Occupy Olympia

Thanksgiving provided an opportunity for me to visit the Occupy Olympia camp. There are over 150 tents in Heritage Park along the man made Capitol Lake. The ground there is something like landfill upon mudflats and precipitation mixed with human traffic created a slip and slide cesspool after the recent abundance of wind and rain. Regardless, there is a diversity of committed residents here including students, nurses, pregnant women, homeless individuals, people who walked out of prison with no where else to go, former marines, and state employees. The moment I walked in I could sense the safety and serenity of home - I was greeted with kindness, interest and a task. The Olympia Police Department reports that since the settlement was established two months ago there has been a 52% decrease in homeless related violent incidents.

After a few days as a humble laundry maiden I spent an afternoon in the Medical Tent - a hub prepared to meet just about every need, offering medicine, hydration, clothing and comfort. Everyone is engaged and flexible. Respect and gratitude is reciprocal. And hope is boundless.

But this is no utopia. There are messy conversations with patience and clarifying questions. There are outbursts treated with sensitivity and accountability. There is PTSD, there is panic, there is trench foot, there is uncertainty. It's not a perfect community; it's an emerging culture of compassion.

Outside of the Medical Tent the sun sets with brilliant color. Kids have turned scraps of abandoned tent poles and rope into fishing lines and puddles are their lakes and rivers.

For once, I look froward to the first day of a legislative session tomorrow.

http://occupyolympia.org/