on you mark...
i have
been
thankfully
busily preparing
it's the holiday season
just beginning
to understand
the holiday rush
six months ago
newly layed-off
i never
would have imagined
people would
come to me
for my work
on a break
i dropped in to the
local
florist
for a birthday bouquet
and got the
most exqusite arrangement
beautiful simple modern vase
purple ornamental cabbage
giant lilies
berries
ranunculus
for a song
when i asked
why?
the proprietess
who opened her shop
a few months ago
giving wings to her dream
said
nobody's buying
my heart sank
and
ever since
i have not been able
to get her
out of my mind
the present attention
to my work
so very much due
to the support
of neighbors
both of the stores
carrying my art
pointed toward me by
neighbors
this day before
the true
holiday rush begins
i want to pose to you
a challenge
get set...
this year
instead of finding gifts
online
or at target
or walmart
find your local craft market
or the independent store
still family owned
buy there
shop online
then find a
local supplier
buy there
shop on etsy
find a hundred things you love
that'll be easy!
then edit your list down
to the artists who
live down the way
buy from your
neighbor
get you
veggies
at the
farmer's market
they say
every dollar spent
locally
circulates
seven more times
before leaving the neighborhood
keeping
local people employed
would
loosen the
stranglehold
this recession has on the
nation
how joyful
or peaceful
will the holiday be
when you step out
to see
the family-owned
market
pharmacy
printer's
has closed?
what kind of
holiday
will it be if
i step out
and see a
for rent
sign on the florist shop window?
spend your
hard earned money
locally
it will come back to you
i promise
it may save
the roof
over your head
tomorrow
as you sit down to sup
with family
tell them to
try
post about it
or
share this post
we all know someone
who has
closed a business
lost a job
lost a home
reign in
your resources
support your neighbors
and
better your own chances
at continuing to live
with the
luxuries with which we
are blessed
you up for the
challenge?
put on you running shoes
get in a good
pre-game stretch
and
go!
