Spending time at the Westend Bakery on Haywood Road has exposed me to some useful observations. One in particular is that strangers in the neighborhood are much more likely to talk to you if you have a child or a dog. I've felt really jealous of people with either of these two wonderful conversation starters. I want to know people in my neighborhood. I always want to make new friends. I want to build community without awkward introductions, "Hi, I'm Ruth and I live in this neighborhood too. I like making new friends. Would you be my friend?"
My writer friend, Rachel, wrote a kids story semi inspired by my life. It's called, "The Wacko Bunny Lady." It's a lovely story. But, the lady, just like me, really struggles to figure out how to make friends in her neighborhood. She eventually steals a microphone at the fair and asks the crowd, "Hello, I'm a wacko bunny lady. Would anyone like to be my friend?" Her strategy works but I'm not sure I have the stomach for that method (for now.)
So, a brilliant idea came to me from another dimension. I will start the "Westside Rabbit Ministry." Everyone loves rabbits (or they should). Who wouldn't want to talk to a lady who had her rabbit with her? Skip could travel with me up and down Haywood Road and we could both meet new friends at the bakery, the UJ, the pub... the sky's the limit.
This requires training Skip to use a harness and leash. So, today I started. He squirmed, but I got it on. He does not like it. But, Skip will eventually get used to it (I've read articles online about rabbit leashing).
This could be the start of something beautiful.
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