Analysis Papers
Pra is e f o r
Good M orn in g, B ea utifu l B usin ess
“Ju dy W ic ks’s b rillia n ce r e d efin es w hat a b usin ess c an b e. T he W hit e D og C afé m odels w hat c o m merc e w ill b eco m e if w e a re t o c re ate a liv ab le f u tu re . T his is
busin ess a s s p ir it u al p ra ctic e, b usin ess a s k in dness, b usin ess a s c o m munit y , b usin ess a s ju stic e, jo y, t ra n sfo rm atio n, le ad ers h ip , a n d g en ero sit y . T here is n oth in g
here y ou w ill le arn in b usin ess s ch ool, b ecau se t h e W hit e D og C afé is n ot in t h e b usin ess o f s ellin g lif e ; it ’s in t h e b usin ess o f c re atin g lif e . H ow b le ssed is
Phila d elp hia a n d t h e w orld f o r h er p re sen ce a n d p re scie n ce.”
—P
AUL
H AW KEN
, a u th or o f
Ble sse d U nre st
“Ju dy W ic ks is o ne o f t h e m ost a m azin g w om en I h av e e v er m et. S he r a n t h e le g en dary W hit e D og C afé w it h p assio n, h eart, c o m mon s en se, a n d f in an cia l s u ccess.
A nd s h e c o ntin ues t o b la ze n ew p ath s o n t h e r o ad t o a t ru ly s u sta in ab le p eo ple -c en te re d e co nom y. T his is a m ust-re ad b ook.”
—B
EN
C OHEN
, c o fo under o f B en & J e rry ’s
“W ow . W hat a w om an , w hat a b ook. I n it , y ou e n te r t h e lif e o f s o m eo ne w ho, e v en a s a c h ild , le arn ed t h at s h e c o uld c re ate — th at s h e c o uld m ake t h in gs a n d m ake
th in gs h ap pen . W e n eed W ic ks’s c o nfid en ce a n d c o ura g e n ow m ore t h an e v er. S o r e ad it a n d y ou’ll g et s o m e. H er s p unk is c o nta g io us.”
—F
RANCES
M OORE
L APPÉ
, a u th or o f
Eco M in d: C hangin g t h e W ay W e T hin k, t o C re a te t h e W orld W e W ant
“Ju dy W ic ks s et o ut t o c re ate a b usin ess t h at e xp re ssed h er v alu es, s erv ed h er c o m munit y , a n d f e d h er f a m ily . S he e n ded u p le ad in g a n atio nal m ovem en t t o b uild
lo cal e co nom ie s t h at a re in clu siv e a n d r e silie n t, p ro vid e g re en jo b o pportu nit ie s, a n d c o nduct b usin ess s u sta in ab ly a n d r e sp onsib ly .
Good M orn in g, B ea utifu l
Busin ess
is a n in sp ir a tio n— a liv in g, b re ath in g t a le o f t h e n ew A meric an d re am in a ctio n.”
—V
AN
J ONES
, a u th or o f
Reb uild t h e D re a m
“G uid ed b y h er o w n p ow erfu l a ctiv is t s en sib ilit y , J u dy W ic ks b eau tif u lly c o nvey s t h e im porta n t in flu en ces t h at a r e sta u ra n t, o r a n y b usin ess, c an h av e w it h in a
co m munit y — polit ic ally , e co nom ic ally , a n d s o cia lly .”
—A
LIC E
W ATER S
, o w ner o f C hez P an is se a n d a u th or o f
The A rt o f S im ple F ood
“B ew are . T his is a b usin ess b ook lik e n o o th er. I t w ill c h an ge h ow y ou s ee t h e w orld , A meric a, b usin ess, a n d t h e e co nom y a n d s h ould b e r e q uir e d r e ad in g in e v ery
sch ool o f b usin ess a n d d ep artm en t o f e co nom ic s. J u dy W ic ks t e ach es u s h ow t o s u cceed a t b usin ess w hile m an ag in g f ro m t h e h eart, h av in g a n o utra g eo usly g ood
tim e, a n d m easu rin g s u ccess a s c o ntrib utio n t o h ealt h y c o m munit ie s a n d a w orld t h at w ork s f o r a ll. T hose w ho t a ke W ic ks a n d t h e W hit e D og a s t h eir m odel c h an ge
th e w orld o ne b eau tif u l b usin ess a t a t im e.”
—D
AVID
K ORTEN
, c o fo under o f
YE S! M agazin e
an d a u th or o f
Agen da fo r a N ew E co nom y: F ro m P hanto m W ea lth t o R ea l W ea lth
an d
The G re a t T urn in g: F ro m
Em pir e t o E arth C om munity
“Ju dy W ic ks is o ne o f o ur g re at le ad ers a n d v is io narie s, a n d t h is b ook m akes c le ar w hy. S he t h in ks a b out t ra d it io nal s u bje cts — ‘b usin ess,’ ‘ e co nom ic s’— in f re sh ,
pra ctic al, r e al, a n d p ow erfu l w ay s. R ead it a n d t h en liv e it y ours elf ! ”
—B
IL L
M C K IB BEN
, a u th or o f
Deep E co nom y: T he W ea lth o f C om munitie s a nd t h e D ura ble F utu re
“If t h ere e v er is a N obel P riz e in p la n et-s av in g, J u dy W ic ks d eserv es t o b e t h e f ir s t r e cip ie n t. B esid es c re atin g o ne o f P hila d elp hia ’s m ost p opula r r e sta u ra n ts ( th e
W hit e D og C afé ), h er le g acy in clu des P en nsy lv an ia ’s lo cal f o od m ovem en t, A meric a’s f a ste st g ro w in g n etw ork o f in dep en den t b usin esses, a n d e n tre p re n eu rs
w orld w id e— esp ecia lly w om en — whom s h e h as in sp ir e d t o m ake b usin ess t h e le ad in g e d ge o f s o cia l c h an ge. I n t h is r iv etin g, f u nny, a n d m ovin g a u to bio gra p hy, J u dy
als o r e v eals h ers elf a s a s u perb s to ry te lle r a n d a s h arp p olic y c rit ic . H er lif e s to ry , w hic h u nfo ld s f ro m t h e A rc tic t o C hia p as, s h ow s h ow o ne p assio nate p ers o n r e ally
can b en d t h e a rc o f h is to ry t o w ard ju stic e.”
—M
IC HAEL
S HUM AN
, a u th or o f
Loca l D olla rs, L oca l S en se : H ow t o S hift Y our M oney fr o m W all S tr e et t o M ain S tr e et a nd A ch ie ve R ea l P ro sp erity
“Ju dy W ic ks’s jo urn ey is p ote n t m ed ic in e f o r a c u lt u re t h at f a ls ely s ep ara te s p ers o nal lif e a n d w ork , s elf a n d c o m munit y , b usin ess a n d e n vir o nm en t, a n d
en tre p re n eu rs h ip a n d a ctiv is m . A nyone w ho w an ts t o e n gag e t h eir f u ll e n tre p re n eu ria l v is io n, a n d f in d t h eir o w n u niq ue p ath t h at m ay c o m bin e s eem in gly d is p ara te
goals , c an t a ke h eart: t h is r e m ark ab le s to ry is a v is io nary b eaco n a n d jo yfu l r e ad .”
—N
IN A
S IM ONS
, c o fo under o f B io neers
“Ju dy W ic ks is s o m eth in g r a re , in valu ab le , a n d e ssen tia l in o ur t im e: a v is io nary a rtis an o f c u lt u ra l r e n ais san ce. R ead t h is b ook. L earn w hat s h e’s d one a n d, e v en
m ore im porta n t, h ow s h e b ecam e w ho s h e is . L et h er s to ry in sp ir e y ou m ore f u lly in to y our o w n c u lt u ra l a rtis try .”
—B
IL L
P LO TKIN
, a u th or o f
Soulc ra ft Good M orn in g ,
Bea utifu l B usin ess
The U nex p ecte d J o urn ey o f a n A ctiv is t
Entr e p re n eu r a n d L ocal E co no m y P io neer
J U DY W IC K S
Chels e a G re en P ublis h in g
Whit e R iv er J u nctio n, V erm ont C opyrig ht © 2 013 b y J u d y W ic k s.
A ll r ig hts r e se rv ed .
U nle ss o th erw is e n o te d , a ll p ho to gra p hs c o pyrig ht © 2 013 b y J u d y W ic k s.
N o p art o f th is b ook m ay b e tr a nsm it te d o r r e p ro duced in a ny fo rm b y a ny m eans w it h o ut p erm is sio n in w rit in g fr o m th e p ub lis h er.
E dit o r: J o ni P ra d ed
P ro je ct M anager: P atr ic ia S to ne
C opy E dit o r: E ric R aetz
P ro ofr e ad er: E ile en C la w so n
In d exer: S hana M ilk ie
D esig ner: M elis sa J a co bso n
P rin te d in th e U nit e d S ta te s o f A meric a.
F ir s t p rin tin g F eb ru ary , 2 013.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7
O ur C om mit m ent t o G re en P ublis h in g
C hels e a G re en s e es p ub lis h in g a s a to ol fo r c ult u ra l c hange a nd e co lo gic al s te w ard sh ip . W e s tr iv e to a lig n o ur b ook m anufa ctu rin g p ra ctic es w it h
our e d it o ria l m is sio n a nd to r e d uce th e im pact o f o ur b usin ess e nte rp ris e in th e e nvir o nm ent. W e p rin t o ur b ooks a nd c ata lo gs o n c hlo rin e-fr e e
re cycle d p ap er, u sin g v egeta b le -b ase d in k s w henever p ossib le . T his b ook m ay c o st s lig htly m ore b ecause it w as p rin te d o n p ap er th at c o nta in s
re cycle d fib er, a nd w e h o pe y o u’ll a gre e th at it ’ s w orth it . C hels e a G re en is a m em ber o f th e G re en P re ss I n it ia tiv e (
www.g re enp re ssin it ia tiv e.o rg
), a n o np ro fit c o alit io n o f p ub lis h ers , m anufa ctu re rs , a nd a uth o rs w ork in g to p ro te ct th e w orld ’s e nd angere d fo re sts a nd c o nse rv e n atu ra l
re so urc es.
Good M orn in g, B ea utif u l B usin ess
was p rin te d o n F SC
®
-c ertif ie d p ap er s u p plie d b y M ap le P re ss th at c o nta in s a t le ast 3 0%
postc o nsu m er r e cycle d fib er.
L ib ra ry o f C ongre ss C ata lo gin g-in -P ublic a tio n D ata
W ic k s, J u d y.
G ood m orn in g, b eautif u l b usin ess : th e u nexp ecte d jo urn ey o f a n a ctiv is t e ntr e p re neur a nd lo cal e co no m y p io neer / J u d y W ic k s.
p . c m .
I n clu d es in d ex.
I S B N 9 78-1 -9 33392-2 4-0 ( p bk.) — IS B N 9 78-1 -6 0358-4 99-9 ( e b ook)— I S B N 9 78-1 -6 0358-5 05-7 ( h ard co ver)
1. W ic k s, J u d y. 2 . R esta ura te urs — Pennsy lv ania — Phila d ep hia . 3 . W hit e D og C afe ( P hila d elp hia , P a.) 4 . C om munit y d evelo pm ent— Pennsy lv ania
— Phila d ep hia . I . T it le .
T X 910.5 .W 47A 3 2 013
6 47.9 5092— dc2 3
[ B ]
2 012043523
C hels e a G re en P ub lis h in g
85 N orth M ain S tr e et, S uit e 1 20
W hit e R iv er J u nctio n, V T 0 5001 (8 02) 2 95-6 300
w ww.c hels e agre en.c o m For m y c h ild re n , G ra ce a nd L aw re n ce
And i n m em ory o f th eir fa th er, N eil S ch lo sse r Conte n ts
P re fa ce
1 . M y F ir s t P la ce: G ro w in g u p in I n go m ar
2 . A C ult u re o f S harin g: L if e w it h th e E sk im os
3 . M y F ir s t B usin ess: T he S to ry o f F re e P eo ple ’s S to re
4 . I t’ s N ot th e C oin th at C ounts : L earn in g to D o B usin ess M y W ay
5 . T he B lo om in g o f th e W hit e D og C afé
6 . A T ab le f o r S ix B illio n: F in din g a n I n te rn atio nal P ers p ectiv e
7 . L iv in g a b ove th e S hop: L esso ns o f P la ce a n d C om munit y
8 . B asta ! W e H av e H ad E nough : C offe e a n d th e W orld R ev olu tio n
9 . W hat I L earn ed f ro m A nim als : B uild in g a C arin g E co nom y
1 0. P urs u in g S m all S cale o n a L arg e S cale : T he F oundin g o f B ALLE
1 1. S ettin g th e T ab le f o r S ix B illio n
1 2. G ood N ig h t, B eau tif u l B usin ess
A ck now le d gm en ts
A bout th e A uth or When th e p ow er o f lo ve o verc o m es th e lo ve o f p ow er, th en w e’ll h ave p ea ce.
—Jim i H en drix
Pre fa ce
I T W AS
1983 w hen I fir s t o pened th e d oors to th e W hit e D og C afé o n P hila d elp hia ’s S anso m S tr e et, th en a c o lle ctio n o f s o m ew hat r u n-d ow n r o w
ho use s th at h ad ju st b een s a ved fr o m d em olit io n b y it s r e sid ents , in clu d in g m e. F ro m th e fir s t tim e I s a w th e S tr e et, s o m e te n y ears e arlie r, it h ad
cap tu re d m y im agin atio n. I ts liv ely s id ew alk s a nd g ra cefu l if n egle cte d b uild in gs in vit e d m e. I ts c hara cte rs fa sc in ate d m e. I t w as a p la ce th at I h ad
fo und m yse lf ly in g d ow n in fr o nt o f a b ulld oze r to s a ve. Y et e ven a s I la y s p re ad -e agle o n th e p avem ent a nd w ond ere d ju st h o w c lo se th e h uge
earth m ovin g m achin e w ould c o m e, I h ad n’t re m ote ly s u sp ecte d th at S anso m S tr e et w ould b eco m e th e e p ic ente r o f m y lif e . O r th at th e a ct o f
sa vin g o ur c o m munit y fr o m d estr u ctio n to m ak e w ay fo r a m all o f c hain s to re s w ould b eco m e a lif e lo ng p assio n.
I w ould h ave b een a s s u rp ris e d a s a nyo ne to le arn th at I w ould s o m ed ay s ta rt a re sta ura nt th ere a nd ra is e m y fa m ily in a h o m e a b ove it . A nd I
w ould h ave b een e ven m ore s u rp ris e d to le arn th at th e r e sta ura nt w ould g ain in te rn atio nal a ccla im a s a s o cia lly r e sp onsib le b usin ess s e rv in g fa rm -
fr e sh lo cal fo od, ta k e m e to p olit ic al h o t s p ots a ro und th e w orld , a nd p la y a p ow erfu l r o le in b uild in g w hat h as c o m e to b e k no w n a s th e lo cal liv in g
eco no m y m ovem ent.
E ven b y th e tim e I w as a d ju stin g th e b lu e-a nd -w hit e c heck ere d c urta in s a nd w elc o m in g m y fir s t c usto m er, I fe lt lik e a m ore -o r- le ss a ccid enta l
re sta ura te ur. A s a g ir l, I h ad v o w ed n ever to c o ok, a nd a s a y o ung c o lle ge g ra d I h ad e sc hew ed th e c o ncep t o f p ro fit . B ut I w as a b so rb ed b y th e
challe nge o f c re atin g a n o uts ta nd in g r e sta ura nt o n th e b lo ck I h ad h elp ed to s a ve a nd in tr ig ued a t th e p ro sp ect th at it c o uld b e u se d a s a m eetin g
pla ce fo r th e c o m munit y a nd a v ehic le fo r g o od w ork s.
P erh ap s th at’s w hy, s e vera l y ears a fte r I o pened m y r e sta ura nt, I h ung a s ig n in m y b ed ro om c lo se t in m y h o m e a b ove th e W hit e D og C afé — rig ht
w here I w ould s e e it e ach m orn in g. G
OOD M ORN IN G, B EA UTIF U L B U SIN ESS
, it r e ad , r e m in d in g m e d aily o f ju st h o w b eautif u l b usin ess c an b e w hen
w e p ut o ur c re ativ it y , c are , a nd e nerg y in to p ro ducin g a p ro duct o r s e rv ic e th at o ur c o m munit y n eed s. I w as ju st b egin nin g m y jo urn ey. I d id n’t
kno w th en w hat I d o n o w : th at w hen y o u c o nnect h ead a nd h eart in b usin ess, y o u c an tr a nsfo rm n o t ju st b usin ess a s u su al, b ut th e e co no m y in
genera l. Y ou c an fin d a w ay to m ak e e co no m ic e xchange o ne o f th e m ost s a tis fy in g, m eanin gfu l, a nd lo vin g o f h um an in te ra ctio ns.
T he s ig n w ould s ta y th ere fo r th e n ext fif te en y ears a nd w ould o fte n m ak e m e th in k o f m y o w n b usin ess, a nd h o w th e fa rm ers w ere a lr e ad y o ut in
th e fie ld s h arv estin g fr e sh o rg anic fr u it s a nd v egeta b le s to b rin g in to th e re sta ura nt th at d ay. I w ould th in k o f Ju d y D orn str e ic h p ic k in g ro se
gera niu m s a t B ra nch C re ek F arm a nd h o w s h e o nce to ld m e th at w hen s h e p ic k ed it , s h e w ould im agin e o ur p astr y c hef J a m es B arre tt m ak in g r o se
gera niu m p ound c ak e fo r o ur d esse rt m enu. I w ould th in k o f th e fa rm a nim als o ut in th e p astu re s— pig s, c o w s, g o ats , c hic k ens— enjo yin g e ach
oth er’s c o m pany in th e w arm m orn in g s u n a nd fr e sh a ir . A nd I w ould th in k o f D ougie N ew bold , th e g o at h erd er, w ho c la im ed th at w hen s h e
kis se d h er g o ats ’ e ars it m ad e th eir c heese b ette r. A nd I ’m s u re th at’ s tr u e.
