So, I miss writing. Not to say I was every *really* good at it, but it definitely fulfilled something in me that tiny social media posts just don’t do. For awhile, I wrote “Takes from a Shopkeep” on this here blog, rather sporadically, and those were fun. It was always specifically about the shop or my family life, or something in between. And not to say I won’t do that again, or that’s not what this is a replacement for, but just how I think Gather is *very probably* ready for a rebrand, so is that there series. And so, here we are with a “weekly walkabout” – which, I do hope to keep up with – and which will be about, well, exactly that – my weekly walkabout. Let me explain.

Last evening I arrived downtown around 7pm. I had spent since 1am the previous morning holding my two year old due to a somewhat out of the blue tummy ailment. But, I also needed to get some work done (we got MOSS BALLS in at oak. and I needed to bring in distilled water to fill up their tiny homes!! eek! Anyway, I digress (a lot). So, I came downtown, parked illegally with my blinkers on in front of Gather, and set to loading my truck up with all the things I needed to transfer from one store to the other. Whilst I was there, no less than 12 folks who had been walking around downtown decided that my propped open door and turned off lights in the shop meant that I was actually open. So, what did I do? Well, of course I turned on the lights and let them peruse while I loaded my truck! I am a business owner, remember? Then, on the sidewalk I ran into friends, Mary Morgan and Dave Askins.

You see, I’ve known Mary for quite a few years. We have a fun connection in that she moved here from Ann Arbor and knew an artist friend of mine whom I had met through hosting the Bloomington Handmade Market (Kate Kehoe of Chicalookate). Mary introduced herself back then (probably around 2018) and I was smitten, immediately. Mary has this way about her that is equal parts wise crone (I say this with the utmost respect, I sincerely doubt Mary is more than 2 years older than me, but if we’re playing the mother, maiden, crone archetype – I’m the mother here, which, makes Mary the crone) and fun best friend. The reason, really, Mary plays this role for me is that she (imho) has always had the most respectable positions in this town and treated them with an intellectual integrity that, again, imho, is unmatched. See, when I first met Mary I believe she was working for the Bloomington Chamber. And Mary is always SO in touch with the goings on of Bloomington, BUT the important shit. Not the gossip I bother myself with, but the true, nitty gritty issues. The real stuff. After this position Mary has gone on to serve as the Director of Heading Home of South Central Indiana. Like I said, important stuff. Mary’s always been involved, always at every meeting I attended no matter what hat she was wearing.

Now, add to that her partnership with the local, recently famously missed but welcomed back with open arms, writer/reporter/government liaison Dave Askins of The B Square Bulletin. Dave, whom I actually only recently met when we both were sitting at my besties tea shop (Cup & Kettle) and I simply shouted across the dining room (you’re Dave, right?!) and we struck up conversation for maybe the first time. What a pleasure and relief it is to speak to someone about city matters who, while he has a stake – it’s not one that employs him. Meaning, he doesn’t WORK for said city. I have plenty of friends in the city – people I call friends – Jane Kupersmith whom I’ve known since our . .. well, I can’t say (lol) but who is now head of ESD and Adam Wason (we’ve had our moments) head of Public Works . . . Dee DeLaRosa, also with ESD . . . sorry, this isn’t supposed to be a name-dropping situation. My point is this, I know a few people that work within the City and I adore them, but at the end of the day, they still work for the City (that I LOVE) and Dave doesn’t. That’s all. He reports on the city and he does it fucking well.

Ok, ok, so what’s my point. I digress, again. So, I run into these two, as I often do when I’m at the store(s) late because this POWER COUPLE also lives downtown! Because, I mean, of course they do. And so we stop, and we start chatting about recent events because Mary knows (in her heart of hearts) that I know the tea. I mean, that’s not what Mary calls it because she’s a more respectable person than I, but at the end of the day, it truly is gossip dressed up as town news – when it comes out of my mouth. But, again, I say that with Love. Because I Love this damn city.

So, we chat about the recent news about the loss of a matriarch downtown (Margaret Taylor with the Book Corner). I unfortunately don’t have much to add to the conversation because I don’t know anything yet (what’s going to happen to the Book Corner, or the corner building since both are owned by Margaret). What I do know though is that that beautiful building has been in Margaret’s family since the 1930’s!! Which is just astounding. I hope they find a steward that will continue with the same respect for that corner lot as she had. Beyond that there are assumptions that long-time, loyal, Loving and faithful employees will keep our honored downtown bookstore open for as long as they can.

Then Dave interrupts to point out the hawks (red-tailed?) that have made home in one of the pine trees on the Courthouse Lawn. He’s taken a photo of them up close and personal hanging out on one of the cell phone towers downtown. He’s obsessed, and it’s adorable. I, of course, am mildly phobic of birds (thanks chimney swifts breaking into Gather for the last 10 years), but I mention that I’ve noticed them every morning I park on the square making a nest.

That then, of course, segues into me telling them about the most recent rabbit hole I’ve gone down about the GREENHOUSE STRUCTURES atop certain buildings downtown. Yep! Did you know that three different buildings downtown (at least) have some kind of clear structure on top of them (thanks Google Maps), and of course I envision having some kind of “cocktail, cafe, greenhouse pop-up” on a rooftop. But alas, they’re all “leased” out to the tenants below . . . le sigh. My unpopular opinion regarding the college students that have access to these beautiful spaces (and thus keeping me from them) is actually not a negative one. I mean, yes, I’d rather buy said building, change the lease, and open a rooftop greenhouse bar – but, we can all dream. Instead I appreciate the fact that 3/4 of the year we have an additional 45,000 (give or take) folks coming downtown that I can welcome into the store with open arms – even if it’s 7pm and we’re not technically open. I’m here for it. Always.

With that I’ll fully admit this first weekly walkabout got away from me, but that’s the nature of a walkabout I think. Thank you Bloomington, for always providing me with plenty of fodder.

Faithfully yours, a downtown Bloomington steward, ambassador, business owner, + unabashed gossip.

talia