Novali's Keys

The past week our house was a buzz... my parents came for a quick visit, N came home from college to see them, and she brought Leo the cat. Needless to say our house was full, no one got much sleep, we all caught up on life, and spent some good quality time together. We all went to a car show, Cruz and I detailed N's car, my mom did lots of reading to the kids, and my pop and I did some projects (including work on my Z and at La Casa). 

One thing over the weekend though really struck me, had me thinking, and made me want to write about it. Over the weekend I took Ns car out to fill the tank and run an errand. As I walked into the store I looked at her huge jumble of keys, and I thought no wonder women have purses, so much stuff! Then I thought... wait what is this thing... 

My keys are just my Brew Werks bottle cap opener, house key, and car key. Nothing more, nothing less, and I do wish my car key was smaller... but anyhow not the point of this story. My keys fit easily in my pocket. My keys do what I need; start my car and unlock my house. My keys have never had to be a protective device. My key ring has never had to be loaded with something to defend myself. My keys are keys. 

Novali's keys are keys, but her keys also might have to save her life. Novali's keys shouldn't have to be, but they include a protective device. Novali's keys are a sign of one of the many things that are wrong with this world. 

Novali's keys this weekend reminded me to speak up, to challenge behavior, to work to create a safer world, and that I need to be better myself. I hate that she lives in a world where her keys might have to be a weapon. I can't fix it all, but I can try, and we can try, and we must all work together to make this world a safer place. No one should have to turn their key... the item that unlocks their place of safety and comfort, into a weapon to protect their safety or make them feel more comfortable in a dark parking lot. 

I talked to Novalí about it... it turned into the most frank, most enlightening, and most open conversation we have ever had. Ranging from me never crying in front of her, to talking about my therapist, her fear of riding a bike, and her not being born a boy. So for other parents, a conversation about what your kids carry on their keyring might turn into a powerful conversation. If anything, for those of us who only carry keys that unlock things, talk to someone who caries keys that might save their life, and ask them why. Trust me it will be a good conversation for you, and just listen. 

Hopefully all these conversations will help us get one step closer to a next generation doesn't have to carry a weapon on their keyring...

Vacuuming the Titanic

This weekend I vacuumed newly installed carpet. 

A few weeks ago I dusted newly painted spaces, months ago I swept after demolition started, and sometimes it honestly felt like we were never going to get it done. Like I was rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic... but today it felt like we were so close to success that nothing can stop us. 

This week I spent time with my dad and Cruz refinishing tables for our citizenship class. My dad is a naturalized citizen, and Cruz is a born and bread Hoosier. I am in the middle, born in another country but with birthright Citizenship, so I never had to take the test. I want to teach Cruz that his privilege of citizenship, is because of the sacrifice his grandfather made. I think this week we helped connect those dots a little more. 

While managing volunteers at our building project (El Sueño Project) has been hard... often times frustrating honestly, it has been a labor of advocacy. We are getting the chance to tell others not just about our work, but about why the work is important. 

We have been working nearly every Saturday at the building for the past 6 months (or more actually) and we have a few more weeks on interior work, and a few months on exterior work... I will continue going up to move things, organize... and sometimes just walk around and think about this dream, this project and grab a vacuum and clean.