Jungle Fever: An Adventure in Co-Ops & Raw Food

Do we remember how that Raw Food Detox Diet book was dropped off at a house where I was staying? Well, that same household has since then both joined a co-op and bought a juicer. This has been my homebase for the last week or so.

Our first victims

Now, these are not your average juicer co-op healthy eating kind of people. I believe this morning there were two "Garbage Burritos" ordered for breakfast take out. Not exactly raw, but whatever. Flip to the fresher side of things-- approximately one week post-juicer. We have juiced many tiny mountains of fruits and vegetables and have made tons of fibrous pulp food. This has to be the healthiest that this group of people has ever eaten. Its an amazing experiment.

But surprise, surprise, as I go along my merry path to better health and self, I stumble upon a volunteer component to it all. Apparently, at the People's Food Co-op in Southeast Portland, if you donate 3 hours of your time per week you get a 15% discount on your groceries.

Say what? I can do that! and it would be helpful to so many more people than just myself and the co-op. My friends could also benefit from my service through cheaper groceries.

So, of course, I chatted with one of the cashiers about the household volunteering at the co-op. She let me know how it worked. Apparently, they run 3-hour shifts where volunteers clean up, stock, do dishes, close the shop etc. Do one of these shifts each week and you get the discount on your groceries. I inquired about the possibility of high-skilled volunteer opportunities as well, which may be more fitting for some of the computer geeks in the group. This was also something the co-op was willing to accommodate.

After I spoke with the household and affiliates, it seems like we would like to volunteer in teams of two every other week to get into the swing of things. We could get to know the program better and see if we like working there. I promised to go to any volunteer shifts that people "forgot about" or couldn't make, since I have the time to do so.  I've also been charged with communicating our interest back to the co-op. I'll let you know how it goes. Cheers to fresher living.

Love or Something Like It

We ran into Metin the other morning. Coincidentally of course, it was right after I posted my thoughts on serendipity & life choices.  He was sitting beneath a painting that said, "Everything you imagine is possible."

He wanted to share this poem with us and you:

 Love,
     My higher-self, my gut-feeling, instantly knows the best answer and the reaction during my tests and trials.
     Such ‘sense’ is deeper than any conditioning I may have.
     When I’m with you, Love, I’m a child again,
     And I’m back to the times when I didn’t have any concepts and requests.
     Now, beyond doubt, I surrender to your beauty,
     And as I do so, I remember the reason I’m here is because of a promise I made long ago,
     Before my existence, in a dream,
     That you’re the emotion I would choose to live.
     __ Happy Valentine’s Day __

**Find more of Metin's writing on his web-site.  

Many knowing looks were exchanged. A particular milestone in my relationship made this poem all the more poignant. Sipping hot cocoa before the sunrise; we held hands under the table as we read. 

Disgustingly sweet. I know, but its all part of the story. 

PS. Feel free to ridicule my sappiness at your leisure. I don't mind. Old me would thank you.

I Saw the Sign

It was literally my first day off work. Hell, it was a Saturday! There were a few rare hours of sunny daylight calling my name. Ooie & I decided to go for a car ride. He has recently acquired a state of the art (as far as I can tell) camera and insists on capturing everything with it.

“Wolf, you are so photo-hygienic,” he coos from behind the camera.

I giggle. "Why thank you, dear. How nice of you to notice."  I'll probably let him say it a few more times before I correct him.

That morning we decided to follow the sunshine. It led us to a riverside in Milwaukie, Oregon. 

We like to sit by water together, get to know each other better, ya know? It’s kinda our thing. We were preparing for yet another one of our uber-romantic, disgustingly sweet hand-holding session, when an older man approached us, “You got bags?”

I looked at him puzzled, “Bags? What kind of bags?”

“Trash bags. The water has been high lately and all this trash has washed up on shore. I want to pick up some of it.”

Ooie rose to the occasion. Of course he has trash bags; he is ready for anything at any moment. He hops up to the container atop his station wagon and pulls out an entire roll of trash bags.  I’m not surprised in the least. He even has gloves for me.

I liked the idea of it all, so I decided to join the stranger in his effort.

OK fine, maybe I like trash too. Finding those little bits of inorganic material among the dirt gives me a simple inexplicable pleasure.

Ooie, however was more interested in taking pictures. 

...and while I was distracted finding tiny treasures along the river's edge, he runs into an old friend. 

Metin had come to the water to feed the ducks. He collects bagels from dumpsters and brings them to the park to feed the ducks. Apparently, if you throw them in whole, the injured ducks have a better chance of getting fed as well. 

He had to be one of the kindest gentlest man I have met in a very long time. He writes poetry & prose and gave me a sample to read, "Chirps of an Angel."

It was beautiful. Inspirational. I couldn't help but feel like it was all happening for a reason. He even had a pincher to help pick up the glass. He gave it to me as a parting gift.

Is it just me or does this all seem a bit coincidental considering my upcoming/ongoing project, here? Uh...yeah, no, I didn't think so either...