I w ould th in k o f o ur b ak ers c o m in g in e arly in th e m orn in g to p ut b re ad a nd p astr ie s in to th e o ven fo r o ur c usto m ers to e njo y th at d ay, a nd o f o ur
pro perty m anager, L ong P ham , w ho fo r o ver tw enty y ears a rriv ed b efo re d ayb re ak to m ak e re p air s a nd o vers e e c le anin g b efo re o ur g uests
arriv ed . A nd I w ould r e m em ber th e Z ap atis ta s d ow n in C hia p as, M exic o , g ro w in g th e o rg anic c o ffe e b eans fo r m y m orn in g c up .
B usin ess, I le arn ed , is a b out r e la tio nsh ip s. M oney is s im ply a to ol. W hat m atte rs m ost a re th e r e la tio nsh ip s w it h e very o ne w e b uy fr o m , s e ll to , a nd
w ork w it h — and o ur r e la tio nsh ip w it h E arth it s e lf . M y b usin ess w as th e w ay I e xp re sse d m y lo ve o f lif e , a nd th at’ s w hat m ad e it a th in g o f b eauty .
T he w orld , th o ugh, is n ’t a lw ays a b eautif u l p la ce. N ot y et, a nyw ay. T here is a n ew s p ho to o f a lit tle g ir l th at n o t o nly p ro ves th at p oin t, b ut a ls o s till
haunts m e. T ho ugh I s a w it y ears a go , I v iv id ly re call h o w v uln era b le s h e lo oked in a ta tte re d p in k d re ss, s ta nd in g o n a g arb age d um p in H ait i,
lo okin g fo r fo od. T he im age h o vere d a b ove a fr o nt- p age
New Y o rk T im es
artic le te llin g o f a g lo bal fo od c ris is , a nd s p ecula tin g a b out th e c ause s
fo r th e r is e in fo od p ric es th at h ad le ft th is lit tle g ir l a nd m illio ns lik e h er h ungry . W as it th e d ro ught in A ustr a lia ? O r th e d iv ers io n o f c o rn to e th ano l
in th e U nit e d S ta te s? O r th e in cre ase in m eat e atin g in C hin a? I re ad th e w ho le a rtic le a nd fo und n o m entio n w hats o ever a b out th e fa ilu re o f th e
in d ustr ia l g lo bal fo od s y ste m it s e lf .
T he y ear w as 2 007, a nd b y th en it h ad b eco m e c le ar to m e th at to re sc ue th at v uln era b le lit tle g ir l fr o m h unger o r, w ors e y et, a b use a nd
exp lo it a tio n, w e w ould n eed to d o fa r m ore th an e xam in e a fe w e p is o dic c ause s h ere a nd th ere . W e w ould n eed to c hange o ur fa ile d e co no m ic
sy ste m fr o m o ne d om in ate d b y tr a nsn atio nal c o rp ora tio ns to o ne b ase d o n lo cal s e lf - re lia nce— one in w hic h th e in evit a b le flu ctu atio n o f p ric es in
th e g lo bal m ark etp la ce w ould h ave lit tle e ffe ct.
Id eas lik e th at w ere s till fa r fr o m m ak in g it to th e fr o nt p ages o f m ajo r d ailie s. B ut a g ro w in g n etw ork o f p eo ple a ro und th e w orld w ere s h o w in g
ho w b uild in g s tr o ng lo cal e co no m ie s— ra th er th an re ly in g o n tr a nsn atio nal o nes— co uld e m pow er c o m munit ie s to fe ed , c lo th e, a nd c are fo r th eir
child re n a nd m eet th e b asic n eed s o f a ll th eir p eo ple . A nd th e e ffo rt w asn ’t ju st to e nd h unger o r r e in in p overty o r c halle nge c o rp ora te p ow er. N o,
ult im ate ly , b uild in g lo cal fo od, w ate r, a nd e nerg y s e curit y p ro vid es th e fo und atio n fo r la stin g w orld p eace.
T his b ook is th e s to ry o f h o w I a rriv ed a t th at c o nclu sio n— fr o m g ro w in g u p in a s m all to w n, to a s h o rt b ut u nfo rg etta b le e xp erie nce liv in g w it h
in d ig eno us p eo ple , a nd m ost o f a ll to c re atin g, o ver th e c o urs e o f tw enty -fiv e y ears , th e W hit e D og C afé . I t’s a ls o th e s to ry o f w here th at c afé le d m e a s I w ork ed w it h o th ers to b uild a lo cal fo od s y ste m a nd th en a w ho le n ew lo cal e co no m y fo r o ur c o m munit y . I t’s a b out h o w I fin ally jo in ed
w it h m y c o lle agues a cro ss N orth A meric a in a n e ffo rt to h elp re lo caliz e e co no m ie s a nd e nliv en c o m munit ie s a cro ss th e n atio n a nd a ro und th e
w orld .
B ut it is a ls o th e s to ry o f m y o w n a w ak enin g fr o m a g ir l w ho d enie d a ll th in gs fe m in in e, a nd r e fu se d to w ear p in k , to a b usin essw om an w ho fo und
str e ngth in h er fe m in in e e nerg y— a q ualit y th at’s a vaila b le to b oth m en a nd w om en. I u se d th at e nerg y to b uild c arin g b usin ess r e la tio nsh ip s, m ak e
heart- b ase d d ecis io ns, c o opera te w it h m y c o m petit o rs , a nd u lt im ate ly w ork c o lla b ora tiv ely to b uild a c o m passio nate a nd c arin g e co no m y.
I s ta rte d m y w ork to b uild th at n ew e co no m y in th e y ear 2 000 w it h th e s im ple p re m is e th at a n e nvir o nm enta lly , s o cia lly , a nd fin ancia lly s u sta in ab le
glo bal e co no m y m ust b e c o m pris e d o f s u sta in ab le lo cal e co no m ie s. R ath er th an a g lo bal e co no m y d om in ate d b y m am moth , a nd o fte n u nnecessa ry ,
tr a nsn atio nal c o rp ora tio ns, I e nvis io ned a g lo bal e co no m y a s a n in tr ic ate n etw ork o f sm all- to -sm all, w in -w in b usin ess re la tio nsh ip s c o nnectin g
co m munit ie s th at w ere s e lf - re lia nt fo r th eir b asic n eed s.
A y ear la te r, I c o fo und ed th e B usin ess A llia nce fo r L ocal L iv in g E co no m ie s, k no w n a s B A LLE. I f y o u a re w ond erin g ju st w hat a “ liv in g” e co no m y
is , it ’s o ne th at s u p ports th re e a re as o f lif e — healt h y n atu ra l lif e , v ib ra nt a nd c ult u ra lly u niq ue c o m munit y lif e , a nd lo ng-te rm a nd ju st e co no m ic lif e .
E xam in e a th riv in g lo cal liv in g e co no m y a nd y o u’ll fin d a m ult it u d e o f lo cally o w ned , h um an-sc ale b usin esse s c o m mit te d to th e h ealt h o f th eir
co m munit y a nd th eir e co sy ste m . T hey p ro duce b asic n eed s lo cally , e xp ort th e s u rp lu s, im port— th ro ugh fa ir - tr a d e p ra ctic es— go ods n o t a vaila b le
lo cally , a nd d evelo p p ro ducts u niq ue to th eir r e gio n fo r e xchange in th e g lo bal m ark etp la ce— be it a fa sh io n d esig n, fin e w in e o r c heese , a rtw ork ,
entr e p re neuria l in no vatio n o r a ny o f th e m any o th er th in gs th at c ele b ra te w hat it is to b e h um an.
T his b ook is m ore th an a m em oir . I t is a s u rv iv al m anual. I t is c erta in ly n o t a b out a u to pia n d re am . R ath er it is a b out s o lv in g d eep p ro ble m s u niq ue
to o ur tim e— and th e n eed is u rg ent. T oday, w e a re c o nfr o nte d w it h c ris e s th e w orld h as n ever fa ced b efo re : a d ep le te d n atu ra l e nvir o nm ent n o
lo nger a b le to s u sta in o ur m ate ria lis tic s o cie ty ; in cre asin gly s e vere a nd e rra tic w eath er b ro ught o n b y g lo bal w arm in g; a d eclin in g o il s u p ply th at w ill
lik ely , in tim e, m ak e g lo bal tr a nsp ort p ro hib it iv ely e xp ensiv e— if b urn in g th e o il d oes n o t d estr o y u s fir s t. T here is g ro w in g w ealt h in eq uit y ; a n
A meric an p olit ic al sy ste m in cre asin gly co ntr o lle d b y co rp ora te in te re sts ; and esc ala tin g glo bal vio le nce, so cia l up heaval, and envir o nm enta l
destr u ctio n o ver c o ntr o l a nd e xtr a ctio n o f th e r e m ain in g o il, fr e sh w ate r, a nd o th er n atu ra l r e so urc es. I t d oesn ’t h ave to b e th is w ay.
I im agin e a fu tu re w here th e lit tle g ir l in th e p in k d re ss is in a d if fe re nt p ho to gra p h. S he’s s m ilin g o ver a n a b und ant m eal o f o rg anic lo cally g ro w n
fo od s e ate d a lo ng w it h th e re st o f th e w orld ’s h ap py p eo ple a t w hat I’v e c o m e to c all th e T ab le fo r S ix B illio n (o r m ayb e s e ven o r e ig ht) . A nd
w here a re th e tr a nsn atio nals w ho c la im w e n eed th eir m ono -c ro ps, fo ssil- fu el- b ase d p estic id es a nd fe rtiliz e rs , g enetic ally m odif ie d s e ed s, c ru el
anim al fa cto rie s, a nd lo ng-d is ta nce tr a nsp ort to fe ed th e w orld ? T hey a re n o t in th e p ho to gra p h. T urn s o ut w e d id n’t n eed th em a fte r a ll.
T his b ook is b oth a lo ve s to ry a nd a b usin ess b ook. I t’s a b out a lo ve o f lif e , n atu re , a nim als , c o m munit y , a nd u niq ue lo cal c ult u re , a lo ve o f g o od
fo od a nd fa m ily fa rm s, a nd a lo ve o f d em ocra cy— all b ein g th re ate ned b y a g lo bal e co no m ic s y ste m d riv en b y p ro fit . I t’s a ls o a b out a d eep lo ve o f
busin ess, a nd h o w w e c an e m bra ce a w ay o f d oin g b usin ess th at is b eautif u l, th at n urtu re s a ll th at w e c heris h , a nd th at fu rth ers th e c re atio n o f a
w ho le n ew e co no m ic s y ste m b ase d o n c arin g r e la tio nsh ip s.
T ho ugh th is n ew e co no m y is g lo bal in v is io n, m y s to ry a nd th e s to ry fo r e ach o f u s b egin s r ig ht a t h o m e in o ur o w n c o m munit y — and w it h o ur o w n
cap acit y to r e co gniz e a nd p ro te ct w hat w e tr u ly c are a b out. I h ave a lw ays lo ved a w in dow , e sp ecia lly a n o pen o ne.
—Wen dell B erry
1
My F ir s t P la ce: G ro w in g u p in I n g om ar
I
BU IL T M Y F IR ST F O RT
when I w as n in e. I c alle d it a fo rt b ecause I m ad e it fr o m u p rig ht lo gs lik e a W este rn fo rt in th e c o w boy m ovie s. E ach
sp rin g I d is m antle d th e la st y ear’s fo rt a nd b uilt a m ore e la b ora te v ers io n, a p ro cess th at w ent o n e very y ear u ntil I w ent o ff to c o lle ge. I c o ntin ued
to call th em m y fo rts even th o ugh I ab and oned lo gs as a b uild in g m ate ria l and b egan usin g d is c ard ed b oard s sa lv aged fr o m aro und th e
neig hb orh o od, o fte n s c ra p s le ft o ver fr o m th e n ew h o use s p oppin g u p in th e o pen fie ld s a t th e o uts k ir ts o f I n go m ar, th e s m all to w n w here I g re w
up in w este rn P ennsy lv ania . E very y ear fo r m y b ir th d ay in M ay, b egin nin g w hen I tu rn ed te n, I a sk ed fo r a b ag o f n ails a nd a r o ll o f ta r p ap er, th en
head ed fo r th e w oods w it h m y n ew s u p plie s, a lo ng w it h a h am mer a nd s a w , to b egin a n ew fo rt.
I h ave a lw ays h ad a s tr o ng s e nse o f p la ce. M uch o f th is b ook, th o ugh n o t a ll o f it , is a b out a p la ce in P hila d elp hia — th e 3 400 b lo ck o f S anso m
S tr e et w here I liv ed , w ork ed , c re ate d a b usin ess, a nd h elp ed b uild a nd m ain ta in a c o m munit y . I c are d fo r th at p la ce fo r a lm ost fo rty y ears . B ut
oth er p la ces c am e fir s t.
I c ho se m y fir s t p la ce in th e w oods b ehin d th e h o use I g re w u p in , w here w e m oved in 1 953 w hen I w as s ix . W alk in g a cro ss o ur s u nny y ard a nd
ste p pin g in to th e s h ad y w oods th at b ord ere d it w as lik e e nte rin g a m agic al w orld — one o f a d ventu re a nd im agin atio n w here a nyth in g w as p ossib le .
W hen m y fa th er, Ja ck W ic k s, c le are d a fie ld fo r o ur fa m ily ’s h o use to b e b uilt , h e sta ck ed th e sm all tr e es h e h ad c ut d ow n, la rg ely sle nd er
sa ssa fr a s a nd s a p lin g o ak s a fe w in ches in d ia m ete r, in to a b ig p ile o n th e e d ge o f th e w oods. O ne d ay, w hile p la yin g o n th e s ta ck o f w ood, I
th o ught w hat a g o od fo rt th e lo gs w ould m ak e.
I fo und a p la ce in th e w oods w here th ere w ere fo ur m ed iu m -siz e d tr e es g ro w in g a b out s ix fe et a p art in a s q uare . T hen I s a w ed fo ur s a p lin gs in to
se ven-fo ot le ngth s a nd la sh ed th em to th e tr e es h o riz o nta lly to fo rm a s q uare o utlin e o f th e fo rt a b out fiv e fe et h ig h.
A s m y p et b eagle , P ep py, lo oked o n, I b egan s a w in g m ore s a p lin gs fo r th e w alls . M y lig ht b ro w n h air p ulle d b ack fr o m m y fr e ck le d fa ce w as
bra id ed in to p ig ta ils h angin g d ow n m y b ack ju st p ast m y s h o uld ers . S aw in g th e s a p lin gs w as s lo w g o in g, e sp ecia lly w it h th e th ic k er p ie ces, s o I
re cru it e d m y fir s t e m plo yee, a n eig hb orh o od b oy a b out e ig ht y ears o ld , to ta k e th e o th er s id e o f a tw o-m an s a w I fo und in D ad ’s to ols h ed . W it h
m uch e ffo rt, w e c ut th e s a p lin gs fo r th e s id es a nd la sh ed th em u p rig ht to th e h o riz o nta l b ars , fir s t d ig gin g a tr e nch in th e g ro und to h o ld th e b ase s in
pla ce. A fte r th at, I fo und d is c ard ed lu m ber in m y n eig hb or’s b ack yard a nd b uilt a r o of, le avin g a h o le fo r a h atc h d oor o n th e to p.
O ne r e aso n I h ad c ho se n th is s p ot fo r m y fo rt w as th at th ere w as a n o ak tr e e n earb y th at h ad c ra ck ed in th e m id dle — perh ap s s tr u ck b y lig htn in g
or s n ap ped b y a w in d sto rm — so th at th e to p, s till p artia lly a tta ched to th e tr u nk , h ad fa lle n o ver to fo rm a g ia nt a rc h. I t w as u nd er th e a rc h th at I
built m y fo rt. W hile I w as ju st fin is h in g th e r o of, s o m e b oys c am e b y w ho liv ed b ehin d o ur w oods a nd te ase d m e, te llin g m e h o w th ey h ad b uilt a
fa r b ette r p la yho use in th eir w oods w it h la rg e w in d ow s o n a ll fo ur s id es m ad e w it h r e al g la ss, w hile m y fo rt h ad n o w in d ow s a t a ll.
W hen I c am e u p to th e w oods th e n ext d ay, I w as c ru sh ed to fin d th at th e la rg e b ro ken tr e e b ra nch th at a rc hed o ver m y fo rt h ad b een p ush ed o ver
onto th e r o of, s m ash in g it in . I k new r ig ht a w ay th at th e b oys h ad d one th is a nd r a ced th ro ugh o ur w oods a nd in to th eir s , m y s n eak ers p ound in g
alo ng th e d ir t p ath w it h P ep py a nd m y p ig ta ils fly in g b ehin d . I fo und th e p la yho use th ey h ad b ra gged a b out, p ic k ed u p a b ig s tic k , a nd s m ash ed a ll
th e w in d ow s to s m it h ere ens. I r a n h o m e a nd n ever h eard fr o m th em a gain .
A s m y fo rts d evelo ped , I w ould a d d m ore to uches, la yin g a b ric k p ath le ad in g u p to th e e ntr a nce a nd p la ntin g flo w ers a lo ng it . O ccasio nally , I
fo und a tr e asu re to a d d a m enit ie s to m y fo rts — lin o le um flo orin g le ft o ver fr o m k it c hen r e m odelin g a nd la rg e m eta l p ulle ys fr o m a ju nk yard th at I
use d to r a is e a s lid in g d oor. I n sid e, I to ok g re at c are in m ak in g c o m fo rta b le p la ces to s it , a nd h angin g p ic tu re s a nd c urta in s— ju st th e s o rt o f th in g,
it tu rn ed o ut, o ne m ig ht d o in a r e sta ura nt. W hen it r a in ed fo r th e fir s t tim e, I w ould s it in m y fin is h ed fo rt a nd fe el v ery p ro ud if th e r o of d id n’t le ak .
