Straight from The Horse's Mouth

Laura St. John Tiny and pink, and bundled for snow, four-day-old Emma came to The Horse's Mouth with her preoccupied parents. At this age they soak up knowledge like sponges, so reading is right around the corner. Previously Talkative Dad had lost the ability to converse, instead just staring at her, eyes glued. You could tell he was repurposing his entire life, swimming in her perfection. Glowing New Mom browsed the books and yawned the familiar ectasy of fresh motherhood. She would be a great mom so her daughter's first outting was to a bookstore. Two other friends stopped by to relax in the coffee shop on their way home from their hospital stays; one from an involved procedure and one from a terrible truck accident.

What's going on here? I realize this theme of 'friends and community' is becoming redundant here, but what's happening is remarkable. Daily our tables are full of wi-fiers, and the aisles are full of book buyers. There are informal business meetings, surprise birthday parties (Happy 18th, Ethan!), and lots of travelers stopping for espresso. Shhh. Don't tell anyone we have a machine now.

A week ago we had a successful (*sigh*...finally!) Scrabble Tournament. Eight people played for Braggin Rights. 'Ness Goodwyn ran away with first place with Joyce Stark in second. Tuesday night we stayed late for a fun Mary Kay party. Last Friday we hosted the International Pot Luck and Trivial Pursuit Game Night. Our twelve-foot table was loaded with cuisine from literally all over the world. There was Thai, Polish, Russian, Costa Rican, French, African, South American, Turkish, Mexican and Caribbean. With plates piled high, we ate with abandon. Twenty-eight attendees ranged in age from three to over seventy. It was Cross-Cultural, Inter-National, and Multi-Generational. Wow. The next morning while speaking to a couple who had partied with us, we realized something bigger than dinner had occured... needs were met. Loneliness and boredom had been averted, self-esteem bolstered, cheer shared. Strangers were introduced, and aquaintances are becoming friends. This is how community develops. People come... together.

And it keeps growing. On Monday we had an interesting Wizard of Oz bookclub and on Tuesday, a repeat performance of the Mary Kay party. (We're gettin pretty!) The teenagers have their bookclub this Thursday. Monday the 1st is February's Scrabble Tournament with the Jane Austen bookclub following on the 2nd. Look for more in the coming weeks: a Scentsy Party, more Writer's Groups, and on February 20th an Open Mic Night. (Woo Hoo! Live music!) Things are happening in Buffalo and you're invited. It's fresh and new and I can hardly wait to hear Baby Emma read her first book.