Have a Good Weekend.

Oh gosh, this makes me tear up. 😭😭😭

That is horrifying. Thank you for the link.

exactly, they might be a on huge charm offensive.. but yeah

It certainly is surprising and horrific looking to those of us who are not a part of that community. People all over the world hunt and kill animals for food, and in the Faroe Islands sea mammals like pilot whales are a traditional staple for many people. Not everyone relies on industrial agriculture and hidden animal slaughter like we do in the US.

Charlotte you are entitled to your opinion, but you don’t get to have your own facts nor do you sit in a position of authority to pass judgment on the practices of a small island community regarding how they feed themselves and their families OR tell us how we should or should not respond to it just because it doesn’t fit with your narrative.

Tanya, I learned about this through respectable news sources such as the BBC (article already cited by Andrea above) and mainstream news outlets (see this story from the Metro, which reported that there were so many dolphin carcasses, they have been incinerating the waste: https://metro.co.uk/2021/09/15/faroe-islands-killed-so-many-dolphins-they-had-to-destroy-their-blubber-15264839/ ). I don’t think the facts are disputable. It happened. It’s documented. And for the record, I don’t eat meat or fish; I respect the right of others to do so but by any standards this is excessive.

I’d love to be able to help but you’re saying two different things…that you want to go out in a small group or with a few people…but you’re also not able to go out and you’re not willing to “be exposed.” You say “soon” you’d like to be able to go out…”soon” can be whenever you decide it’s safe for you under the parameters you deem safe. The way people are making it work for them in your situation is that they are choosing to get vaxxed, to set safe and healthy boundaries that work for them, and to make the choice that making friends is important enough to them that they will accept “exposure” – just as you’re making the choice that work is also important enough to you to risk your immunocompromised health status. It’s simple risk vs benefits.

Hi Heather!
I live near Chinatown in DC. We just moved back in October and I truly can’t believe how quiet the city is these days (maybe it’s just winter??) I’d love to meet up for a walk or socially distant coffee sometime! My IG is @shanmcguigan.

Yup I’m taking the risk to go to work… because I need to pay my rent and put food on the table. Saying I need to calculate my level of risk if I want to make friends is so wildly tone deaf to what disabled and sick folks are dealing with these days. A lot of us don’t get the luxury of taking risks…and work and grocery shopping and medical appointments and all that stuff doesn’t count because those are necessities we don’t get the choice for. And I count myself super lucky…i know lots of disabled and sick folks who haven’t left their homes in two years, who are struggling so much because this is the only answer they get and they can’t take risks Despite that all, I’d still like to make friends and meet people, and I know there are ways to do so safely. I’m not the only one in this boat and when the abled body community pretty much just says you have to expose yourself and make do or you get nothing, we feel even more isolated than we already do. We want to socialize and go out just as much as you do, and we deserve to do so safely.
Andrea offered some great suggestions that fit these parameters so it’s possible.
Thank you to everyone else too who gave good suggestions. I’m not in DC but if I ever get down there I’ll say hi !

Please report back and tell us if anyone shows up?! You may have just inspired me to try something similar in Raleigh or Durham, NC.

My sister and I (and our babies) plan to be there and we can’t wait to meet you and your sister! I might not be able to stay long (toddler nap) but love Mt. Tabor and all the things you listed!

Hiiii! I’m C’s sister. We are looking forward to this CoJ prompted friend experiment. Here are some things about me: I love stairs (Mt. Tabor is my happy place), perfume, poodles, reading, organizing things, and browsing Target with C :)
See you at the stairs!

Not in portland but I love this idea! Please post an update afterwards!

We should have official CoJ meetup and walk days in different cities!

I am moving (back) to Portland the day before this! I will try to join!

Hi! I’m also new to Portland but already have a commitment at that time next Saturday. Meeting fellow COJ readers sounds absolutely lovely though!

Jo – Any chance you can help C and I exchange emails (with C’s permission of course!) since we submit our emails with comments?

I would love to join but have a prior commitment :(. But we are out there and maybe the stars will align another time.

Wish I could do this but I’m up in Seattle! Close but not close enough. We moved here four years ago and half the time (and a little extra tbh) has been during the pandemic. I haven’t met anyone. Seattle’s notorious for being a terrible place to make friends apparently. Tried the Bumble app but that was just awkward. Hope your walk is fruitful and fun!!

Love this! I will try to make it. I don’t live very far from Mt Tabor and love books, slow, running and perusing target.

Another Portland lady here! I am a long time Cup of Jo reader-firmly believe the people who read here are. my. people. Super excited about this meetup, I will be there! Also in my 30s, love a good book tempered with celebrity gossip, definitely like slooooow running, and do have kids (one just turned 13-ack!)….and pretty much always on the lookout for some new friends. See you at Tabor!

I just moved to Portland from LA on January 16th. I saw Joanna post about this on her IG story the night before I left and felt a little bit like it was meant to be. I’ll see you this morning! So looking forward to it.

Ahhhh, we tried! We were there (early) but then realized we were at the wrong stairs and pre-nap toddler meltdown started. Hope it was a wonderful, and hope we can try it again!

Moving to Portland and would love to somehow know if there’s a round two! :)

Hi C and other Portlandites! I commented on Joann’s follow-up post as well but couldn’t find an email or WhatsApp and was wondering if there were going to be future meet-ups? I am 35 with a 2-year old son, 2 Frenchies and have lived in Portland for 17 years. I’ve always had a hard time meeting people and making friends. Would love to join the group if I can.

C – i live in Portland and walk Tabor all the time. i’m so sad i missed your invitation. next time would you hit me up? not sure how to get you my info…the follow up story and your summary made my day – well done you. xxx