My Dream Neighborhood
Ann Bennett
Austin TX USA
Report from the 2003 LLLI Conference
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 20 No. 5, September-October 2003, pp. 173
As I attended the 18th LLL
International Conference in San Francisco with my husband, and our two
boys, eight-year-old Adam, and three-year-old Luke, I felt really at
home.
During each session and in
many of the special rooms, such as the publications and technology rooms,
other Leaders had toys that they had brought to give away. My three-year-old
was treated to stickers, paper, crayons, beanie babies, balls, and other
interesting toys.
This was especially helpful
in a continuing education session where a woman in front of me handed
me a small stick of glue, a paper plate, and pom-poms. This kept Luke
enthralled as I learned all about nursing a premature baby. During one
session, he fell asleep. Without my asking, the person next to me packed
up all my toys, helped me get sleeping Luke in the sling, and carried
my bag to my next session.
At the luncheons, Luke was
either in my lap sharing my plate or asleep in the sling. People on
my left and right always poured my water, cut up my food, and buttered
my bread. At one late-night party, Luke was asleep in a position where
I had both arms under him. One woman offered to get me some water. When
she brought it back, she said she would put the glass to my lips and
hold it for me while I drank. I told her that that was above and beyond,
even for an LLLI Conference!
Everyone seemed as though
they were old friends and the most helpful neighbors you could ever
want to have. I went to every session on my schedule with my three-year-old
in tow; he was happy to play with his new friends, new toys, or to nurse
as long and as much as he wanted!
I quickly made friends on
the elevators, during the luncheons, in sessions, and at parties. I
had such a sense of belonging and nurturing. I wished I could pack everyone
up and have them move on to my block. Never before have I been in such
a large group of people where we had so much in common!
When I was a girl, I always
thought about what it would be like to be a mother. I would get the
children off to school then chat with other mothers over coffee while
the toddlers played underfoot. If I had leftover casserole, I would
bring it next door to share. I would have great conversation over a
pile of laundry, which would get folded twice as quick with loving hands
from next door to help. When it was three o'clock and I had sung every
song possible and played every game I could think of, I would send the
children outside to play and know that another mother would be out there
with her children.
This is not my reality at
home. No one to the right or left of me has children and the people
across the street have their babies in full-time daycare. It was not
until I attended the Conference that I felt I was finally in the dream
neighborhood I imagined as a girl. Great conversation and company from
someone you only met minutes ago. I can't wait for two years to come
home to my neighborhood of fast friends and extra hands in Washington
DC at the next Conference. In the meantime, if anyone wants to move
next door the house is for sale! Maybe we could start an LLL neighborhood!
Last updated Tuesday, October 24, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:52 UTC 2007.
