Citizen Journalist by riyo bischoff- resident & guest of the meal
edited by sarina e. guerra
My future grandchildren may never believe this story about the time I had Thanksgiving in the middle of the California desert while staying in an independent off-grid town called Slab City. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon in the mid-70s as a nice cool breeze graced those of us who gathered together for the Thanksgiving meal organized by the #slabcitycareclub and their generous donors. This Thanksgiving dinner has hands down become one of my favorite memories as I can honestly say that I sat down to eat with people from all over the world on one of the most uniquely American holidays there is. When you have nothing but good conversations, and see only smiling faces, that’s when you know…
One of my favorite parts of this day was meeting a woman from Sweden and talking with her about the unique differences of our respective countries – as she got to experience one of the most American traditions. This made me think of how defined this Thanksgiving dinner was for me in particular, for I believe it exemplified exactly what Thanksgiving is all about. To me, it’s about being accepted even if you’re different, and being thankful for one another along the way. I honestly do not think anyone else in the world could have celebrated Thanksgiving in as defined a way as I did. And most of all, I really enjoyed sharing a meal with my neighbors, friends, and the family I chose. Nothing can beat the feeling of having people in your life that love you, and who will be there for you, and that is exactly what this community is all about.
To add to my already unforgettable experience on this Thanksgiving day, I received news that my mother wound up with a broken van and became stranded about 85 miles away from me. Right then, I called upon the community for help and sure enough, people readily donated their time and money to help bring her home. The best thing about this was that not many people have met my mother and still the community offered to help a complete stranger. I immediately felt relief when I heard she was able to pay a mechanic to fix her van because of it, and in the end she was able to drive back down to Slabs to continue her visit with me. It was at this moment, I think she knew she didn’t have to worry about me out here anymore, because I was in the company of people who would do everything in their power to keep me safe.
Nothing but joy filled the air as the day went on, and felt no different to me than a Thanksgiving holiday with my own biological family. Overall, this event has reminded me of just how thankful I am, both for the life I’ve found, and the family I’ve chosen. It has shown me that there are people all over the world with different backgrounds from me who still have nothing but kindness and compassion to share. Personally, I think everyone should invite more than just family to their Thanksgiving meal in the future. Invite over some neighbors, even the ones you don’t normally talk to, and have a meal together just because. Bond with friends you don’t speak to everyday, and get to know them better. Sit with them long enough, and you may just find yourself a new best friend or family member that way. Sharing your joy will always improve lives, and this is what I have learned from this year’s Slab City Thanksgiving event.
Part of the Slab City Residents Break Bread — and Boundaries Collection
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