Apr 17

Avocados and Community

Today was a great day. My friend Linda and I spent the day at the Fallbrook, California, avocado festival, 54 miles north of downtown San Diego.

I keep a list of area small-town events I want to check out. Thing is - I have done very few of the things on the list. Usually a chore or work takes precedence over the extra curriculars.

This weekend was different. I set most of the time aside for new experiences. Saturday, I helped my friend, Claire, move from the beach to the mountains where she now owns her first home. Today - avocados.

It was no small thing not to work this weekend. Anyone who thinks the self-employed entrepreneur reports to no one and can do what he wants is mistaken. The business is like a puppy; I love it and it requires constant attention. Nonetheless, this weekend the puppy was with a neighbor, so to speak.

Activities planned around the Avocado included the Avocado 500, a model car building event and race using avocados as vehicles. Other activities included a packing house tour of Del Rey Avocado Company and an Antique Aircraft Show at Fallbrook Airpark.

One shop sold avocado fudge, another avocado ice cream. We tried the fudge (pretty good) and passed on the ice cream.

After walking the street fair, Linda took me to one of her favorite organic markets where we ate lunch. I’d heard her talk about the place. Now I can picture her shopping there.

Finally, I washed my Jeep in her driveway while she picked bags of oranges from her trees for me to eat at home.

All this may seem like meaningless detail, except it is not about the detail; it’s about community.

It’s easy to go with the flow - except it often goes to the same old places. My flow would not ordinarily take me to see award winning avocados. It would keep me reading, talking or typing for work. This weekend, I prioritized the avocado festival and hanging out with Linda high enough so I actually experienced them. Had I proceeded with my “normal” weekend, I’d have stayed in a community of one.

I allowed Linda to lead the way. Linda and her husband go to all these quirky local events. I just let her lead the way and eased into my new experience. In so doing, our community of two, a.k.a. our friendship, was again enriched with more shared experiences, ideas, laughs and food.

Linda donated some money to the Fallbrook fire department. Apparently they have a problem with their boots; they don’t protect from burns well enough. I doubt they will remember her when they empty the fund raising boot tonight. Still, if only for the instant she dropped her dollars, they knew Linda was part of their caring community.

Next weekend Linda, her husband and I are off to the Encinitas street fair. Maybe I’ll find a nice souvenir. Even if I don’t, I’ll go home feeling more connected and part of an expanding community. There are few better feelings than that.

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