B ut o nce th e fo rt w as b uilt a nd w eath er tig ht, I d id n’t a ctu ally s p end m uch tim e p la yin g in sid e. I t w as m uch m ore fu n to r id e b ik es o r h ik e d ow n to
th e c re ek to h unt s a la m and ers a nd c ra yfis h . W hat w as fa sc in atin g to m e w as th e p ro cess o f b uild in g— im agin in g s o m eth in g in m y h ead a nd th en
m ak in g it h ap pen.
O ne d ay, w hile w ork in g o n w hat m ust h ave b een m y th ir d o r fo urth fo rt, w hen I w as tw elv e o r th ir te en y ears o ld , I fe lt a s tr a nge w etn ess “ d ow n th ere .” I w ent to th e h o use a nd in th e b ath ro om w as a sto nis h ed to fin d a b rig ht r e d s ta in o n m y u nd erp ants . A t fir s t I w as in d enia l th at I h ad g o tte n
m y p erio d— th at I w as re ally a g ir l, s o m eth in g I a lw ays tr ie d to fo rg et— and w ent b ack u p to th e w oods to k eep b uild in g. F in ally , I g ave in a nd
w ent b ack d ow n to th e h o use to te ll m y m om . S he p atie ntly fit te d m e w it h a n e la stic “ sa nit a ry b elt ” th at h eld u p a b ig w hit e s a nit a ry p ad o n m eta l
ho oks in th e fr o nt a nd b ack . T he p ad fe lt s o b ulk y a nd a w kw ard b etw een m y le gs, a nd it w as h um ilia tin g to w ear th is c o ntr a p tio n u nd er m y je ans. I
w ent b ack u p to th e w oods h o pin g th at n o o ne w ould c o m e a lo ng a nd s o m eho w k no w . I h am mere d th e b oard s o n m y fo rt a ll th e h ard er.
W hen I w as tw enty a nd a s o pho m ore in c o lle ge, it w as in m y fo rt th at I m ad e lo ve fo r th e fir s t tim e w it h a y o ung m an w ho h ad b een m y b oyfr ie nd
in fif th a nd s ix th g ra d e. M any y ears la te r, w hen I to ld a g ir lf r ie nd a b out lo sin g m y v ir g in it y , s h e c la rif ie d : “ Y ou d id n’t lo se a nyth in g, J u d y. Y ou
in vit e d h im in to y o ur fo rt! ”
A fte r o ur c o lle ge g ra d uatio n, w hen m y c hild ho od s w eeth eart a nd I w ere m arrie d , I c re ate d a p la ce fo r th e c ere m ony w here a fa vo rit e fo rt h ad
once s to od. I e ven h ad th e o rg an fr o m o ur c hurc h h aule d u p to th e w oods, w here th e o rg anis t c o m pla in ed o f h is fe ar o f s p id ers , a nd th e m in is te r
re ad a p assa ge I had cho se n fr o m
Mid su m mer N ig ht’s D re a m .
Dre sse d in a tr a d it io nal w hit e w ed din g g o w n, w it h o ur p are nts a nd fa m ily
gath ere d a ro und u s, I m arrie d m y fir s t lo ve in th e p la ce I lo ved m ost in th e w orld .
B eyo nd th e w oods w as a la rg er p la ce I g re w to k no w w ell— my h o m eto w n o f I n go m ar. G ro w in g u p in a s m all to w n w as a g re at e xp osu re to th e
w ay lo cal b usin esse s w ove th ro ugh c o m munit y lif e . A cro ss th e s tr e et fr o m I n go m ar E le m enta ry S cho ol, M arie ’s c and y s to re w as th e fa vo rit e a fte r-
sc ho ol d estin atio n, w here w e w ould s to ck u p o n tr e ats lik e ro ot b eer b arre ls a nd c herry p op-c ycle s, m y fa vo rit e s. M arie d id n’t ju st s e ll c and y.
P eerin g th ro ugh h er th ic k g la sse s w it h e yes s lig htly c o ck eyed , s h e m ad e s u re e ach o f u s w as p olit e , w ait e d o ur tu rn , a nd th re w o ur w ra p pers in th e
tr a sh c an.
In th e s a m e o ne-sto ry b uild in g w as th e I n go m ar p ost o ffic e, w here B enny, th e d ad o f th e B ensc o te r k id s, w as th e to w n p ost- m aste r. N ext to th e
post o ffic e, a lo ng In go m ar R oad , w as S te ve’s M eat M ark et, w here m y m oth er a nd g ra nd m oth er c la im ed th ey g o t th e b est c uts o f s te ak , a nd
w here th ey a lw ays le t S te ve k no w h o w o ur T hank sg iv in g tu rk ey c o m pare d w it h la st y ear’s .
M any o f m y fr ie nd s’ p are nts o w ned o r w ork ed in lo cal b usin esse s. I m et G re g O tto in fir s t g ra d e, a nd h is fa th er’s b usin ess, O tto M ilk C om pany,
deliv ere d m ilk to o ur h o use in g la ss re tu rn ab le b ottle s. R ay, o ur m ilk m an, c am e rig ht in to o ur k it c hen a nd c heck ed o ur re fr ig era to r to s e e h o w
m uch m ilk a nd c re am w e n eed ed , m ak in g s u re M om g o t th e q uart o f b utte rm ilk h e k new s h e e njo yed . T o m ak e fr ie nd s w it h fa m ily p ets , R ay k ep t
a p ock etfu l o f d og b is c uit s . M y s e co nd d og, P ooie , a ls o a b eagle a nd a b it o verw eig ht, w ould b e s u re to g et h ers , a nd th en fo llo w R ay a ro und th e
neig hb orh o od, b eggin g fo r m ore a t e very s to p. S om etim es s h e w ould g o h untin g fo r tr e ats o n h er o w n, a nd I o nce fo und h er d ra ggin g a w ho le h am
up o ur d riv ew ay— her s to le n lo ot fr o m a n u nsu sp ectin g n eig hb or.
S m all b usin esse s w ere s c atte re d th ro ugh to w n, a nd o ne w ay o r a no th er I h ad a c o nnectio n to a ll o f th em . M y fr ie nd P eggy’s d ad w as th e to w n
docto r, a nd th e d ad o f m y s is te r’s fr ie nd o w ned T ho m as’s S erv ic e S ta tio n, th e to w n’s o nly fillin g s ta tio n in th e e arly y ears , w here m y p are nts h ad a
charg e a cco unt b efo re th e tim e o f c re d it c ard s. T he S te ig erw ald k id s g re w u p o n a fa rm o n th e o uts k ir ts o f In go m ar ra is in g p ig s a nd c hic k ens.
A no th er c lo se fr ie nd , G ail, w ho liv ed in a r u ra l a re a fa rth er a w ay, h ad a s u m mer jo b e very y ear a t h er u ncle ’s r o ad sid e fa rm s ta nd s e llin g fr e sh fr u it
fr o m th eir o rc hard , s ta rtin g th e s e aso n w it h s tr a w berrie s. O f c o urs e , w e h ad n o c ell p ho nes to k eep u p w it h th e la te st n ew s a b out b oyfr ie nd s a nd
go in gs-o n a t th e lo cal s w im min g p ool, s o I w ould g et n ew sy le tte rs fr o m G ail h and w rit te n fr o m th e s ta nd a nd c o vere d w it h s tr a w berry s ta in s.
I h ad m y fir s t c herry c o ke, n o t th e b ottle d v ers io n o f to day, b ut o ne m ix ed a t th e s o da fo unta in , a t R ic hie ’s P harm acy o n H arm ony D riv e n ear th e
in te rs e ctio n w it h In go m ar R oad , o ur b usie st c o rn er— th o ugh n o t b usy e no ugh fo r a tr a ffic lig ht. A no th er c lo se fr ie nd , B arb , g o t a jo b fr o m M r.
R ic hie in h ig h s c ho ol. I th o ught it w as s o c o ol th at s h e g o t to m ak e th e s o das, m ix in g th e c herry a nd c o la s y ru p s a nd a d din g c arb onate d w ate r.
B arb c o uld e ven g et a p eek a t th e a d ult m agazin es M r. R ic hie k ep t b ehin d th e c o unte r, s o th e y o unger k id s c o uld n’t g et in to th em . A fte r h is
re tir e m ent, D ad w alk ed d ow n to R ic hie ’s e very m orn in g a nd s a t a t th e c o unte r fo r a c up o f c o ffe e to ta lk s p orts a nd tr o ut fis h in g w it h o th er
re tir e es, w ho e ach h ad a m ug h angin g w it h th eir o w n n am e o n it .
A cro ss H arm ony D riv e fr o m R ic hie ’s w as th e I n go m ar F ir e H all w here th e d ad s w ho w ork ed in th e to w n’s s m all b usin esse s m ad e u p th e v o lu nte er
fir e d ep artm ent. O n sp ecia l o ccasio ns, th e fir e e ngin e w as m oved o ut a nd th e h all w as u se d fo r sq uare d ances, H allo w een c o stu m e p artie s,
w ed din g r e cep tio ns, a nd I n go m ar’s v ery fir s t r o ck ’ n ’ r o ll d ance. N ext to th e fir e h all w as th e b eer d is tr ib uto r, w here th e fa vo rit e s w ere I ro n C it y
fr o m P it ts b urg h a nd R ollin g R ock fr o m n earb y L atr o be. D ow n H arm ony D riv e o n th e o th er s id e o f In go m ar R oad w as J o e H ein re gle ’s g ro cery
sto re w here I o fte n w ent w it h m y m om to d o th e w eek ly s h o ppin g. M r. H ein re gle k new a ll h is c usto m ers b y n am e a nd th re w a n a nnual C hris tm as
party fo r th e w ho le to w n.
L ik e m ost w om en in m y h o m eto w n, m y m om , B etty W ic k s, w as a h o m em ak er d urin g m y g ro w in g-u p y ears , th o ugh w hen I w ent o ff to c o lle ge s h e
re tu rn ed to te achin g th ir d g ra d e to h elp w it h m y tu it io n. I t w as th ro ugh h er w ork in c o m munit y s e rv ic e th at M om b ecam e m y r o le m odel fo r w hat
cam e la te r in m y c are er. A g re at o utd oors w om an, s h e w as le ad er o f o ur to w n’s G ir l S co ut tr o op a nd th e d ir e cto r o f o ur s u m mer d ay c am p. S he
le d u s o n c am pin g a nd w hit e -w ate r c ano e tr ip s in to th e w ild s, te achin g u s h o w to b uild a fir e a nd p it c h a te nt, h o w to fe nd fo r o urs e lv es a nd h o w to
w ork in a g ro up . I w atc hed a s s h e c o nd ucte d th e m orn in g p ro gra m a t c am p a nd o rg aniz e d w ork a ssig nm ents fo r e ach u nit , a lw ays w it h fa ir n ess
and e nth usia sm .
M om a nd D ad w ere n atu re lo vers a nd e njo yed th e o ut- o f- d oors . T hey to ok o ur fa m ily o n m any c am pin g tr ip s, in clu d in g e xp ed it io ns to a r e m ote
C anad ia n is la nd th ey h ad fir s t d is c o vere d b efo re I w as b orn . U sin g a m ap a nd c o m pass, D ad n avig ate d th e m oto rb oat w it h a c hain o f c ano es
str u ng b ehin d c arry in g o ur g ear a nd fa m ily m em bers , in clu d in g m y y o unger s ib lin gs, D ia ne a nd J o hn, a s w ell a s m y a unt, u ncle , a nd s ix c o usin s.
M om d id th e p la nnin g fo r o ur tr ip s, p ack in g s u p plie s fo r tw o w eek s a nd c o okin g m eals fo r th ir te en p eo ple o ver th e c am pfir e .
W hen it c am e to c o okin g, c am pfir e c o okin g w as th e o nly fo rm I w ould ta k e p art in b ecause it w as n o t s is sy s tu ff. W hile g ro w in g u p , I m uch
pre fe rre d to p la y in th e w oods th an c o ok in th e k it c hen. E ven th o ugh I w ould n o t b e c aught d ead s h o w in g a n in te re st in h o m em ak in g, I le arn ed th e
im porta nce o f g o od fo od fr o m m y m oth er a nd g ra nd m oth ers .
B rin gin g p eo ple to geth er a ro und fo od w as a tr a d it io n fo r th e w ho le fa m ily . A s fa r b ack a s I c an r e m em ber M om a nd D ad e nte rta in ed w it h s u m mer
pic nic s o n th e p atio , c am pfir e s in gs u p in th e w oods, a nd th eir m onth ly F rid ay n ig ht H ungry C lu b , a p otlu ck d in ner tr a d it io n th ey fo rm ed w it h c lo se
fr ie nd s th e y ear I w as b orn , 1 947. V is it in g m y m ate rn al g ra nd m oth er G ra ce S co tt, in W in te r H aven, F lo rid a, I r e m em ber h er m ost in th e k it c hen,
co okin g u p b ig m eals fo r o ur fa m ily , s o m etim es o f fr e sh fis h s h e h ad c aught in th e la k e a nd a lw ays w it h th e fa vo rit e h o m e-b ak ed s tic k y b uns th at
sh e c o nsta ntly n ib ble d . B y c o m paris o n, m y p ate rn al g ra nd m oth er, E le ano r W ic k s, w ho m I c alle d N ana, w as m uch m ore fo rm al th o ugh n o le ss
so cia l. S he s e t th e p erfe ct ta b le a t th e m any e le gant d in ner p artie s s h e h o ste d in h er b ig h o use in P it ts b urg h, w here s h e w ould r in g a s m all c ry sta l
bell to s u m mon th e m aid . I t w as fr o m N ana th at I le arn ed to a p pre cia te th e d eta ils o f fin e s e rv ic e.
M y m oth er to ok in te re st n o t o nly in c re atin g ta sty m eals , b ut a ls o in p ro vid in g th e m axim um n utr it io nal v alu e, u sin g b ooks lik e
Let’s C ook I t R ig ht
by th e p opula r n utr it io nis t A delle D avis . M om a nd D ad p la nte d a g o od-siz e d fa m ily g ard en e very y ear, w hic h th ey te nd ed fa it h fu lly , w hile I a lw ays
m anaged to ta k e o ff o n m y b ik e r a th er th an h elp w it h th e w eed in g— th o ugh I d id e njo y p ic k in g to m ato es, b eans, s q uash , a nd c o rn fr o m th e g ard en,
w hic h M om w ould u se fo r d in ner th at v ery n ig ht th ro ugho ut th e s e aso n.
O n s p ecia l o ccasio ns, M om m ad e h er n am esa k e d is h , B etty ’s s h is h k eb ab s— sk ew ers o f m arin ate d b eef, fr e sh to m ato es, p ep pers , a nd o nio ns th at
D ad g rille d o ver c harc o al. N ana w as a n e xcelle nt p ie b ak er, w it h fla k ey c ru sts h o ld in g a fr e sh fr u it fillin g— str a w berry , c herry , p each, b lu eb erry , o r
ap ple — as e ach c am e in to s e aso n. W hen s h e a rriv ed a t o ur h o use w it h h er p ie b ask et, I c o uld n o t w ait to fin d o ut w hat k in d o f p ie w as in sid e. H er
str a w berry p ie , m ad e e very J u ne, w as a r e cip e M om a nd la te r m y c o usin s a ll k ep t in th eir r e cip e b oxes. I g o t a k ic k o ut o f w hip pin g th e c re am a nd
plo ppin g b ig s n o w -w hit e s p oonfu ls o nto th e b rig ht r e d fr u it o f th e o pen-fa ced p ie .
E ven in w in te r w e e njo yed fr o ze n a nd ja rre d h o m egro w n v egeta b le s. I re m em ber h o w M om a nd N ana s p ent th e h o tte st d ays o f s u m mer in th e
kit c hen ja rrin g a p ple sa uce a nd s te w ed to m ato es a nd m ak in g ja m s a nd je llie s. I w as c urio us to w atc h a s th ey lif te d la rg e s a ck s o f c heese clo th
drip pin g w it h d ark ju ic e fr o m b ig p ots , s tr a in in g p re se rv es a ll m ad e fr o m fr e sh fr u it s b ought a t th e lo cal fa rm ers m ark ets . A s p ecia l tr e at a t th e
m ark et w as ic e c re am m ad e fr o m s e aso nal fr u it s . I lo nged fo r p eaches to r ip en, s o I c o uld h ave m y fa vo rit e — fr e sh p each ic e c re am .
B y th e tim e c o ld w eath er c am e, o ur fr e eze r w as c ho ck -fu ll o f v egeta b le s fr o m th e fa m ily g ard en a nd fr o ze n fr u it p ie s th at w e h ad n’t a lr e ad y
go bble d u p d urin g th e s u m mer. G la ss M aso n ja rs o f c anned fo ods lin ed th e s h elv es in o ur s to ra ge ro om a nd w ould la st u s th ro ugh th e w in te r
se aso n, u ntil N ana m ad e th e fir s t p ie o f th e s p rin g— fr e sh r h ub arb — and M om w ould s e rv e fr e sh lo cal a sp ara gus, w hic h u su ally a rriv ed in tim e fo r
E aste r d in ner.
B ack th en, it c am e n atu ra lly to e njo y fr e sh p ro duce ju st w hen it w as in s e aso n r a th er th an e atin g th e s a m e fr u it s a nd v egeta b le s a ll y ear s h ip ped in
fr o m S outh A meric a. E xcep t fo r c o ld -sto re d a p ple s, fr e sh fr u it w as m ostly c it r u s in th e w in te r w hen it c am e in to s e aso n in F lo rid a. I c an r e m em ber
m y e xcit e m ent a s a c hild w hen w e re tu rn ed h o m e fr o m th e tr a in sta tio n c arry in g a b ig c ra te m y m ate rn al g ra nd fa th er, A rm or S co tt, th e v ic e
pre sid ent o f a c it r u s n urs e ry , h ad s h ip ped fr o m F lo rid a. O n th e flo or in th e k it c hen w e w ould o pen th e c ra te , a nd th e s m ell o f F lo rid a o ra nges fille d
our h o use a s th o ugh th e w arm a ir o f th e S outh h ad b lo w n o ur w ay.
