closed for the day.
We went to the clothing and personal items area while we waited on the list - this was an open series of tables where people were free to browse and mingle - there was a lot of fashion advice going on. BF found a jacket, I found a hoodie and another blanket for padding, we both got some soap, shampoo, etc. periodically checking back on the hair line. There were shaving kits (including a packet of "bumpless" hair remover for curly beards) available as well as feminine products and diapers, combs, soaps, toothbrushes - they ran out of floss and toothpaste but had plenty of everything else. I was actually forced to take a bag with probably a dozen "hotel" shampoos and soaps I will pass along to others individually as I have some already.
My best score was a pair of desert boots, army surplus in my size. Bonus round for small feet, I had three pairs to choose from. I am very hard on shoes with my foot issue and constant walking, having two pairs will make them last longer and wear more evenly.
By the time we were through all the areas to where the promised hot meal was - the food was gone. There were so many people there this year compared to last they literally ran out of food. While I was a little disappointed, I knew I had food on the baked potato and my foot was pretty achy, so we took the exit interview and caught the bus back home.
All in all it was an excellent day. People were quieter on the ride back, loaded with bags and fresh hair and quiet smiles of small contentment. Maybe we hadn't gotten everything we wanted, but the effort and work it took for these people to bring all the services together in one place and bring us there for free was priceless.
I'm poor. Lots of folks are these days. But we poor people know how to have a good time together and today restored a little bit of my hope for our species. There was no drama, no fights, no one took more than they needed of anything. We were treated with dignity and respect and I went home happy and footsore.
As a follow up to regular readers: please feel free to help me keep my ego in check here both of you
One of my fraternity brothers has a foot brace for my condition they no longer need. It should be in the mail tonight or tomorrow.
BF is getting married tomorrow morning at the court house and I will be his best man. I'm so happy for them I could bust.
Our friend in the van got a job at the mini mart today and we picked up dog food and treats for his Susie at the fair.
No huge update from the drowning man other than he is expected to make a full if slow recovery. YAY!
So that's pretty much it from baked potato island for today. Thank you all so much for reading my ramblings and for your generous support and encouragement. A rabbi once told me when I expressed shame at being poor,"You? You should not be ashamed. You give others the opportunity to do a mitzvah, to heal the world! We should be ashamed we are not judged capable of carrying such a job ourselves."