Photoessay #505 - Farewell to Keystone

I've blurred this picture intentionally, I know, I know, some of my regular pictures are this unfocused. But, even though this picture is light-hearted, even joyous, I still have to respect the confidentiality of the subjects. I took the picture but do not have direct permission of those pictured.

First, welcome to 2009, a year of hope.

It's been a busy 24 hours....We held Parent Group last night, even though it was New Year's Eve. I thought it would be a small group and we might have an abbreviated program. But, no, 19 people attended and many had serious issues to work on. Couldn't skip any steps, certainly not in my small group.

We have met in this room at a local church for many many years; I first came in 1999 to this location and we have records back to 1994. In this location, in this space. We pay a fairly substantial rent and the church has rules. No eating on the carpet! The church insisted, we cannot keep our storage. We have a big cabinet of supplies and some easels and a sign. All in a corner of a storage room. The group decided to look elsewhere, coming up with an nearby alternative site quite quickly. The new room is not quite so well-appointed and has no carpet. But has some advantages such as a small parking lot and some other great community oriented activities. And we can store our materials. The pastors welcomed us, they felt that our organization benefits the community. So off to the First Nazarene Church.

But this was the last meeting plus New Year's Eve. In a moment of revolution, we announced, even encouraged, people to eat on the carpet. Lately we have around 35 people attend weekly, last night 19, not bad. We marked the occasion by a group picture on the steps in the room. As usual I pick the silly picture.

Curtis and I are the 'representatives' which mean, generally, we run this chapter. He had arranged the entire move. I liked it that he said that he had the honor of being the large group leader for the last meeting in this location. I then announced that I would have the honor of being the first large group leader in the new location. Gave another sense of continuity.

So here, the group at mid-meeting being silly gathered on the steps. On the cusp of a new year and a new meeting space.

I also planted a letter box to mark the transition.