M any o f th e fa th ers in I n go m ar c o m mute d th e fif te en m ile s in to P it ts b urg h to w ork e ach d ay, in clu d in g m y d ad , w ho w as a la w yer, lik e h is fa th er
befo re h im . D ad p ic k ed u p th in gs in th e c it y th at w e c o uld n’t fin d in I n go m ar, a nd I r e m em ber ju m pin g fo r jo y a t a ge e le ven w hen h e a rriv ed h o m e
w it h m y v ery fir s t r e co rd , o ne I h ad a sk ed h im to fin d fo r m e— a s in gle 4 5 c alle d “ I G ot S tu ng b y a S w eet H oney B ee” b y E lv is P re sle y.
Tw ic e a y ear, in th e s p rin g a nd fa ll, M om a nd N ana w ould ta k e m y s is te r D ia ne a nd m e in to P it ts b urg h to s h o p fo r c lo th es a t tw o fa m ily -o w ned
dep artm ent s to re s, H orn e’s a nd K aufm ann’s . T hese s to re s w ere a lm ost a n e xte nsio n o f In go m ar to u s b ecause o f th e p ers o nal re la tio nsh ip s w e had th ere . N ana k new a ll th e s a le sw om en b y n am e, a nd th ey g uid ed u s to th e s ty le o f c lo th es th ey k new w e p re fe rre d . If s o m eth in g d id n’t fit
exactly r ig ht, N ana h ad a lt e ra tio ns m ad e, a nd I s to od u p o n a r is e r a nd tu rn ed s lo w ly a ro und w hile th e s e am str e ss a t th e d ep artm ent s to re p in ned
m y h em to th e r ig ht le ngth .
M om w as a n e xcelle nt s e am str e ss h ers e lf , a nd e ach fa ll m ad e a fe w n ew s c ho ol o utfit s fo r D ia ne a nd m e. W hen I c o uld n’t fin d th e d re ss o f m y
dre am s fo r th e s e nio r p ro m , s h e m ad e m e a g o w n ju st a s I d esc rib ed to h er w it h a b lu e s a tin to p a nd a la yere d w hit e la ce s k ir t.
I w as r a is e d a p atr io tic A meric an b y m y p are nts a nd b y I n go m ar. O n th e F ourth o f J u ly , I w oke u p to th e s o und o f D ad p la yin g J o hn P hilip S ousa
m arc hes, w hic h h e b la ste d o ut th ro ugh th e fr o nt d oor fo r th e w ho le n eig hb orh o od to h ear. L eap in g o ut o f b ed , I d re sse d u p in r e d , w hit e , a nd b lu e
clo th es a nd h urrie d o uts id e. W it h th e A meric an fla g h eld h ig h, I m arc hed a ro und th e y ard to “ T he S ta rs a nd S tr ip es F ore ver” w hile D ia ne a nd J o hn
fo llo w ed a lo ng, b angin g o n p ots a nd p ans.
M y fa th er h ad b een a n aval o ffic er d urin g W orld W ar I I, s e rv in g a s c ap ta in o f a p atr o l b oat in th e P acif ic , w here h e r e sc ued d ow ned p ilo ts . L ik e
m ost k id s g ro w in g u p in th e 1 950s, I th o ught th e U nit e d S ta te s w as th e b est a nd b ra vest c o untr y in th e w ho le w orld . I b elie ved th at e ver s in ce
defe atin g th e N azis a nd J a p anese , o ur g o vern m ent h ad b een d efe nd in g th e w orld fr o m th e c o m munis ts . D urin g a ir r a id d rills in e le m enta ry s c ho ol,
w e stu d ents w ere in str u cte d to h id e u nd er o ur d esk s in c ase o f a n ucle ar a tta ck b y th e S ovie ts , w hic h g ave u s th e c le ar im pre ssio n th at th e
co m munis t n atio n, a nd a nyo ne w ho s id ed w it h th em , w as o ur e nem y. I w as p ro ud to b e a ntic o m mie lik e th e r e st o f I n go m ar a nd w as c o nvin ced
th at m y c o untr y w as a g enero us o ne th at w ent a ro und th e w orld b rin gin g d em ocra cy a nd p ro vid in g a id to h elp o th er p eo ple s.
L ik e m any s m all to w ns, th e I n go m ar o f m y c hild ho od c hanged o ver tim e, s w allo w ed u p b y s u b urb an s p ra w l. W hen I w as in h ig h s c ho ol, s h o ppin g
cente rs b egan to s p rin g u p a lo ng th e h ig hw ay b etw een I n go m ar a nd P it ts b urg h. T he N orth w ay M all o pened u p w it h g re at fa nfa re a s o ne o f th e fir s t
m alls in th e c o untr y , a nd n ext d oor o ur fir s t M cD onald ’s s o on a p peare d . I w as e xcit e d b y th e n ew d evelo pm ents a nd w as d ra w n to fa st- fo od a nd
chain s to re s a t th e m all w here w e te enagers b egan to h ang o ut. A t th e tim e, lik e m ost o th ers in I n go m ar, I s a w a ll th is a s a n im pro vem ent o ver s m all
to w n lif e . A fte r a ll, I c o uld fin d th e la te st fa sh io ns a nd b uy m y o w n r e co rd s w it h o ut r e ly in g o n a tr ip to th e c it y w it h m y p are nts .
A s th e fa rm s, w oods, a nd fie ld s s u rro und in g I n go m ar, w here I h ik ed a nd r o de m y g ir lf r ie nd ’s h o rs e , g ave w ay to h o usin g p la ns, th e s to re s in to w n
gave w ay to m alls . T he fir s t to g o w as th e h ard w are s to re o n I n go m ar R oad w it h a b ig fr o nt p orc h a nd w id e w ooden s te p s, w here th e m en u se d to
gath er o n S atu rd ay a fte rn o ons. B efo re th e m alls a rriv ed , I th o ught o f b usin ess o w ners a s n eig hb ors a nd p are nts , w ho h elp ed k eep a n e ye o n u s
kid s, a nd w ho s p onso re d th e s c o ut tr o ops, th e L it tle L eague, a nd th e a nnual fir e m an’s p ara d e a nd c arn iv al. T ho se d ays la ste d lo ng e no ugh fo r m e
to b eco m e a w are o f th e m any w ays th at lo cal b usin esse s h elp ed c re ate a se nse o f p la ce, lo cal id entit y , a nd a fe elin g o f b elo ngin g fo r a ll th e
to w nsp eo ple . T ho ugh I liv ed in a ty p ic al s m all to w n, I w as a k id fr o m I n go m ar— and th at w as a p la ce lik e n o o th er.
D urin g th e tim e I g re w u p in th e 1 950s a nd 1 960s, a c are er in b usin ess w as n o t e ven c o nsid ere d fo r g ir ls , a t le ast n o t in th e s m all to w ns w here I
atte nd ed h ig h s c ho ol a nd c o lle ge. I c erta in ly n ever g ave a th o ught to b ein g a b usin essp ers o n. Y et fr o m a y o ung a ge, I c o ntin ually c re ate d p rim it iv e
fo rm s o f b usin ess to a ttr a ct a nd e nte rta in th e o th er k id s in th e n eig hb orh o od.
I h ad ju st tu rn ed s ix w hen m y fa m ily m oved in to o ur n ew h o use w it h a b ig fr o nt la w n o n W oodla nd R oad , a q uie t la ne o n th e e d ge o f to w n. O n th e
fir s t d ay in m y n ew c o m munit y , I c o lle cte d a ll th e e xte nsio n c o rd s I c o uld fin d a nd c o nnecte d th em d ow n th e d riv ew ay w here I s e t u p m y lit tle
child -siz e d d in in g ta b le w it h tw o c hair s a nd p lu gged in m y to y r e co rd p la yer. T urn in g th e v o lu m e u p fu ll b la st to p la y “ H ow M uch I s T hat D oggy in
th e W in d ow ?” I s a t d ow n a t th e ta b le to s e e w ho m ig ht c o m e a lo ng. A t la st I s p otte d a n eig hb orh o od b oy a b out m y a ge w alk in g u p th e r o ad a nd
w atc hed e xp ecta ntly a s h e n eare d o ur h o use . I s till re m em ber th e g le e I fe lt w hen J o hnny B ak er s to pped , h esit a te d , a nd fin ally tu rn ed u p o ur
driv ew ay, w alk in g s lo w ly to w ard m e in h is p ig eo n-to ed o vers iz e s n eak ers to ta k e a s e at a t m y ta b le . T ho ugh I h ad n’t y et a ny fo od to s e rv e, h e
w as m y fir s t r e sta ura nt c usto m er.
A no th er e arly “ sta rt- u p ” in vo lv ed m ak in g p ain tin gs o n s c ra p s o f w ood I’d c o lle cte d , a nd s e llin g th em fr o m m y w ago n a lo ng In go m ar R oad . M y
fir s t s to re ! M ak in g m oney w as n o t a lw ays p art o f th e p la n. I s im ply e njo yed u sin g w hate ver r e so urc es I c o uld fin d to c re ate s o m eth in g o f v alu e a nd
have s o m e fu n d oin g it .
E ach s u m mer I c o nverte d o ur g ara ge in to a th eatr e , m ak in g s ta ge c urta in s w it h th e m atc hin g tw in b ed sp re ad s fr o m th e r o om I s h are d w it h D ia ne.
M y y o unger s ib lin gs a nd th e o th er n eig hb orh o od k id s w ere th e a cto rs in th e s k it s I w ro te a nd d ir e cte d , w it h s illy tit le s lik e
The D ay D ir ty D an
B um ped O ff G ra ndm a.
We in vit e d th e m oth ers in th e n eig hb orh o od, a ll s ta y-a t- h o m e m om s, a nd s a t th em in c hair s w e d ra gged fr o m th e h o use out o nto th e d riv ew ay. B etw een th e c hair s , I s e t u p fo ld in g tr a y s ta nd s to h o ld th eir g la sse s o f ic e te a a nd a sh tr a ys ( y es, in th o se d ark d ays, m ost
m om s a nd d ad s s m oked ).
W hen I w as in ju nio r h ig h, I b uilt a fiv e-h o le m in ia tu re g o lf c o urs e in th e w oods n ear m y fo rt, w it h a m aze o f r a m ps, tu nnels , a nd h ills , u sin g e m ptie d
fr o ze n o ra nge ju ic e c ans to lin e th e tu nnels a nd h o le s. I s o e njo yed b ein g in th e w oods, w ork in g w it h th e m ois t s o il h id den u nd er la yers o f fa lle n
le aves o n th e fo re st flo or. I b re ath ed in th e r ic h e arth y s m ell a s I fo rm ed th e s o il in to v alle ys a nd h ills , p ack in g it fla t s o th e b alls w ould r o ll s m ooth ly
on it s d ark s u rfa ce. I w as s o e xcit e d to w it n ess th e fu n th e m in ia tu re g o lf c o urs e p ro vid ed th e n eig hb orh o od k id s— th e s a m e e xcit e m ent I w ould
re lis h y ears la te r in c re atin g e vents fo r th e c usto m ers a nd e m plo yees in m y r e sta ura nt.
T he fr e ed om m y p are nts g ave m e g ro w in g u p a llo w ed m e th e o pportu nit y to d o m y o w n th in g— to c o nco ct a p la n in m y m in d a nd m ak e it h ap pen
w it h o ut th e h elp o f a d ult s . I h ave n o d oub t th at th is fr e ed om to c re ate a t a n e arly a ge h as c arrie d th ro ugh m y w ho le lif e , a nd a s I g re w o ld er
actu aliz in g m y id eas in to r e al lif e le d to la rg er a nd la rg er p ro je cts .
T here w as n o th in g I e njo yed m ore th an c re atin g a c harm in g p la ce w here p eo ple lik ed to g ath er— fr o m th e m in ia tu re g o lf c o urs e , to th e s u m mer
pla ys, to th e fo rts I c o ntin ued to b uild in th e w oods.
T he o ld er I g o t, th e m ore o fte n I ra n in to d is a p poin tm ents b ecause I w as a g ir l w ho h ad in te re sts a nd a b ilit ie s th at p re su m ab ly w ere o nly fit fo r
boys. I lo nged to ta k e w ood s h o p in s c ho ol to le arn h o w to u se d if fe re nt b uild in g to ols to im pro ve m y fo rts a nd d esig n n ew p ro je cts , b ut to m y
dis m ay g ir ls w ere n o t p erm it te d . I ’m s u re th ere w ere b oys in m y c la ss w ho w ould h ave r a th er c o oked th an h am mer n ails , w hile I w as r e q uir e d to
ta k e h o m e e co no m ic s. S tu b born ly , I s w ore I w ould n ever le arn to c o ok.
M y p assio n fo r b ase b all b ro ught m y b ig gest d is a p poin tm ent. G ro w in g u p in w este rn P ennsy lv ania , I w as a P it ts b urg h P ir a te s fa n, a nd I d eco ra te d
m y ro om w it h p ic tu re s o f th e p la yers a nd k ep t th eir b attin g a vera ges p oste d o n m y w all. D ad p la yed o n h is c o lle ge b ase b all te am , a nd th o ugh I
w as a g ir l, h e ta ught m e to p la y. I e arn ed m oney s e llin g g re etin g c ard s d oor- to -d oor to b uy m y v ery o w n b ase b all m it t, s ig ned b y D ic k G ro at,
sh o rts to p fo r th e P ir a te s a nd m y fa vo rit e p la yer.
O ne e ventfu l m orn in g in fif th g ra d e, o ur g ym te acher a nno unced , “ It’s th e fir s t w arm d ay o f s p rin g— tim e to s ta rt s o ftb all p ra ctic e.” I ju m ped o ut o f
m y c hair w it h g re at e xcit e m ent, r e ad y to g o . T hen I h eard , “ B oys, d ow n to th e fie ld . G ir ls , g o o ver th ere s o m ew here a nd p ra ctic e c heerle ad in g.” I
co uld n’t b elie ve m y e ars ! H ow c o uld th is b e? I w as d um bfo und ed , b ut to o s h y to o bje ct. O f c o urs e , n o w ad ays th e te acher w ould b e s u ed , b ut
back th en it w as th e w ay th in gs w ere .
I re fu se d to c heerle ad a nd ju st s to od d eje cte d ly b ehin d th e b ack sto p w atc hin g th e b oys p la y, a nd lo okin g d ow n o n m yse lf a nd th e o th er g ir ls
sim ply fo r b ein g fe m ale . I th o ught to m yse lf ,
Gir ls a re lo se rs. B oys p la y th e im porta nt ro le s, a nd g ir ls ju st s ta nd b y to c h eer th em o n.
My
se nse of se lf se em ed to evap ora te . T he exp erie nce hit m e hard but w as an im porta nt le sso n in und ers ta nd in g th e destr u ctiv e effe cts of
dis c rim in atio n. It a ls o ta ught m e h o w th e w ho le c o m munit y lo se s w hen s o m e a re le ft o ut. A fte r a ll, I re ally w as a g o od b allp la yer, a nd th e te am
w ould h ave b een b ette r, I w as s u re , if I h ad b een a llo w ed to p la y.
T here w as o ne p ers o n w ho s a w th e im porta nce o f a llo w in g g ir ls to p la y— th e ja nit o r a t In go m ar E le m enta ry S cho ol, J o e B ullic k . A t re cess, h e
org aniz e d a so ftb all g am e th at in clu d ed th e g ir ls . T ho ugh it d id n o t m ak e u p fo r th e g ym c la ss e xclu sio n, it h elp ed m e se e th at th ere w ere
possib ilit ie s, th at o th er m en a lo ng w it h m y o w n fa th er s a w th in gs d if fe re ntly , a nd th at I w as im porta nt to th em . W hen I g ra d uate d fr o m g ra d e
sc ho ol, I c o lle cte d m oney fr o m th e k id s in m y c la ss. A t th e je w elr y s to re a t th e m all, I d um ped a ja r o f c o in s o nto th e g la ss c o unte r a nd b ought J o e
a w atc h. O n g ra d uatio n d ay, I to ld m y te acher th at I w ante d to p re se nt a g if t o n b ehalf o f o ur c la ss. S he a ssu m ed it w as fo r th e s c ho ol p rin cip al,
but w hen I g o t u p o n th e s ta ge I a sk ed J o e th e ja nit o r to c o m e u p a nd g ave h im th e w atc h a nd a b ig h ug.
Jo e w ent o n to b eco m e th e s u p erv is o r o f m ain te nance fo r th e w ho le s c ho ol d is tr ic t a nd s ta rte d th e fir s t g ir l’ s s o ftb all te am a t I n go m ar J u nio r H ig h,
and la te r a g ir l’ s g o lf te am . In tim e, u nd er J o e’s c o achin g, th e In go m ar g ir l’ s s o ftb all te am b ecam e s ta te c ham pio ns. ( J o e c am e to m y s ix tie th
bir th d ay p arty , a nd a ro und th e c am pfir e w e to ld o ur in te rtw in ed lif e s to rie s o f b ein g a n in sp ir a tio n to e ach o th er. A nd h e s till h as th e w atc h!)
B ut u nfo rtu nate ly , th ere w ere o th er tim es th at c o nfir m ed th e tr e atm ent I r e ceiv ed fr o m th e g ym te acher o n th e s o ftb all fie ld . I n s e venth g ra d e I w on
a s e co nd p riz e in th e I n go m ar J u nio r H ig h S cie nce F air . I h ad a lw ays e njo yed m echanic al th in gs a nd w as g o od a t p uttin g th em to geth er. I in vente d
a d evic e u sin g m y lit tle b ro th er’s E re cto r S et. A s e rie s o f p ulle ys a tta ched to a n e le ctr ic m oto r in th e b ack o f m y d is p la y m ad e s e vera l a rro w s m ove
aro und in c ir c le s to d em onstr a te th e p ro cess o f e vap ora tio n a nd p re cip it a tio n in a p ap ie r- m âché la nd sc ap e th at I h ad m old ed fr o m n ew sp ap er. I t
had n o t o ccurre d to m e th at g ir ls d id n o t p la y w it h E re cto r S ets , n o r th at w e w ere th o ught to b e c lu ele ss w hen it c am e to m echanic al th in gs, s o I
w as ta k en a b ack w hen m y s c ie nce te acher q uestio ned m e a b out w heth er m y fa th er o r b ro th er h ad h elp ed m e w it h m y p ro je ct. I e xp la in ed th at m y
bro th er w as o nly s e ven y ears o ld a nd th at w hile it w as h is E re cto r S et, h e h ad n o t y et u se d it , a nd th at I h ad d one th e p ro je ct w it h o ut a nyo ne’s help .
