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comment by thenewgreen
thenewgreen  ·  1136 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Conversation Pit

We have a couple that we have been "quaranteaming," with. They travel with us and come over for a bonfire every Saturday night, weather permitting. Recently, it dawned on me that my kids are experiencing a similar childhood to mine. In a good way. They consistently see adults sitting around a fire, a table etc. and discussing the topics of the day, while listening to music. When I was a kid I couldn't believe that the adults enjoyed just sitting and conversing. My son recently said, "all you guys do is talk." We don't have a conversation pit, we have a fire pit.

That said, I followed the link the article gave to some instagram photos of 60's/70's living rooms. Some of those conversation pits have fire pits in them with a hood above them. That's dope.

We are about to embark upon 9 week kitchen renovation. The result of which will be a new family hearth. I expect a lot of time to be spent in there, conversing.





elizabeth  ·  1136 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I just realized today one of the things I don't like about winter is the lack of bonfires. I guess fireplaces are an option, but it's not quite the same. I would kill for a beer around a fire with a few close friends right now.

thenewgreen  ·  1136 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It's very nice. It's one of the reasons NC winters are great. It gets a bit cold, but nothing a fire can't handle. Michigan is just way too cold for a bonfire at night in February. Beer, bonfire, music and other people = awesome.

kleinbl00  ·  1136 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I have gone to great lengths to ensure my child's childhood is nothing like my own.

We had three COVID scares at the office last year. It's forced near-total isolation as we do everything in our power because daily the receptionist is having to argue with people to put on a mask. I had a conversation in the garage last Thursday. it was the first face-to-face contact in eight months.

We ate at a restaurant two Fridays ago, after we'd both had at least one of our shots. Felt positively sinful.

Mother-in-law goes for Shot 1 Tuesday. Maybe next week the kid will see her grandparents for the first time since October. They live less than a mile away.

thenewgreen  ·  1136 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You're doing a great job, KB. It can be difficult to break the cycle of providing bad childhoods. Mine wasn't perfect (who's is?) but there was a ton of good there and I'm focusing on replicating that. You're an incredibly smart person, there had to be SOME good there, right? Maybe?

Re the restaurant, I can't even imagine what eating inside a restaurant would be like. A few weeks ago my wife and I ate outside at a restaurant patio. Masks on, and tables VERY spread out. It felt weird. But the strangest thing was that to get to the patio you had to walk through the packed interior of the restaurant. Those people just didn't give a damn... sitting at the bar, eating and drinking away. It looked so strange. It's amazing how quickly the old world seems strange. When I watch films with people hugging and shaking hands with relative strangers, it's appalling.

I do miss it though. Dining in, sitting at a bar. I think the last time I was at a bar was with ecib and mk in Ann Arbor. I had been traveling for weeks and had a horrendous cough. I am now convinced I had COVID. This was late February 2020. I'm gonna take an antibody test this week.

Glad you have been vaccinated. My wife just got her second dose. Once we have both been vaccinated, I will still be cautious, but I may MAY just sneak up to a bar and have a quick pint. Just cause.

Who knows... maybe I'll even see you in 2021? That would be awesome.

OftenBen  ·  1136 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Our quaranteam has been key to everyone's wellbeing over the last 12 months. Having a small trusted group to weather these things with has been essential.

My favorite part of our new home is my ability to host these sorts of events that I know we all appreciate and draw so much energy from.

thenewgreen  ·  1136 days ago  ·  link  ·  

People are important. Once I get the vaccine I am looking forward to hosting an "all vaccinated" party in my backyard. Still outdoors, but with more than 2 other people at once. I miss entertaining people.