"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."
— Mary Pickford
WHAT’S GOOD
Happy Birthday, Charis Park!
We’re so grateful to share that today officially marks Charis Park’s 2nd anniversary! We’ve shared an incredible two years of farmers markets, pizza parties, morning coffees, milestone celebrations, and quiet walks with our neighbors (and their pups!). We’ve watched the gardens flourish, and the neighborhood shift in its rhythms as this little corner has become a lively hub open to everyone. Haven’t paid a visit to the park in a while? We highly encourage you to stop by, grab a cup of coffee from One Another Coffee across the street, and stay a while. Come visit during the farmers market this Saturday, and learn more about Charis Park here.
Wiping Out
Amy Lynn Johnson, Communications Manager, Sunset Ridge Collective
Last Tuesday, my partner and I took my oldest daughter to vote for the first time during early voting at Mission Library. I’ve been taking my kids to this library branch since it opened back in 2011. Some of them even got their first library cards there. I’ve voted here several times over the years, and I’ve never seen lines as long as we did last week. It was inspiring. And I was proud to be voting with my daughter for the first time after bringing her to the polls with me over the years, officially graduating from the future voter stickers. I did have to refrain from making too big a deal of it while we were there, so as not to completely mortify my 18-year-old Senior.
Afterwards we grabbed a quick bite and headed out to join the Tuesday night social bike ride downtown. Another first for my daughter. I didn’t go on my first social ride until about 10 years ago, and biking in a swarm of 100+ people can be intimidating at first. But the people are always welcoming and friendly, and it’s a great way to learn how to ride safely on the street. It’s also an incredible way to see new parts of the city.
I loved that Eleanor was down to join us and excited to share in this experience together. Sid and I had taken her out to get a helmet and bike lights the night before, and a friend let us borrow an extra bike. We biked in our little trio from Southtown to the meetup spot at Make Ready and soon found familiar faces and caught up before the ride began.
And then we were off.
It can always be a bit awkward as the hive of cyclists slowly starts making its way down the road. But soon we were in the flow, and I could see that Eleanor was feeling at ease. The mama bear in me kept a close eye whenever she crept ahead, wanting to make sure she was safe and okay. Occasionally someone would stumble on their bike, or swerve for a pothole, and part of me held my breath not wanting that to be her experience that night.
Back when I started riding a bike again, post-divorce and in a new job in Southtown, I remember biking into downtown for dinner one night after leaving the office. I had a number of social rides through the streets of downtown under my belt, and I was challenging myself an inch at a time to get out of my comfort zone more often.
That night the mission was to bike over to my favorite ramen restaurant and treat myself to a solo dinner (and not freak out about eating alone). All was going merrily until I tried angling my bike up the dip from the street to the sidewalk. The angle of my tire did not like the angle of the accessibility curb, and I crashed—at a wide busy downtown intersection during 6 o’clock traffic. A couple of onlookers stopped to ask if I was okay. Thankfully it was just my ego that was bruised and I picked myself up and ventured on to the ramen shop. I enjoyed it immensely, although I was a little sweaty when I arrived.
Last week’s ride took us through side streets parallel to Broadway by the Pearl and then over into Brackenridge Park. Soon they were leading us off of the paved road running through the park and down one of the gravel paths cutting through the woods. It was dark by now, and the Spanish Moss hanging from the trees gave the bike-lit woods a spooky vibe. The gravel under my tires gave me a nervous feeling.
Most of the riders’ bikes were meant for the road and not rough terrain. So everyone generally slowed down. But as we came to a stop in the center of the park, the gravel path decided it wanted to meet me face-to-face. In my attempt to slow down without falling, my foot got caught as I dismounted and I fell face down, scratching up my arm. My face was unharmed thanks to the lip of my helmet. Sid rushed to help me up and everyone around us asked if I was okay. Although a bit winded, I was ultimately okay. And I was really relieved that it wasn’t Eleanor who fell on her first group ride.
Slightly bruised but (thankfully) unembarrassed, we rode on after the group break was over. We had about half of the ride left to go, and we ventured on. Eleanor eventually left us in the dust, and I pedaled as fast as I could to keep up and tried to catch sight of her when I could. Although I felt protective, I was proud of how confident she felt going forward on her own. The metaphor of her going off to college and out into the world on her own in less than a year from now was not lost on me.
We eventually caught up with her and rode out the last mile of the ride all together. Then said bye to friends and retraced our trio’s path back to Southtown and home. It was an incredible night that I’m so glad we made the time for together. It would have been much easier to stay home on a school night, but this Tuesday felt like a special one we wouldn’t have the opportunity to share all together quite like this again.
And although it wasn’t as painless as showing my daughter what it was like going to the polls before she was old enough to, I’m glad I could show her what it’s like to dust yourself off and ride on when you wipe out in life—quite literally. And this time I was surrounded by loved ones and community when I did. What a difference that makes.
Coming Up…
Daily, NYX Yoga & Fitness
Daily, One Another Coffee
Monday - Friday, Coworking
Wednesdays, 11 AM - 1:30 PM, Open Studio Painting
Wednesdays, Mission Compost Pick Up
Wednesdays-Sundays, Scott’s Pizza, Charis Park
Wednesdays, 6 PM - 7:30 PM, Communal Dinners and Fall Faith Formation, Sunset Ridge Church Fellowship Hall
Saturdays, 9 AM - 1 PM, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Charis Park
2nd & 4th Saturdays, 10 AM - 12 PM, Women’s Stitching Circle, Sunset Ridge Church Fellowship Hall
Sundays, Worship at 9 AM and 11 AM, Sunset Ridge Church
Wednesdays, through November 18, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, Joyful Noise, Students in 5th - 8th grade will discover how music deepens worship, strengthens faith, and helps build meaningful friendships. Registration required.
Saturday, October 31, Sprouts School Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch, during the farmers market
Sunday, November 1, after 11 AM service, Camelot Christmas volunteer info session, Please let us know you’re interested in volunteering by filling out this form
Thursday, November 12, 6 - 7:30 PM, Slow Down Club, Church Courtyard
Sunday, November 22, 10 AM - 3 PM, Community Blood Drive, Advanced registration available here
Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27, Sunset Ridge Office & One Another Coffee Closed for Thanksgiving Break
Saturday, November 28, 9 AM - 12 PM, Nuevos Vecinos Thrift Pop-Up, One Another Coffee
Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? Please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org
Community Partners: For updated schedules and events please follow One Another Coffee, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, NYX Wellness, Scott’s Pizza, Mission Compost, Sprouts School, Good Acres, and Community First Food Pantry.