T he s to ry d oesn ’t e nd th ere . D urin g th e s c ie nce fa ir , w hen a ll th e p are nts c am e to v ie w th e e xhib it s a nd c ele b ra te th e w in ners , a c la ssm ate c am e
ru nnin g to fin d m e, s a yin g th at m y te acher h ad s e nt fo r m e b ecause m y s c ie nce p ro je ct w as b ro ken. I w ent s tr a ig ht th ere . A c ro w d h ad g ath ere d
aro und m y p ro je ct w it h it s b ig r e d r ib bon, w here m y te acher s to od w it h a “ g o tc ha” s n eer o n h is fa ce. I o pened u p th e b ack o f m y e xhib it to fin d
th at s o m eo ne h ad ta k en th e b and s o ff th e p ulle ys. I q uic k ly p ut th em b ack in to p la ce a nd s ta rte d th e m oto r a gain . M y te acher lo oked s tu nned a nd
th en v ery s h eep is h . I c o uld ju st te ll fr o m h is fa ce th at h e h ad d one it a nd w hat h e h ad b een th in k in g— th at b ecause I w as a g ir l, h e c o uld n’t b elie ve I
had b uilt th e p ro je ct m yse lf a nd a ssu m ed I m ust h ave b een ly in g.
E ven b efo re th ese d is a p poin tm ents , I s h unned th in gs fe m in in e a s s is sy s tu ff. I e ven r a n a w ay in th ir d g ra d e b ecause m y m oth er w ante d m e to w ear
a d re ss o ne d ay a w eek in ste ad o f m y fa vo rit e fla nnel- lin ed je ans w it h s u sp end ers , le ath er fr in ge ja ck et, a nd c o w gir l b oots . B ut a fte r th e e xp erie nce
of b ein g e xclu d ed fr o m s o ftb all, m y n egativ e fe elin gs g re w s tr o nger a nd I d evelo ped c o nte m pt fo r g ir ls — I’d e ven g o s o fa r a s to s a y s e lf - c o nte m pt.
I lo oked d ow n o n w hat I c o nsid ere d w eak ness in m yse lf , in o th er g ir ls , a nd a ls o in b oys— le ad in g to a n in cid ent th at I la te r c am e to r e gre t.
I h ad a c hild ho od fr ie nd , a b oy a ro und m y a ge, m ayb e a y ear y o unger, w ho lik ed to d re ss u p lik e a g ir l in o ur s u m mer p la ys. I h ad e njo yed c astin g
him a s a c o m ic b alle rin a d re sse d in a p in k tu tu a nd r e d w ig . W e h ad fu n p la yin g to geth er w it h m y s is te r, D ia ne— no t o nly w it h th e s k it s , b ut a ls o
w it h b oard g am es o n r a in y d ays a nd p este rin g h is m oth er in th e h o use a cro ss th e s tr e et fo r a g la ss o f p unch th ey c alle d K ic k -a -P oo J o y J u ic e. O ne
day w hen w e w ere a b out tw elv e o r th ir te en, fo r n o re aso n th at I c an re m em ber, I s ta rte d p ic k in g o n h im — punchin g h im in th e u p per a rm a nd
ta untin g h im , “ W hat’s th e m atte r, s is sy, y o u a fr a id to fig ht? ” H e m oved a cro ss o ur la w n to w ard h is h o use a s I fo llo w ed a lo ng, c o ntin uin g m y ta unts
and o ccasio nal ja b s to h is a rm . H e d is a p peare d in to h is h o use a nd n ever c am e b ack to p la y.
I m is se d h im . I fe lt a sh am ed o f h urtin g s o m eo ne I h ad p erc eiv ed a s le ss p ow erfu l. F ro m th at e xp erie nce, I b ecam e c o nsc io us o f h o w a nd w hen I
use d m y p ow er, c are fu l n o t to ta k e a d vanta ge o f m y s iz e o r a ge, a nd fa sc in ate d to o bse rv e h o w v ario us p eo ple u se d p ow er c o nstr u ctiv ely o r
ab use d it .
A s I g re w o ld er, I w as a b le to s e e th at m y a b usiv e b ehavio r o n th at d ay w as a b out s c o rn in g th e p art o f m yse lf th at is v uln era b le a nd s o ft. I d id n’t
w ant to b e a s is sy . A t th e tim e, I d id n’t e ven w ant to b e a g ir l b ecause I s a w g ir ls a s le ss w orth y. T o a tta ck m y fr ie nd w as to a tta ck th at p art o f m e.
Today I u nd ers ta nd th at m en o r w om en w ho re je ct th eir fe m in in e s id e, ju st a s I h ad re je cte d m in e, c an b e p ote nt b ullie s— la sh in g o ut a gain st
w om en, c hild re n, a nim als , o r b oys a nd m en w ho r e veal th eir v uln era b ilit y — fo r th e v ery s a m e r e aso n: a s e lf - h atr e d o f th e s o ftn ess w it h in .
A ge b ro ught m e o th er in sig hts a b out p ow er, a s w ell, th at w ould p la y o ut in th e w orld vie w th at c am e to s h ap e m y b usin ess. O ne o f th o se w as th at
pow er c o m es w it h a n o blig atio n to p ro te ct a nd s u p port th o se w it h le ss o f it . T hat is a le sso n I le arn ed , a s m any d o, b y fa llin g in lo ve w it h a n a nim al.
F ro m th e d ays w hen I p la yed “ H ow M uch I s T hat D oggy in th e W in d ow ?” o n m y to y r e co rd p la yer a s a s ix -y ear- o ld , I b egged m y p are nts fo r a
dog. T hre e y ears la te r, p erh ap s a s a s u b stit u te fo r th e b uck ets a nd tu b s o f s n ak es, c ra yfis h , a nd s a la m and ers I k ep t in m y b ed ro om , m y p are nts
co nse nte d to g ettin g a d og a nd w e p ic k ed o ut P ep py fr o m a lit te r o f b eagle s. H e fo llo w ed m e e very w here w hile I b uilt m y fo rts a nd e xp lo re d th e
w oods, a nd I le arn ed to fe ed a nd c are fo r h im . W hen a nts g o t in to h is d og fo od d is h , I m ad e a m oat b y p ourin g w ate r in a p ie p an p la ced u nd er h is
dis h . U nfo rtu nate ly , u nlik e m ost b eagle s a nd lik ely c ause d b y a b ir th d efe ct th at c ause d h im p ain , P ep py h ad a s h o rt te m per a t tim es, u su ally w hen
kid s I d id n’t lik e m uch w ere a ro und . A fte r h e b it a fe w o f th em , th e p olic e to ld m y p are nts w e h ad to h ave h im p ut to s le ep . I c rie d fo r h im a lm ost
every n ig ht u ntil I g re w u p a nd le ft fo r c o lle ge, e ven a fte r m y p are nts b ro ught h o m e a s e co nd b eagle p up py.
In s ix th g ra d e, I w ro te a s to ry a b out th e la st tim e I s a w P ep py. W hen th e te acher a sk ed m e to r e ad it to th e c la ss, I w as a sto nis h ed th at m y s to ry
m ad e th e k id s c ry . S om e tim e a ro und th en, I r e ceiv ed a s o lic it a tio n in th e m ail. I s till d on’t k no w h o w th ey g o t th e n am e o f a te n-y ear- o ld , b ut it
w as a p ow erfu l m essa ge th at h as la ste d to th is d ay. T he s o lic it a tio n w as fr o m a n a ntiv iv is e ctio n s o cie ty , a nd it s h o w ed a p ho to gra p h o f a b eagle ,
ju st lik e P ep py, s tr a p ped d ow n o n a n o pera tin g ta b le . I s e nt in m y a llo w ance a nd h ave b een a c o ntr ib uto r e ver s in ce a fte r le arn in g th at b eagle s a re
th e m ost c o m monly u se d d og in m ed ic al r e se arc h a nd c o nsu m er p ro duct te stin g, w here th ey s u ffe r n eed le ssly .
A fte r b ein g k ep t o ff th e s o ftb all te am b ecause I w as a g ir l, it r e ally to ok m e till m y th ir tie s to b egin r e co gniz in g a nd h o no rin g th e n urtu rin g q ualit ie s in
oth ers a nd m yse lf , a nd to s to p b uyin g in to th e “ stif f u p per lip ” a p pro ach to s u ccess in th e b usin ess w orld . E ventu ally , I c am e to re aliz e th at th e
fe m in in e q ualit ie s I o fte n tr ie d n o t to r e veal a s a c hild a nd y o uth w ere th e v ery q ualit ie s m ost n eed ed in b uild in g a m ore c arin g e co no m y in to day’s
w orld . B ut fir s t I h ad to le arn to v alu e th o se q ualit ie s in m yse lf .
M ost o f u s h ave h ad th e e xp erie nce o f b ein g le ft o ut o f s o m eth in g w e w ante d to d o, fe elin g s e p ara te d a nd m arg in aliz e d b ecause o f o ur c la ss, r a ce,
age, g end er, s e xual o rie nta tio n, o r c ult u ra l b ack gro und — or fo r o ur la ck o f k no w le d ge o r m oney. O verc o m in g s u ch e xp erie nces to v alu e o ur g if ts ,
to fin d o ur tr u e p urp ose s, a nd to b elie ve in o urs e lv es c an ta k e a lo ng tim e— as it d id fo r m e. L ate r in lif e , I c am e to s e e h o w im porta nt d iv ers it y w as to th e s tr e ngth o f a ny g ro up o f p eo ple , a s it is in n atu re . S ocie ty is w eak ened w hen fe m in in e e nerg y is r e p re sse d in m en a nd w om en b oth , a nd
w hen p eo ple , w ho ever th ey a re , a re e xclu d ed fo r th eir d if fe re nces r a th er th an g iv en th e o pportu nit y to c o ntr ib ute th eir u niq ue g if ts . F in d in g a w ay
fo r e very o ne to p la y th e g am e b ecam e a n im porta nt p art o f m y b usin ess p hilo so phy.
B ut b ack in fif th g ra d e, w hen I w as r e je cte d o n th e s o ftb all fie ld , I a ccep te d m y fa te . L ik e m ost o th er g ir ls r a is e d in th e 1 950s, it b ecam e c le ar to
m e th at s in ce g ir ls c o uld n’t p la y b all, th e n ext b est th in g w as to m arry th e b est b allp la yer. I p ic k ed m y fu tu re h usb and th at d ay in fif th g ra d e. D ic k
H ayne w as th e p it c her a nd a g re at h it te r, to o— an u nusu al c o m bin atio n o f s k ills . F ro m th e b all fie ld , I w ent b ack to m y d esk in th e c la ssro om ,
cro sse d
Ju dy W ic k s
off m y ta b le t, a nd w ro te
Mrs. R ic h ard H ayn e
all o ver th e c o ver.
T w elv e y ears la te r, m y c hild ho od fa nta sy b ecam e r e alit y — I m arrie d m y fif th -g ra d e s w eeth eart a nd b ecam e M rs . R ic hard H ayne. Jen se n : D oes th e u niv erse th en h ave a p urp ose ?
B erry : T he p urp ose i s s im ply e xis te n ce. A nd th e g lo ry o f e xis te n ce. T hat’ s th e u lti m ate p urp ose o f e very th in g— exis te n ce
and s e lf- d eli g ht i n e xis te n ce.
—Derric k J e n se n in te rv ie w in g T hom as B erry in
Lis te n in g to T he L and
2
A C ult u re o f S harin g : L if e w it h t h e E sk im os
T HE W AR I N
V IE T N A M
was r a gin g w hen D ic k a nd I g ra d uate d fr o m c o lle ge in th e s p rin g o f 1 969 a nd m arrie d th at s u m mer in th e w oods b ehin d
m y h o use in o ur h o m eto w n o f I n go m ar. I h ad lo st m y J o hn P hilip S ousa p atr io tis m . N o lo nger d id I b elie ve th at th e U nit e d S ta te s w as a lw ays r ig ht.
D ic k ’s c o lle ge d efe rm ent fr o m th e d ra ft e nd ed o n g ra d uatio n d ay. I f w e d id n’t fin d a d ra ft d efe rra b le jo b, h e c o uld e nd u p in V ie tn am , a w ar w e
both s tr o ngly o ppose d .
W e th o ught o f jo in in g th e P eace C orp s, w hic h w ould h ave s o lv ed th e p ro ble m , b ut th e a d m is sio ns p ro cess w as le ngth y, s o w e s ig ned u p fo r th e
dom estic a lt e rn ativ e— Volu nte ers in S erv ic e to A meric a (V IS TA )— and re q ueste d a n a ssig nm ent to a la rg e e aste rn c it y . I h ad lo ng d re am ed o f
liv in g in a b ig c it y , a fte r g ro w in g u p in In go m ar. B ut th e g o vern m ent a ssig ned u s to a n In d ia n re se rv atio n in th e M id w est in ste ad a nd s e nt u s fo r
tr a in in g in O re go n. D urin g o ur o rie nta tio n, o ur c la ss o f s e vera l h und re d v o lu nte ers w as a sk ed if a m arrie d c o up le a m ong u s w as w illin g to s e rv e in a
re m ote E sk im o v illa ge in A la sk a fo r a y ear.
Why n ot?
we th o ught. I t tu rn ed o ut th at D ic k a nd I w ere th e o nly o nes to r a is e o ur h and s. S o a fte r o ur
tr a in in g— whic h in clu d ed a g ru elin g th re e-d ay w ild ern ess b ack pack in g tr ip to w eed o ut th e fa in th earte d , w it h o ne n ig ht w hen w e w ere e ach le ft o n
a c hilly m ounta in to p a lo ne w it h o ut a te nt, s le ep in g b ag, o r a ny s u p plie s o th er th an o ne p ack o f m atc hes— we w ere s e nt to C hefo rn ak , A la sk a,
popula tio n 1 20. N ot e xactly th e b ig c it y I h ad d re am ed o f.
T here w ere n o ro ad s le ad in g to th is is o la te d v illa ge p erc hed o n th e b ank o f th e K in ia R iv er n o t fa r fr o m th e B erin g S ea, a to w n fa r s m alle r a nd
m ore r e m ote th an I n go m ar e ver w as. T he n eare st a ir p ort, h o sp it a l, a nd p ho ne w ere a ll a h und re d m ile s a w ay in a to w n to th e n o rth east— Beth el,
popula tio n 1 ,6 00. I n s u m mer, b oats c o uld n avig ate th e r iv ers , a nd in w in te r th e d ogsle d s m ad e th e h aza rd ous jo urn ey a cro ss th e u nm ark ed , fr o ze n
tu nd ra . W e tr a vele d a s p asse ngers o n th e m ail p la ne th at c arrie d s u p plie s a nd le tte rs fr o m B eth el to th e s c atte re d E sk im o v illa ges o f s o uth w este rn
A la sk a. T he r iv er s e rv ed a s th e r u nw ay, w here th e p la nes u se d p onto ons in th e s u m mer a nd s k is a fte r fr e eze -u p .
O ur r id e to C hefo rn ak in th e m ail p la ne b egan w it h a h arro w in g ta k eo ff fr o m th e r iv er in B eth el, s till u nfr o ze n o n a n e arly S ep te m ber d ay. I s a t n ext
to th e b ush p ilo t w it h D ic k b ehin d m e a m id b oxes a nd m ailb ags p ile d to th e c eilin g. A s w e ro are d a cro ss th e w ate r o n p onto ons, th e p la ne
str u ggle d to lif t o ff, it s d oors r a ttlin g a s th o ugh th ey m ig ht fa ll a w ay a ny m in ute . F ro m th e fr o nt s e at, I w atc hed th e s h o re c o m e c lo se r a nd c lo se r,
and ju st a s I th o ught w e w ould s u re ly r u n s m ack in to th e tr e es lo om in g u p a head , th e p ilo t s u d denly c ut th e e ngin e a nd h ead ed b ack to th e d ock .
H e n o nchala ntly th re w s o m e b oxes o ff th e p la ne a nd tr ie d a gain , th is tim e w it h s u ccess a s w e lif te d fr o m th e w ate r a nd s o are d o ver th e tr e es in to
th e s k y.
T here w as a n a ir o f th e O ld W est a b out th e r u gged b ush p ilo t. J u st a s th e s ta geco aches o f fr o ntie r d ays s e rv ed th e s c atte re d W este rn s e ttle m ents ,
m ail p la nes w ere th e p rim ary c o nta ct w it h th e o uts id e w orld fo r th e r e m ote E sk im o v illa gers , b rin gin g a le tte r fr o m a c hild in th e I n d ia n h ig h s c ho ols
of O kla ho m a o r O re go n, a s is te r w ho h ad m arrie d in to a no th er v illa ge, a s o n in C alif o rn ia fo r N atio nal G uard tr a in in g, o r a s p ouse b ein g tr e ate d in
an A ncho ra ge h o sp it a l.
A s w e lo oked d ow n fr o m th e a ir , C hefo rn ak w as e asy to m is s. A w ooden b oard w alk r u nnin g th e le ngth o f th e v illa ge fr o m th e s c ho olh o use a t o ne
end to a c hurc h a t th e o th er c o nnecte d le ss th an tw o d oze n s m all h o use s. A s w e la nd ed o n th e r iv er a nd ta xie d to th e d ock , it s e em ed th e w ho le
villa ge o f 1 20 p eo ple c am e o ut to m eet u s. A n ew n eig hb or g re ete d u s a nd s h o w ed u s to o ur tin y o ne-ro om c ab in , w hic h w as n o t m uch b ig ger th an
m y c hild ho od fo rts . L ik e a ll th e o th er c ab in s, it w as p ie ced to geth er w it h o ld s c ra p s o f w ood w ra p ped in ta r p ap er a nd h eate d w it h a n o il s to ve.
