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You can change someone’s day
Children dart around clumps of adults clutching beers and glasses of wine while lost in conversation. On the stage near the parking lot entrance, a band plays crowd favorites and a few women self-consciously do the middle-aged, white woman step-and-shuffle. Carnival games line the perimeter of the parking lot and two tents with table and chairs dominate the middle of the venue.
A good portion of my neighborhood has come out for the annual Fall Festival — if not for the entertainment than for the unlimited booze and barbecue. Most of my friends are here and spread out across the space. I flit between groups, saying hello and confirming after-party plans.
In the past, my anxiety would have turned me into a stressed out mess at an event like this. I would have worried about who was there, who I could latch on to, and run through dozens of disaster scenarios. I wouldn’t be able to relax and would easily drink too much to cope.
But on this pleasantly warm, late September day, I’m at ease. Laughs and giggles fill the air, and I smile. Despite my neighborhood’s many flaws, there is a strong sense of community that I appreciate.
As a little girl barrels toward me, I step right to avoid her, my water bottle hangs from my fingertips. She runs off toward…
