Intro to Bringing Back the Living Room

Bringing Back The Living Room

What is that? In 2008 with my partner at the time author, Richard Wagamese, while living in the country outside of Kamloops, where we knew no one; we made up an event called a “Soiree” or Bringing Back the Living Room. We only knew 4 people in our neighborhood and invited them and told them to invite others they thought might enjoy it. Within a very short time we had built a community of friends that are all still connected 18 years later! So what did we “sell” the event as?
It would start with a potluck. After dinner we would gather in the living room. Whoever wanted to participate in the next part would put their name in a hat. Whoever was picked first started.
Start what? We believed and I still do that we all have stories to share. Be it things that we’ve created ourselves (poetry, short story, music, performance, art, ideas) or that were created by others and performed by ourselves or shared as a CD or read from a book. No talent needed! We’ve sung at the top of our lungs off key, been taught how to get out of a bear trap and heard our friends’ stories of trips, challenges and achievements.
The objective, especially in these times of often social isolation, post covid and separateness is to be together, shoulder to shoulder in mine of someone else’s living room or even a venue if it becomes ever so popular though I find 20 or so a good size.

I'm creating this introduction to see if folks would be interested in this. I don't feel safe having people I haven't met in my home so this will act as a way to introduce ourselves, possibly find a way to meet somewhere public first and go from there. To eventually have in person events in my or other's homes. To rebuild relationships where we sit, judgements not allowed side by side. Creating community.