Thursday, July 12, 2007

community for the rest of us

I’ve been running a bit ragged lately; we do that a lot, it seems. Last Friday night, we were five hours at a wedding and reception for a family friend, and Saturday was full of my sister’s wedding plans. I wriggled into a bridesmaid dress, and we browsed for reception centerpiece ideas.

Writing has been going well, too. I have completely redesigned my heroine. I figured her out! We absolutely clicked--I can hear her voice in my head. But now, my old ideas for the plot are toast, and I’m rethinking the course of the book.

Exciting stuff! Maybe too exciting. On Sunday, I wanted to curl up at home, be sleepy, and appease my introvert self. Instead, we spent the day out and about, but it was more refreshing than I expected.

After church, Mom, Adrienne, and I went to La Bonne Bouchée, a French bakery/café in St. Louis. We were going for wedding cake samples--I’m telling you, being a bridesmaid is rough ...

I loved the café. The French music and the owner’s French accent rocketed me back to the few mornings I spent in Paris eating croissants and brioche, and trying to root out the Midwestern-ness from my accent. I’ll need to go back to La Bonne Bouchée, for the memories, but also for their cakes! They were amazing!

Then we went to New Town, St. Charles. I love exploring that place. They’ve built a lot since I was there last. We loved running through their model homes, imagining life in a community like this.

New Town reminds me of a “grown up” campus, Knollcrest East for adults. They have a tight community feel--people out walking and chatting with their neighbors, going to the New Town coffee shop and bookstore, visiting the local market…

One of the hardest things for me to adjust to this year is the dramatically reduced sense of community. We’re new to our church, our neighbors all seem content to be left alone, high school and college friends are far away. And, since “work” is me scribbling alone at my desk, there isn’t even a workplace camaraderie. When I’m out and about, people are friendly, but I think college students are eager for relationship in a special, particular way. There’s an openness there that is hard for me to find elsewhere. (If it wasn’t for my amazing family, I’d go nuts!)

At New Town, though, it’s a planned community--people are paying a premium to live this certain way. They seem more willing than most to reach out to each other. So, as I was wandering through New Town, and I came across a list of free summer movie nights at their amphitheater, and remembered the Shakespearean festival they had last year ... it seemed to answer a question I’ve been asking since graduation. I feel like I could fit there.

New Town is, unfortunately, way out of my price range. But there is another campus option within reach ...

After visiting New Town, we found our way to the Concordia Seminary campus, also in St. Louis. I’ve been once or twice, but I had forgotten how beautiful the architecture is, and how peaceful it can be. This is where my sister and her fiancé will be spending a lot of time during the next few years. And, who knows, maybe I can do some writing there next year, amidst seminarians and another sort of campus life?

At least, until I have enough money to live in New Town ...—jl

Posted by Jenn Langefeld on 07/12 at 04:55 PM
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