When Will and I are out and about in the world we often get the question that starts with “aww”, then follows with “how old is he?” Today he is just over 8 weeks old. When I told that to the lady in line at Whole Foods she replied “you don’t see ones that young out much”. I have gotten comments similar to this now and then. When Will was about 6 weeks old one sagely woman at the Berkeley Cafe Gratitude told me that I should be with Will in the sanctuary of my home. I said back something like “really?” even though I agreed with her. I felt like I just wanted to be home and resting and recuperating and nurturing Will. Ideally I would have liked to have been nurtured too by my family and friends and she said as much. She said that traditionally women did not leave the home for 40 days after delivery. When I asked how these women did not get “cabin fever” she told me that the mother and babe were cared for by the family and that they were with her which allowed her not to feel the strain of being isolated.

Oh my. I loved what she said. I realized that my longing for a tribe (community) to be with me and love and care for me was not unfounded. Yes, I am a modern woman but I am also a human and I believe that humans have a natural instinct to live as this woman suggested caring for each other, protecting and celebrating their young, and each other.

I feel sad and like I am missing something by not having this rich tribe. My family and friends are scattered about the globe (mostly located in Portland). Also, it seems that in these modern times or, at least in this first world country that our ties with our family are not as strong as they would have been at a time in the past or in another culture.

I am thankful that my mom did come and stay for a week to be there for us. I am also thankful that Billy’s mom came to help and be with us too. Then, about a week and a half ago, my friend Rebecca called me up and asked if she could come by with some homemade soup! Of course! She and her boyfriend came by with not only soup but groceries from Whole Foods! Lots of organic, fresh goodies. She had been traveling to places such a Egypt so was unable to come sooner.

I want to reclaim some of those seemly less and less common values. Friends and family are a treasure to be tended to and like a garden, grow.

I love you my dear family and friends.