T he fu rn is h in gs w ere a s s p ars e a s th e la nd sc ap e: a k it c hen s in k , a b ed , a nd a lit tle ta b le w it h s e vera l c hair s . T here w as n o b ath ro om , n o s h o w er o r
bath tu b , o nly a n o uth o use — a fr ig hte nin g th o ught c o nsid erin g th e s u b ze ro te m pera tu re s to c o m e. B ut I s o on le arn ed th at it w as o nly a p la ce to
dum p w hat w as c alle d a “ h o ney b uck et” a fte r it w as u se d in d oors .
T he c ab in ’s r e al s u rp ris e , th o ugh, w as th e th ir ty o r s o e m pty , g ia nt- siz e d p eanut b utte r ja rs s ta ck ed o n th e s h elv es lin in g th e w alls , a p pare ntly le ft
by th e v o lu nte ers th at h ad s p ent th e p re vio us y ear th ere . I r e m em ber w ond erin g ju st h o w a nyo ne c o uld e at s o m uch p eanut b utte r in o ne y ear. B ut
I w ould s o on fe el th e s a m e c ra vin g fo r fa t o nce th e c o ld w eath er s e t in . A t tw enty -tw o, I s till h eld to m y h o m e e co no m ic s c la ss re je ctio n o f
co okin g, b ut in C hefo rn ak I m ad e m y fir s t e xcep tio n, q uic k ly le arn in g h o w to m ak e b re ad in th e o ven o f o ur ir o n-to pped s to ve. T hen D ic k a nd I
sm eare d th ic k s lic es w it h lo ts o f p eanut b utte r, ja r a fte r ja r.
F ollo w in g o ur a ctiv e c o lle ge d ays, th e p ace o f v illa ge lif e in it ia lly fe lt p ain fu lly s lo w . O ur V IS TA p ro je cts te achin g p re sc ho ol a nd a d ult e d ucatio n
to ok u p o nly a b out tw elv e h o urs a w eek , a nd D ic k ’s m ain p ro je ct to h elp th e m en a sse m ble n ew p re -fa b h o usin g d id n o t b egin u ntil th e s p rin g. T here w as s o lit tle s tim ulu s th at I s o m etim es fo und m yse lf s it tin g s till a nd w atc hin g r e ru ns o f m y lif e in m y m in d . T he b ig gest d iv ers io n w as th e m ail
pla ne. I n o ur fir s t w eek s, I w as s u rp ris e d to s e e h o w a ll th e v illa gers d ro pped w hat th ey w ere d oin g a nd r a n e xcit e d ly d ow n to th e r iv er a t th e fir s t
so und o f th e m oto r’s h um , r u sh in g to b e th e fir s t to p oin t o ut th e d is ta nt s p ot o f th e a p pro achin g p la ne in th e s k y. I t w as n o t lo ng, th o ugh, b efo re I
jo in ed th e s ta m ped e d ow n to th e r iv er a nd a cro ss th e fr o ze n ic e to g re et th e p la ne a lo ng w it h th em , e ager fo r n ew s fr o m h o m e.
A no th er d iv ers io n c am e in e arly fa ll, w hen m ost e very o ne w ould h ead to th e r iv er a gain , b ut fo r a d if fe re nt r e aso n. F or ju st a fe w d ays, th e r iv er ic e
w as s tr o ng e no ugh to h o ld p eo ple , b ut n o t to o th ic k to c ut th ro ugh, s o it w as p erfe ct fo r ic e fis h in g. D ic k a nd I ta gged a lo ng a nd le arn ed to fis h
w it h a c ir c ula r r o d th at lo oked m ore lik e a m obile th an a fis h in g im ple m ent, w it h s tr in gs to h o ld it fr o m th e to p a nd s e vera l h o oked lin es d anglin g o ff
it . T he id ea w as to ta k e th e r o d in o ne h and , lo w er it d ow n th ro ugh a h o le c ut ju st to it s s iz e , th en y ank it u p . I n th e o th er h and w e h eld a r o und n et,
als o th e s iz e o f th e h o le in th e ic e, w ait in g to s c o op u p th e s n agged fis h . A t th at tim e o f y ear, s h ad r a n s o th ic k u nd er th e ic e th at it w as h ard n o t to
get a ny s n agged o n th e h o oks. W e w ere a m aze d to s e e th e p ile s o f fis h g ro w b ig ger a nd b ig ger n ext to th e E sk im os a s th ey s n agged m ore a nd
m ore , u ntil e ach h ad c aught h und re d s, e no ugh to la st th ro ugh th e w in te r a fte r d ry in g o ver s m oke. S tr u gglin g to g et th e h ang o f it , D ic k a nd I fin ally
caught a d oze n o r s o s h ad b efo re h ead in g in o ut o f th e n ear- ze ro -d egre e c o ld .
E xcep t fo r th e ic e fis h in g, w here s o m e o f th e b est c atc hes w ere m ad e b y w om en, m ost o f th e a ctiv it ie s o f th e v illa ge w ere la rg ely s e gre gate d d urin g
th e d ay, w it h th e m en o uts id e h untin g, fis h in g, m ak in g re p air s , ta k in g ste am b ath s, o r h angin g o ut so m ep la ce w here th e w om en w ere n’t. T he
w om en sta yed in d oors v is it in g e ach o th er in g ro up s, te nd in g b ab ie s a nd y o ung c hild re n w hile d oin g b ead w ork , se w in g c lo th es, a nd w eavin g
bask ets fr o m fie ld g ra ss. N atu ra lly , I h ung o ut w it h th e w om en, e sp ecia lly J a ne, w ho w as m y a ge a nd s p oke E nglis h . E very d ay a t h er h o use w e
w ould ta lk o ver h o t te a s e rv ed w it h la rg e s o da c ra ck ers c alle d “ p ilo t b re ad ” s p re ad w it h ja m a s w e k ep t o ur e ye o n h er tw o y o ung c hild re n. W hen
I m anaged to w eave a s m all b ask et, J a ne te ase d m e th at it lo oked lik e a w his k ey b ottle .
O ne o f m y fa vo rit e tim es o f th e w eek w as g ath erin g in th e h o use o f L eo n, th e jo lly p ostm aste r, w ho w as a m ong th e fe w a d ult s w ho s p oke E nglis h ,
w hic h h e le arn ed w hile h e w as in C alif o rn ia fo r tu b erc ulo sis tr e atm ent. A re p re se nta tiv e o f e ach fa m ily s a t o n th e flo or o f L eo n’s h o use w hile h e
passe d o ut th e m ail, m ak in g jo kes a b out w hat e ach le tte r o r p ack age c o nta in ed . J o kin g w as a n a rt fo rm a m ong th e E sk im os, a nd L eo n w as a
m aste r. I o nly w is h ed I c o uld h ave s p oken th e la nguage to u nd ers ta nd th e r o ars o f la ughte r a s e ach le tte r w as d is tr ib ute d , b ut I b egan to r e aliz e th at
m ost o f h is jo kes w ere a b out s e x.
H e a ls o fo und g re at h um or in th e lit tle g o ld en p up py th at D ic k a nd I h ad ta k en in a nd n am ed A ugeyak , th e E sk im o w ord fo r s ta r. T ho ugh m ost
fa m ilie s h ad s le d d ogs, p ets w ere r a re . E very o nce in a w hile , th ank s to a lo ne s h o rt- h air e d d og s o m eo ne h ad b ro ught to C hefo rn ak lo ng a go , a
dog w ould b e b orn w it h o ut th e th ic k c o at n eed ed to s u rv iv e th e h ars h , o fte n s u b ze ro w in te rs c hain ed o uts id e— as th e d ogs in th e v illa ge w ere .
A ugie , a s w e c am e to c all h im , w as o ne o f th o se , a nd w e h ad ta k en h im in to m ak e th e p la ce s e em a lit tle m ore lik e h o m e. W hen I b ro ught h im o ut
to th e m ail g ath erin gs, I k ep t h im n estle d in th e fr o nt o f m y p ark a. L eo n th o ught it h yste ric al th at a d og w ould b e h eld a gain st th e b re ast a nd to ok
gre at d elig ht in c allin g A ugie m y “ b ab y.” “ W on’t y o ur h usb and p ro vid e y o u w it h a r e al b ab y?” h e w ould te ase m e.
It s n o w ed a lm ost d aily , a nd th e s tr o ng w in d s b le w d rif ts th at c o vere d o ur lit tle h o use . W hen w e o pened o ur d oor in th e m orn in g w e w ere g re ete d
by a w all o f w hit e . W e d ug o urs e lv es o ut e ach d ay a nd c le are d o ur o ne w in d ow to le t in th e s c arc e lig ht. I g ra d ually a d ju ste d to th e p ace a nd s p ent
ho urs e xam in in g p atte rn s o f fr o st o n th e w in d ow a nd s it tin g o uts id e in m y d ow n p ark a s tir rin g a c o nta in er o f c o nd ense d m ilk a nd s u gar, d elig hte d
th at it w ould tu rn in to ic e c re am in th e fr ig id te m pera tu re . S om etim es it w as s o c o ld th at A ugie ’s w ate r b ow l o n th e flo or o f o ur c ab in w ould fr e eze .
O ur b ed w as u p o n s tilt s to b rin g u s a s c lo se to th e c eilin g a s p ossib le , th e w arm est p la ce in th e c ab in .
B ut I c o uld n’t q uit e le ave th e w orld I k new b ehin d m e. D urin g th e lo ng, d ark d ays o f th e A rc tic w in te r, w hen d aylig ht w as o nly a d usk lik e g ra y
haze a t n o ontim e, I r e co gniz e d m y a tta chm ent to te chno lo gy. F or o nly tw o h o urs a d ay w e h ad s o m eth in g w ond erfu l c alle d e le ctr ic it y . I h ad n ever
re aliz e d m y d ep end ence o n e le ctr ic it y u ntil I w ent tw enty -tw o h o urs a d ay w it h o ut it . D esp it e m y p le asa nt tim es d rin k in g te a w it h th e w om en, I
fo und m yse lf w ait in g in e ager a ntic ip atio n fo r th o se tw o g le efu l h o urs .
In th e la te a fte rn o ons, I p re p are d fo r th e m om ent in e arly e venin g w hen th e e le ctr ic it y w ould c o m e o n. I fo und a to y re co rd p la yer a m ong th e
pre sc ho ol s u p plie s a nd e ach d ay s e t it u p o n th e ta b le a nd p lu gged it in . T here w as o nly o ne r e co rd , le ft b y p ast v o lu nte ers . I p la ced it o n th e tin y,
m otio nle ss tu rn ta b le , s e t th e n eed le o n th e e d ge, a nd tu rn ed th e v o lu m e k no b to h ig h. A lit tle r a d io s it tin g s ile ntly o n th e s h elf a b ove m e w as s e t o n
th e o nly s ta tio n w e c o uld p ic k u p — a S ovie t o ne fr o m a cro ss th e B erin g S ea. T hat v o lu m e k no b a ls o w as s e t to h ig h. I n th e s tilln ess, I s a t a t m y
ta b le b y c and le lig ht, s ta rin g a t th e b are lig htb ulb h angin g a b ove m e, w ait in g fo r it to g o o n a nd lis te nin g in te ntly fo r a d is ta nt s o und .
A t la st I h eard it — th e fa in t s p utte r o f a m oto r o n th e o th er s id e o f th e v illa ge, th en a g ro w lin g h um ris in g a nd fa llin g, g ro w in g lo ud er a nd fa ste r,
fa ste r a nd lo ud er a s th e g enera to r p ic k ed u p s p eed . T he lig htb ulb b egan to flic k er, th e r a d io c ra ck le d , a nd th e tu rn ta b le s lo w ly b egan to m ove. A s
th e h um in th e d is ta nce b ecam e a r o ar, th e tu rn ta b le g ain ed s p eed , a nd R ussia n v o ic es c am e fr o m th e r a d io . T he d is to rte d m oanin g fr o m th e r e co rd
pla yer g re w in to a v o ic e I k new w ell. “ E very b ody, le t’s r o ck . . . d ancin ’ to th e J a ilh o use R ock ,” b elt e d th e K in g. I ju m ped to m y fe et a nd d anced
ab out th e c ab in . If y o u’re liv in g in a re m ote A rc tic v illa ge a nd y o u o nly h ave o ne re co rd ,
Elv is P re sle y’s G re a te st H it s
was th e b est I c o uld
im agin e. I c o uld h ear th e w ash in g m achin e o f m y n ext- d oor n eig hb or, M aria , c ra nk in g u p to w ash th e c lo th es o f h er s ix c hild re n. A t th at p oin t in m y
lif e , I d id n’t th in k a b out w here e le ctr ic it y c am e fr o m — oil, n ucle ar p ow er, h yd ro ele ctr ic d am s. I w asn ’t a w are a nd w ould n’t h ave c are d . I ju st
w ante d to e njo y it .
M y fa m ily s e nt c are p ack ages o n a r e gula r b asis , a nd a g ro up o f te enage g ir ls w ould in evit a b ly fo llo w m e h o m e fr o m th e p ostm an’s h o use to s e e
w hat h ad c o m e. I o pened a m ild S w is s c heese m y m oth er h ad s e nt, a nd th e g ir ls w ere r e p uls e d , fe elin g n ause o us a t th e s m ell a nd th e v ery id ea o f
aged m ilk . T hat w as s tr a nge to m e u ntil th e s it u atio n w as r e vers e d o ne d ay w hen th e g ir ls c am e in to m y c ab in h o ld in g th eir h and s o ver th eir m outh s
and g ig glin g. “ W hate ver is th e p ro ble m ?” I a sk ed . “ S tin k h ead s,” th ey r e p lie d s h eep is h ly . T hey h ad b een e atin g s tin k h ead s, a nd k no w in g h o w th e
sm ell w ould o ffe nd m e, w ere c o verin g th eir m outh s. “ S tin k h ead s” w ere m ad e b y s tu ffin g th e h ead s o f r a w fis h in to th e e xtr a cte d s to m ach o f a s e al,
and th en b ury in g th e tie d b und le in th e g ro und . A fte r a fe w w eek s, w hen th e s tin k h ead s h ad b eco m e s tin k y e no ugh, th e d elic acy w as r e ad y to e at.
R ancid s e al o il, a s o urc e o f fa t th at w as a ls o a ged in b urie d s to m achs, w as s q uir te d o n d rie d fis h a nd o n e very th in g e ls e , to o. M uch lik e c ats u p in th e lo w er fo rty -e ig ht, it w as th e fa vo rit e c o nd im ent in C hefo rn ak .
“S eal p arty , s e al p arty !” c am e th e in vit a tio n, a lo ng w it h a n e ager k no ck in g. O penin g m y c ab in d oor, I w as g re ete d b y a w id e g rin e ncir c le d w it h
fu r. M aria , o ur n ext- d oor n eig hb or, h ad o n h er d re ss-u p
kosp ok
, a c o lo rfu l c o tto n d re ss w orn o ver a lo ng fu r p ark a w it h a h o od tr im med in fo x
fu r. S he b eck oned m e to fo llo w , a s s h e tu rn ed to jo in th e o th er v illa ge w om en h urry in g a cro ss th e s n o w in s e als k in b oots ( c alle d
muklu ks
) w it h
pails sw in gin g fr o m m it te ned h and s. T heir fe stiv e
kosp oks
were b rig ht sw atc hes o f c o lo r a gain st th e p ure w hit e la nd sc ap e, str e tc hin g fla t a nd
tr e ele ss to th e d is ta nt h o riz o n in a ll d ir e ctio ns. I p ulle d o n m y
muklu ks
, s lip ped o n m y
kosp ok
th at M aria h ad m ad e fo r m e o ut o f b rig ht g re en
co rd uro y s e nt b y m y m oth er, a nd jo in ed th e p arty .
A b lu e, c lo ud le ss s k y d om ed o ver th is s p eck o f a v illa ge in e arly s p rin g w it h th e te m pera tu re b are ly a b ove fr e ezin g. A fte r w in te r te m pera tu re s a s
lo w a s th ir ty -fiv e b elo w , th e s p rin g a ir fe lt w arm a nd in vit in g. T he E sk im o w om en g ath ere d o uts id e th e d oorw ay o f a s im ple w ooden c ab in a lm ost
burie d in s n o w , th e h o m e o f F lo re nce a nd G eo rg e B illy , p are nts o f m y fr ie nd J a ne. G eo rg e h ad ju st c aught h is fir s t s e al o f th e s e aso n, a tim e fo r
cele b ra tio n. T ra d it io n c alle d fo r th e w if e to d iv id e th e m eat a m ong th e fa m ilie s in th e v illa ge, w ho in o ld en tim es w ould h ave h ad lit tle le ft to e at a t
w in te r’s e nd . F lo re nce d ro pped a la rg e s lic e o f d ark r e d s e al m eat a nd a c hunk o f b lu b ber ( a no th er s o urc e o f fa t) in to e ach o f th e w om en’s p ails .
A fte r th e m eat w as d is tr ib ute d , th e tr a d it io n w as to h and o ut th in gs th e fa m ily h ad a ccum ula te d d urin g th e y ear th at w ere n o t n eed ed fo r s u rv iv al,
su ch a s fu rs , fa b ric s, b utto ns, a nd c anned g o ods. A s a g ra nd fin ale , s m all it e m s lik e h ard c and ie s w ere to sse d in to th e a ir . L aughin g a nd c heerin g,
m oon-sh ap ed fa ces s h in in g u p to w ard th e s u n, th e w om en c aught th e p riz e s in th e o uts tr e tc hed s k ir ts o f th eir
kosp oks
. It w as a fo rm o f w ealt h
re d is tr ib utio n s e rv ed o ut in b utto ns a nd b ub ble g um . I jo in ed r ig ht in , h o pin g fo r m y fa vo rit e — ro ot b eer b arre ls — and e ager fo r m erry m ak in g in th e
su nsh in e a fte r th e lo ng, d ark w in te r.
I h ad n ever s e en a nyth in g lik e th is k in d o f s h arin g. In go m ar w as a w arm a nd c arin g p la ce. B ut in m y s o cie ty , w hat o ne e arn ed b elo nged to th e
earn er. H ere , in C hefo rn ak ’s in d ig eno us c ult u re , w hat w as c aught fr o m n atu re ’s b ounty b elo nged to e very o ne. C hefo rn ak ’s s u b sis te nce e co no m y
w as b ase d o n s h arin g, c o opera tio n, a nd fr u galit y .
If y o u a d m ir e d s o m eth in g a n E sk im o h ad , th e p ers o n w ould g iv e it to y o u. T his m eant I h ad to b e c are fu l w it h c o m plim ents . O nce I s a id , “ I r e ally
lik e y o ur n eck la ce,” a nd a n E sk im o w om an to ok it o ff a nd h and ed it to m e. T he E sk im os o f C hefo rn ak h ad n o c o ncep t o f e nvy o r o w ners h ip ,
giv in g fr e ely w hat w as d esir e d — a d ra m atic c o ntr a st to th e c o m petit iv e c o nsu m er e co no m y I h ad g ro w n u p w it h , o ne w here a d vertis in g c re ate d
envy in o rd er to in cre ase s p end in g. A ds m ad e w om en fe el th ey h ad to b uy a no th er d re ss, o r y et a no th er s h ad e o f lip stic k , to b e a ttr a ctiv e. M en
had to h ave a n ew c ar o r s m oke a c erta in b ra nd o f c ig are tte , o r th ey w ere m ad e to fe el in ad eq uate . I n th is fa ra w ay la nd , fr e e o f te le vis io n a nd th e
ad vertis e m ents a nd b illb oard s th at p ro lif e ra te d in m y e nvir o nm ent a t h o m e, I b egan to u nd ers ta nd m ore a b out h o w th e v alu es o f m y s o cie ty w ere
sh ap ed . A lo ng w it h o th er g ir ls o f m y g enera tio n, th e fir s t to g ro w u p w atc hin g te le vis io n, I h ad b een p ro gra m med to b e a g o od c o nsu m er, m ovin g
on fr o m m y to m boy d ays to d esir e th e c lo th es, b ody s h ap e, a nd lif e sty le s o f g la m oro us m odels . H ere w it h th e E sk im os, n o ne o f th at m atte re d .
T he E sk im os v ie w ed h o ard in g a s d evia nt, w hic h b y c o ntr a st m ad e m e re aliz e h o w m y o w n so cie ty re w ard ed g re ed . R ath er th an se ein g it a s
destr u ctiv e b ehavio r, w e a ctu ally a d m ir e th o se w ho h o ard th e m ost— th o se w ho u se u p th e m ost n atu ra l re so urc es o n b ig h o use s, b ig c ars , b ig
w ard ro bes, and o th er accum ula tio ns o f m ate ria l w ealt h . T he C hefo rn ak E sk im os, o n th e o th er hand , valu ed p eo ple and natu re m ore th an
posse ssio ns. T hat le sso n w as o ne th at I w ould tr y to c arry w it h m e a s I c ra fte d m y o w n lif e a nd b usin ess in la te r y ears . B ut o th er le sso ns th at
w ould s h ap e m y lif e s till a w ait e d m e in A la sk a, a nd o ne o f th o se w as a b out th e p ow er o f c o m munit y .
A t th e tim e w e fir s t a rriv ed , E sk im o v illa ge lif e w as s till la rg ely c o m munal, w it h c o ncern fo cuse d o n th e w ell- b ein g o f th e g ro up ra th er th an o n
in d iv id ual a chie vem ent. T ra d it io nally n o m ad ic , th e E sk im os w ere lu re d b y th e g o vern m ent to s e ttle in o ne p la ce b y a p ro m is e th at th e B ure au o f
In d ia n A ffa ir s ( B IA ) w ould p ro vid e a s c ho ol in e ach v illa ge to e d ucate th eir c hild re n. C ult u ra l d if fe re nces b ecam e a p pare nt w hen c hild re n s h ra nk
fr o m th e p ra is e o f w hit e s c ho olt e achers w ho re w ard ed g o od w ork w it h th e p ro verb ia l s ta r o n th e fo re head to s in gle o ut s u p erio r s tu d ents , a n
em barra ssm ent in th e c o opera tiv e E sk im o s o cie ty .
B ut ju st a s I h ad s e en c hange c o m e to I n go m ar, I s a w it c o m e to C hefo rn ak e ven m ore s ta rk ly .
T he E sk im os h ave a lo ng o ra l tr a d it io n, a nd th eir h is to ry a nd c ult u re h ad b een p asse d d ow n th ro ugh s to ry te llin g in th e Y up ik la nguage. B ut e ver
sin ce th e v illa ge h ad s e ttle d a ro und th e B IA s c ho olh o use s o m e y ears a go , th e y o unger g enera tio n fr o m m y a ge d ow n n o w s p oke E nglis h . E very
F rid ay n ig ht a n A meric an m ovie w as s h o w n, a nd th ro ugh th ese m ovie s th e E sk im os w ere e d ucate d in th e lif e sty le s o f W este rn c ult u re . A lr e ad y,
one fa m ily h ad p ut in a w ooden flo or c o vere d w it h lin o le um , w hic h th ey k ep t c le an w it h S pic a nd S pan, re p la cin g th e b are d ir t flo ors th at h ad
pro vid ed th e w arm th o f th e e arth . R ub ber b oots fr o m S ears c ata lo gs w ere re p la cin g th e c o zy a nd w arm er s e als k in
muklu ks
wit h in ner s o le s o f
co ile d fie ld g ra ss.
C ult u ra l c hange w as a ls o c re ep in g in a s y o ung E sk im o m en jo in ed th e N atio nal G uard , a s n early a ll o f th em d id , b elie vin g th at th ey w ere p ro te ctin g
our s h o re s fr o m th e S ovie ts a cro ss th e s e a. R etu rn in g to th e v illa ge a fte r b asic tr a in in g, th ey b ro ught n ew h ab it s th at c o nflic te d w it h v illa ge lif e —
drin k in g; c hain -sm okin g; s w earin g; a nd lo ud , b ois te ro us ta lk , a ll o f w hic h w ere fr ig hte nin g to th e g ir ls . L ik e m any in d ig eno us p eo ple , E sk im os h ave
a lo w p hysio lo gic al to le ra nce fo r a lc o ho l. A fte r s o m e in cid ents w hen a lc o ho l tu rn ed n o rm ally lo vin g a nd p eacefu l p eo ple in to a b use rs , th e v illa ge
vo te d to b eco m e “ d ry .” B ut a lc o ho l w as s till a n o ccasio nal p ro ble m . T his h it m e p ers o nally w hen a d ru nk d riv in g a s n o w mobile p urp ose ly r a n d ow n A ugie , s n ap pin g th e te nd on o f a b ack le g s o th at it h ung lim p a nd
use le ss. T he c lo se st v ete rin aria n w as in A ncho ra ge, w ay to o fa r to tr a vel, s o I to ok th e m ail p la ne b ack to B eth el a nd w alk ed to th e h o sp it a l,
w here I p le ad ed w it h a d octo r to o pera te o n m y d og. A y o ung p hysic ia n a b out m y a ge, s ta tio ned in A la sk a to d o c o m munit y s e rv ic e, k in d ly
agre ed . I ’ll n ever fo rg et th e s ig ht o f A ugie b ein g w heele d d ow n th e h all to th e o pera tin g r o om , u nco nsc io us u nd er a w hit e s h eet. T he o pera tio n w as
a s u ccess, a nd w e le ft w it h a b ig c ast o n A ugie ’s le g a nd in str u ctio ns fo r h o w I w ould r e m ove it b ack in th e v illa ge, a lo ng w it h th e s tit c hes, w hen
th e le g h eale d .
A lt h o ugh th ere w ere d if fe re nt o pin io ns in th e v illa ge, th e g ro up n o w le ad in g th e v illa ge c o uncil fe lt th eir fu tu re la y in a d ap tin g to th e w hit e m an’s
w ays a nd fo rg ettin g a b out th e c ult u re o f th eir a ncesto rs . T his w as n ever c le are r to m e th an w hen I w as h elp in g a g ro up o f te enage g ir ls p la n s o m e
events a nd e d ucatio nal p ro je cts . I s u ggeste d th at th ey d ocum ent th e s to rie s o f th e v illa ge e ld ers in E nglis h a nd h o ld tr a d it io nal E sk im o d ances, b ut
th e v illa ge c o uncil d enie d p erm is sio n to p ub lis h th e s to rie s a nd to h o ld tr a d it io nal d ances.
W hile s o m e v illa gers w ere e m barra sse d a b out b ein g E sk im o, th ere w ere s till s o m e w ho r e m ain ed p ro ud o f th eir c ult u re . B ut th e tid e w as s h if tin g to
th e W est. W it h th e m oney fr o m jo bs o n fis h in g b oats a nd c annerie s, a n in cre asin g n um ber o f v illa ge m en w ere s h o w in g o ff th e la te st m odels o f
sn o w mobile s. W hen w e a rriv ed in th e v illa ge o nly tw o fa m ilie s h ad s n o w mobile s, w hile th e o th er e ig hte en fa m ilie s h ad d ogsle d s. W hen w e le ft
clo se to a y ear la te r, o nly o ne fa m ily s till h ad a d ogsle d , a nd th e r e st w ere n o w d ep end ent o n g aso lin e-d riv en s n o w mobile s.
S o m uch w as c hangin g s o fa st— dep end ency o n g aso lin e, r u b ber b oots a nd c o ats fr o m th e S ears c ata lo gs, jo bs in th e g lo bal e co no m y: W este rn
cult u re h ad c o m e to C hefo rn ak r ig ht b efo re m y e yes. I t s e em ed to m e th at a s p eo ple b egan a ccum ula tin g p osse ssio ns, th e fe elin gs o f c o m petit io n
and e nvy, o nce v ir tu ally u nk no w n, b ecam e m ore c o m mon.
D urin g th e te n m onth s I s p ent in th e v illa ge, I w it n esse d th e d is in te gra tio n o f a c ult u ra lly b eautif u l, e nvir o nm enta lly s u sta in ab le s o cie ty th at h ad la ste d
fo r th o usa nd s o f y ears . F or s o m e o f th e v illa gers , th is w as w elc o m ed p ro gre ss, w hile o th ers fe lt s a d ness a nd a lo ss o f a w ay o f lif e th ey c heris h ed .
O ne m an, w ho se fiv e c hild re n w ere a m ong o ur fa vo rit e v is it o rs , r e fu se d th e W este rn w ays a nd c o ntin ued to liv e s im ply a nd c o opera tiv ely . W hen
he w ent h untin g o r fis h in g, h e w ould o fte n s h are h is c atc h w it h u s, s to ppin g b y o ur c ab in to d ro p o ff a d uck o r fis h . D urin g o ur s ta y, h e b ecam e ill
and la y o n th e ta b le in h is h o use , s u rro und ed b y h is w if e a nd c hild re n u ntil h e e ventu ally d ie d . I c an’t h elp b ut th in k th at h is d eath w as in s o m e w ay
a r e fu sa l to liv e in a c hangin g s o cie ty th at n o lo nger p ra ctic ed th e v alu es h e u p held .
O ne d ay a s th e E sk im o g ir ls w atc hed m e u np ack in g a b ox fr o m h o m e, I u nw ra p ped a p air o f p in k s a tin s lip pers , a g if t fr o m N ana ( w ho h ad n o t y et
giv en u p o n m ak in g m e a la d y). I ’ll n ever fo rg et h o w s tr a nge a nd o ut o f p la ce th o se s lip pers lo oked in m y p rim it iv e c ab in in A la sk a. T he s h in y p in k
sh im mere d a nd g lo w ed lik e th e m agic al s lip pers o f a p rin cess fr o m a fa ra w ay la nd . T he g ir ls
ooh
ed a nd
aw w
ed o ver th em . B ecause th e s lip pers
w ere n’t a p pro pria te fo r th e w eath er a nd c o nd it io ns, I to ld th e g ir ls I w as p uttin g th em a w ay. T hey lo oked d is a p poin te d a nd p erh ap s a sh am ed , a nd
I s u d denly r e aliz e d th ey th o ught I w as s a yin g th at th eir v illa ge w as n o t g o od e no ugh fo r th e d elic ate p in k s lip pers , w here m ost o f th e h o use s s till h ad
dir t flo ors .
W hat c o uld I s a y to e xp la in to th e g ir ls h o w m uch m ore I a p pre cia te d th e w arm s e als k in
muklu ks
tr im med in b eaver a nd b ead s th at M aria h ad
m ad e fo r m e th an th e s illy p in k s lip pers ? H ow th e s im ple e arth flo ors in th eir h o m es w ere a ctu ally c le aner th an w hit e lin o le um w ash ed w it h c le anin g
pro ducts fu ll o f c hem ic als ? H ow c o uld I e xp la in to th em , a s I fe lt e ven th en, th at th e “ p in k s lip per s o cie ty ” w as d estr o yin g th e e arth a nd th at w e
had to b eco m e m ore lik e th em , n o t th ey lik e u s? Y et I c o uld n o t b la m e th em fo r w antin g to h ave th in gs th ey s a w in m agazin es a nd m ovie s, th in gs
th ey a d m ir e d a nd h ad n ever e xp erie nced . H ow c o uld w e d eny th em w hat w e o urs e lv es c o ntin ued to u se ? I s o on g ave th e p in k s lip pers to o ne o f
th e g ir ls w hen s h e g o t e ngaged to b e m arrie d , a nd s h e w as tic k le d to h ave th em .
C hanges w ere a ls o c o m in g b ack h o m e. W hile w e w ere tr u d gin g th ro ugh s n o w sto rm s in s u b ze ro te m pera tu re s h alf w ay a ro und th e w orld , o th ers o f
our g enera tio n w ere fig htin g a nd d yin g a s s o ld ie rs in th e tr o pic al ju ngle s o f V ie tn am . B y th is tim e, th e d ra ft s y ste m h ad e nd ed th e u nfa ir d efe rm ent
fo r c o lle ge s tu d ents a nd v o lu nte ers in c o m munit y s e rv ic e p ro gra m s s u ch a s o urs a nd b egan a lo tte ry s y ste m b ase d o n b ir th d ays th at tr e ate d a ll
yo ung m en e q ually , w heth er o r n o t th ey h ad th e m oney to g o to c o lle ge o r th e c o nnectio ns to fin d d efe rm ents . L uck ily fo r u s, D ic k ’s b ir th d ay d re w
a h ig h n um ber, b ut o th er v o lu nte ers , a lo ng w it h c o lle ge s tu d ents , s u d denly b ecam e e lig ib le fo r th e d ra ft.
W e b ecam e a w are o f th e tu rm oil a t h o m e w hen w e le arn ed th at fo ur s tu d ents w ere s h o t d ead a nd tw o s e vere ly w ound ed b y n atio nal g uard sm en
w ho o pened fir e o n a n a ntiw ar d em onstr a tio n a t K ent S ta te U niv ers it y in O hio . W hat w as h ap penin g in o ur c o untr y ? I n r e cent y ears , M artin L uth er
K in g, J r., a nd J o hn a nd B obby K enned y h ad a ll b een s h o t— and n o w in no cent n o nvio le nt s tu d ents h ad b een s h o t d ead o n a c o lle ge c am pus. W e
w ere s h o ck ed b y th e n ew s. I h ad n o t b een a s o cia l a ctiv is t b efo re jo in in g V IS TA a nd h ad n ever p artic ip ate d in a n a ntiw ar d em onstr a tio n d urin g
m y c o lle ge y ears . I n th e s m all w om en’s c o lle ge I a tte nd ed in a c o nse rv ativ e O hio to w n, n o t m uch d if fe re nt fr o m I n go m ar, th e o nly d em onstr a tio n a t
m y c o lle ge w as to p ro te st a n ew r u le th at w e c o uld n o t p ut o ur fe et u p o n th e c o ffe e ta b le s in th e lib ra ry lo unge. T hat la ck o f a ctiv is m in m y lif e ,
th o ugh, w as a b out to c hange.
T here w ere o th er V IS TA v o lu nte ers , a ls o re cent c o lle ge g ra d uate s, w ho h ad c o m e str a ig ht to A la sk a fr o m le ad ers h ip p osit io ns in u niv ers it y
antiw ar p ro te sts . I f th e g o vern m ent th o ught th at p la cin g a ctiv is ts in r e m ote v illa ges a cro ss A la sk a w ould p ut th em o ut o f c o m mis sio n, th ey g uesse d
w ro ng. B y m ail ( w e h ad n o p ho nes, fa xes, o r e -m ail) th e a ctiv is ts b egan to o rg aniz e a ll th e v o lu nte ers in th e s ta te . I t w as fr o m th em th at I le arn ed
ho w to ta k e a ctio n a b out w hat r e ally m atte re d . L ed b y th e e xp erie nced a ctiv is ts , w e V IS TA v o lu nte ers in A la sk a to ok a s ta nd o n A la sk a’s lo cal
is su es o f th e d ay— opposit io n to th e c o nstr u ctio n o f th e o il p ip elin e a cro ss th e s ta te , s u p port fo r E sk im o la nd c la im s, a nd r e sis ta nce to th e w ar in
V ie tn am . W e a ls o o bje cte d to th e fa ct th at, u nlik e o th er s ta te s, w here th e a d m in is tr a tiv e jo bs o vers e ein g th e V IS TA p ro gra m w ent to lo cal c it iz e ns,
in A la sk a th ey w ent n o t to th e in d ig eno us p eo ple b ut to w hit e m en. W e v o lu nte ers liv in g a m ong th e E sk im os in A la sk a s u ggeste d th at th ese w ell-
payin g jo bs b e g iv en to th e p eo ple in th e c o m munit ie s w e s e rv ed . I n e sse nce, th is m eant w e w ere s u ggestin g th at o ur b osse s b e fir e d . I n ste ad , a ll th e V IS TA v o lu nte ers in A la sk a w ere fir e d .
T he w rit e -u p in th e n ew sp ap er e xp la in ed th at th e V IS TA p ro gra m in A la sk a w as b ein g r e str u ctu re d . S ho rtly b efo re o ur fir in g, th e n ew ly e le cte d
P re sid ent N ix o n a p poin te d a n ew d ir e cto r o f th e U S O ffic e o f E co no m ic O pportu nit y , th e a gency th at o vers a w V IS TA . T he n ew d ir e cto r w as
D onald R um sfe ld . T he n ew sp ap er a rtic le r e p ortin g o n o ur fir in g s a id th at R um sfe ld b elie ved th at V IS TA s h o uld b e a b out p ro vid in g s o cia l s e rv ic es
and n o t a b out s o cia l c hange. I n tim e, I s a w th at m y lif e w ould , in fa ct, b e a b out s o cia l c hange, s o it w as v ery fit tin g th at I w as fir e d fr o m m y fir s t
jo b b y D onald R um sfe ld .
O ur a b ru p t d ep artu re d id n o th in g to c hange h o w m uch I w as in flu enced b y m y tim e in th e v illa ge. T he E sk im os b elie ved in th e a b und ance o f th e
univ ers e — th at th ere is e no ugh fo r a ll if w e a re w illin g to s h are . A s a s o cie ty , th e E sk im os a s I h ad fir s t fo und th em a re s till th e h ap pie st p eo ple I ’v e
ever k no w n— sh o w in g s u ch d elig ht in th e s m alle st th in gs. T hey h ad a s e nse o f th eir p la ce in th e w orld , in th e w eb o f lif e , b ase d o n w ho th ey w ere ,
no t w hat th ey h ad . T heir h ap pin ess a nd s e curit y d id n o t d ep end o n m oney a nd m ate ria l p osse ssio ns, b ut o n c o m munit y a nd th eir r e la tio nsh ip w it h
th e la nd a nd k no w le d ge o f n atu re . D esp it e g re at h ard sh ip s, th ere h ad b een a jo yfu ln ess a m ong th e E sk im os, lo st to s o m any o f u s, a d elig ht in
sim ply b ein g a liv e o n th is b eautif u l p la net. I le arn ed fr o m th em th at a s u sta in ab le e co no m y c o uld b e b ase d o n s h arin g a nd c o opera tio n r a th er th an
on c o m petit io n a nd h o ard in g.
L iv in g in a c ult u re g ro und ed in th e k no w le d ge th at a ll lif e is s p ir it u ally a nd e nvir o nm enta lly in te rc o nnecte d h elp ed m e to r e co gniz e a nd a rtic ula te th is
belie f a nd th en m ak e it th e fo und atio n fo r m y w ork to c o m e, th e w ork th at th is b ook u lt im ate ly is a b out— help in g to b uild a c o m passio nate a nd
carin g e co no m y.
A s a y o ung p ers o n q uestio nin g m y o w n s o cie ty , I b egan to a sk : W hy c o uld n’t w e b uild a n e co no m y th at c o m bin ed m odern te chno lo gy w it h th e
in d ig eno us p hilo so phy o f liv in g c o opera tiv ely w it h p eo ple a nd w it h n atu re ? W it h a ll th at h um ank in d h as a cco m plis h ed , c o uld n’t w e le arn to liv e
in clu siv ely , s im ply , a nd s u sta in ab ly , a nd s till h ave lig hts a nd r e co rd p la yers a vaila b le fo r a ll w ho w is h ed to e njo y th em ?
In la te J u ly 1 970, D ic k a nd I ( a lo ng w it h A ugie ) le ft C hefo rn ak , r id in g o ff in th e m ail p la ne th at h ad fir s t b ro ught u s. A s o ur E sk im o fr ie nd s w aved
go od-b ye fr o m th e s h o re , o ur p la ne r a ttle d a nd r o are d a cro ss th e r iv er a nd u p in to th e b ound le ss b lu e s k y. L ookin g d ow n a t th e tin y v illa ge th at
had b een o ur h o m e fo r te n m onth s, th e s a d ness o ver le avin g w as te m pere d w it h a n e agern ess to s e e o ur fa m ilie s b ack h o m e. B ut b eyo nd th at w e
had n o id ea o f w here lif e w ould ta k e u s n ext. Tell m e, w hat i s i t y o u p la n to d o w ith y o ur o ne w ild a nd p re cio us li fe ?
—Mary O liv er
3
M y F ir s t B usin ess: T he S to ry o f F re e P eo p le ’s
Sto re
R ET U RN IN G
HO M E fr o m C hefo rn ak w as a c ult u re s h o ck . D ic k a nd I h ad n’t s e en a c ar, e ate n fr e nch fr ie s, ta k en a s h o w er, o r s o ak ed in a h o t
bath in te n m onth s. E ven in o ur p eacefu l h o m eto w n o f I n go m ar, lif e s e em ed s o n o is y a nd fa st— and h o t. A ugie h ad to g et u se d to m eetin g s tr a ngers
and c ro ssin g b usy s tr e ets . B ut w e a d ju ste d w it h in w eek s, a nd fo r th e tim e b ein g a ll I h ad le arn ed fr o m th e E sk im os re ced ed to th e b ack o f m y
co nsc io usn ess a s I tu rn ed m y a tte ntio n to w hat w e n eed ed to d o r ig ht a w ay— fin d jo bs.
It d id n’t ta k e u s m uch r if flin g th ro ugh th e h elp -w ante d s e ctio n o f th e
Pit ts b urg h P ost-G aze tte
, a nd a fe w in te rv ie w s
, to re aliz e th at w ork in g fo r
so m eo ne e ls e w asn ’t r ig ht fo r u s. T he o bvio us a nsw er w as to s ta rt o ur o w n b usin ess. B ut w hat? I s u ggeste d w e o pen a r e ta il s to re — th e n ext s te p
afte r s e llin g m erc hand is e fr o m m y w ago n a s a c hild . “ W hat c o uld b e s o h ard a b out r u nnin g a s to re ?” I a sk ed . “ Y ou b uy s o m eth in g a t o ne p ric e a nd
se ll it fo r a h ig her p ric e. I t’s th at s im ple .” T ru e e no ugh, a nd e ven th o ugh w e d id n’t k no w m uch a b out b usin ess, w e d id k no w w hat w as a p pealin g to
our g enera tio n. I th o ught th at s e llin g th in gs w e lik ed to p eo ple o ur a ge— lik e a g enera l s to re fo r th e 1 960s g enera tio n— would b e a fu n id ea. W hat
m ore d id w e n eed to k no w ?
S o ju st a fte r o ur fir s t w ed din g a nniv ers a ry , D ic k a nd I d ro ve a ro und In go m ar lo okin g fo r a lo catio n fo r o ur sto re -to -b e. T he m alls a lo ng th e
su b urb an h ig hw ays h ad b eco m e th e p opula r s h o ppin g a re as, b ut th at d id n o t d o it fo r u s.
S oon a fte r, w e w ere v is it in g c o lle ge fr ie nd s in P hila d elp hia , a nd w e to ld th em o ur id ea fo r th e s to re — se llin g h ip c lo th in g a nd a p artm ent fu rn is h in gs
to th e u nd er- th ir ty c ro w d. ( W e h ad ta k en th e 1 960s tr u is m “ D on’t tr u st a nyo ne o ver th ir ty ” o ne s te p fu rth er— we w ould n o t
se ll
to a nyo ne o ver
th ir ty .) O ur fr ie nd , S co tt B ela ir , w ho w as in g ra d uate s c ho ol a t th e U niv ers it y o f P ennsy lv ania , p oin te d to th e la ck o f s to re s fo r s tu d ents in th e
univ ers it y n eig hb orh o od a nd s u ggeste d th at it w ould b e a g re at lo catio n fo r th e k in d o f s to re w e w ante d to o pen. A s to re in P hila d elp hia — of
co urs e ! It d id n’t ta k e u s lo ng b efo re w e fo und a n a vaila b le s to re fr o nt, o nly a fe w b lo ck s fr o m c am pus. A ll o f a s u d den, w e w ere ju st a b out in
busin ess.
W hile D ic k d ealt w it h th e r e nta l lo gis tic s, I d ro ve th e th re e h und re d m ile s b ack to I n go m ar to p ic k u p o ur fe w b elo ngin gs. I p ack ed o ur s u it c ase s o f
fa d ed je ans a nd T -sh ir ts ; A ugie a nd a n ew m ix ed -b re ed p up py, J e ssic a; a nd tw o w hit e p et d oves a nd a s te re o w it h D ic k ’s c o lle ctio n o f B ob
D yla n a lb um s in to a u se d V olv o s ta tio n w ago n— our w ed din g g if t fr o m D ic k ’s fa th er— and m oved fr o m I n go m ar to o ur n ew h o m e in P hila d elp hia .
W it h o ut fu nd s to r e nt b oth a n a p artm ent a nd a r e ta il s p ace, th e s to re fr o nt a t 4 307 L ocust S tr e et in W est P hila d elp hia b ecam e b oth o ur b usin ess
and h o m e, th o ugh w e h ad to g o to S co tt’ s a p artm ent to ta k e s h o w ers .
T he n eig hb orh o ods to th e w est o f th e u niv ers it y w here w e n o w liv ed o ffe re d m odest re nts a nd h o usin g p ric es, a nd re sid ents w ere a m ix tu re o f
stu d ents , fa cult y , a nd p ro gre ssiv e in te lle ctu als a lo ng w it h m id dle - a nd w ork in g-c la ss w hit e a nd A fr ic an A meric an fa m ilie s. O ur b lo ck h ad s e vera l
sh o ps, in clu d in g a p opula r J e w is h d eli c alle d K och’s , a L aund ro m at, a nd a n A cm e g ro cery s to re a cro ss th e s tr e et th at w as fr e q uente d b y r e sid ents
fr o m o ur n eig hb orh o od, a s w ell a s p eo ple liv in g fa rth er to th e w est a nd n o rth w here th ere w as lit tle a ccess to fr e sh g ro cerie s. T ho ugh w e w ere
obliv io us to it a t th e tim e, th e p overty ra te ro se d ra m atic ally to w ard th e w est, n o rth , a nd so uth w est o f o ur b lo ck . L eavin g b ehin d th e sta te ly
V ic to ria n h o use s s u rro und in g th e c am pus in w hat w as o nce a n e le gant s u b urb o f P hila d elp hia , th e n eig hb orh o ods b ecam e in cre asin gly d ila p id ate d
w it h e m pty lo ts , tr a sh -str e w n s tr e ets , a nd b oard ed -u p h o use s d ese rte d b y th o se lu re d to th e n ew h o usin g d evelo pm ents in th e b oom in g s u b urb s.
T hen th ese n eig hb orh o ods w ere r e d lin ed b y b ank s u nw illin g to g iv e m ortg ages to A fr ic an A meric ans.
T he V ie tn am W ar w as w in d in g d ow n, b ut it h ad g re atly in flu enced o ur v ie w s n o t o nly o f g o vern m ent b ut a ls o o f b usin ess. W e h ad c o m e a cro ss
P re sid ent E is e nho w er’s in fa m ous w arn in g, is su ed n early a d ecad e e arlie r, a b out th e d angers o f th e m ilit a ry -in d ustr ia l c o m ple x a nd th e u nd ue
in flu ence it c o uld e xert o ver p olit ic s. I w as a w ak enin g to th e fa ct th at c o rp ora tio ns c o uld w ie ld th eir p ow ers in w ays th at th re ate ned o ur fr e ed om
and o ur d em ocra cy, a nd I b la m ed c o rp ora te in te re sts fo r th e w ar. D ic k a nd I d is tr u ste d a ll p ro fit - m ak in g b usin ess. T he p ro fit - a t- a ny-c o st v alu e
sy ste m o f c o rp ora te A meric a w asn ’t u s. W e d ecid ed th at o ur b usin ess w ould b e d if fe re nt— w e w ould o pera te lik e a n o np ro fit . B y th at w e s im ply
m eant w e p la nned to m ak e ju st e no ugh to e arn a liv in g, b ut n o t m ore th an w e n eed ed . T ho ugh m y u nd ers ta nd in g o f p ro fit a nd m y c o ncep t o f h o w
m uch it ta k es to “ ju st m ak e a liv in g” h ave c hanged in d if fe re nt s ta ges o f m y lif e , I c o ntin ue to b elie ve, a s I d id a t th e id ealis tic s ta rt o f it a ll, th at w e
sh o uld c o nsta ntly c halle nge o urs e lv es a nd o ur b usin ess a nd o ur s o cie ty w it h th e q uestio n, “ H ow m uch is e no ugh?”
W e w ante d to g iv e th e s to re a n am e th at e xp re sse d o ur a ntiw ar, a ntie sta b lis h m ent v alu es a nd d ecid ed o n “ F re e P eo ple ’s S to re .” W e w ere a ctin g
as “ fr e e p eo ple ” in a t le ast tw o im porta nt w ays— by o pposin g o ur g o vern m ent’s w ar in V ie tn am a nd b y c re atin g a b usin ess th at w as a n a lt e rn ativ e
to th e d om in ant c o rp ora te m odel. W e w ere s u re th e s to re w ould a ttr a ct o th er fr e eth in k in g p eo ple w ho s h are d o ur o utlo ok.
D ic k c ut a p ie ce o f p ly w ood in th e s h ap e o f a d ove, a nd w e le tte re d it w it h “ F re e P eo ple ’s S to re ” a nd h ung it o ut fr o nt. W it h n o m erc hand is e to dis p la y, w e tu rn ed th e fr o nt w in d ow in to o ne h uge b ir d cage fo r o ur p et d oves, w it h tr e e b ra nches a nd a b ir d -b ath . A s th e w ar c o ntin ued to ta k e
liv es in V ie tn am , th e d ove, s y m bol o f p eace, b ecam e o ur lo go a nd m asc o t. E ven b efo re w e o pened th e d oors o r h ad a nyth in g to s e ll, o ur fir s t
busin ess c le arly e xp re sse d o ur v alu es.
W e s ta rte d F re e P eo ple ’s S to re w it h w hat w e h ad — our in genuit y a nd th e th re e th o usa nd d olla rs th at w as o ur c o m bin ed s tip end s fr o m V IS TA .
O ur r e nt a nd liv in g e xp ense s d urin g th e tw o-m onth tr a nsit io n b etw een A la sk a a nd s e ttin g u p lif e in P hila d elp hia h ad u se d u p a ny o th er s a vin gs w e
had . D ete rm in ed to g et th e b usin ess o pen a nd m oney flo w in g w it h o ut ta k in g o ut a lo an, w hic h w e w ould n o t q ualif y fo r, w e h ad to fin d e very
possib le w ay to c ut s ta rt- u p c o sts . W it h a n e m pty s to re to fu rn is h , w e s e t o ut to fo ra ge o n g arb age d ays, w hen tr a sh w as s e t o ut o n th e c urb fo r
pic k up . W e p artic ula rly s e arc hed th e s tr e ets in P hila d elp hia ’s C hin ato w n fo r d is c ard ed w ooden c ra te s u se d fo r s h ip pin g g o ods fr o m C hin a to th e
lo cal s to re s. I p ut m y fo rt- b uild in g s k ills to u se , c o nstr u ctin g s h elv in g b y h am merin g th e c ra te s to geth er a nd a rra ngin g th em lik e s ta ggere d b uild in g
blo ck s a cro ss th e w all. I le ft s o m e in th e n atu ra l w ood s till s ta m ped w it h C hin ese le tte rin g, a nd p ain te d o th ers in b rig ht o ra nge, y ello w , a nd b lu e.
D ic k fo und a no th er u se fo r th e c ra te s: m ounte d o n s a w ho rs e s, th ey w ere ju st th e r ig ht s iz e fo r r e co rd b in s. H e a ls o s a lv aged a la rg e w ooden s p ool
use d to s to re e le ctr ic c ab le a nd p ut it in th e m id dle o f th e ro om to d is p la y s ta ck s o f T -sh ir ts . I p ain te d th e w alls o f th e s to re in s w ir lin g s u p er
gra p hic s lik e a g ia nt p ais le y. (A c o up le o f y ears la te r, I u se d m y su p er g ra p hic s ta le nt to d eco ra te P hila d elp hia ’s “M cG overn fo r P re sid ent”
head quarte rs , a nd w e h ung a p oste r in o ur s to re a nno uncin g th at w it h e very p urc hase fr o m F re e P eo ple ’s S to re , w e w ould m ak e a c o ntr ib utio n
to w ard th e e le ctio n o f th e a ntiw ar c and id ate , G eo rg e M cG overn .)
A t la st, th e s to re w as r e ad y fo r s o m e m erc hand is e . D ic k a nd I to ok a s m uch c ash a s w e c o uld s p are a nd d ro ve to N ew Y ork C it y . W e h ad n ever
heard o f g if t s h o w s o r s h o w ro om s ( th at w ould c o m e la te r), n o r w ould it h ave d one u s a ny g o od if w e h ad s in ce w e c o uld n’t a ffo rd th e m in im um
purc hase s n ecessa ry to o pen v end or a cco unts . A rriv in g in M anhatta n, w e p ark ed a s so on a s w e sa w a n e m pty p ho ne b ooth a nd lo oked u p
Im porte rs
in th e Y ello w P ages, fig urin g th at im ports w ould b e c heap est. N otic in g th at m any im porte rs w ere lo cate d in th e s a m e a re a o n lo w er
B ro ad w ay, w e d ro ve s tr a ig ht th ere .
C lim bin g sta ir s to th ir d - a nd fo urth -flo or o ffic es c ra m med fu ll o f g o ods fr o m fa ra w ay p la ces, w e e xp lo re d th is e xcit in g n ew w orld o f b uyin g
w ho le sa le . I h ad n o c o nsc io usn ess th en a b out “ fa ir tr a d e.” I d id n’t s to p to th in k a b out w ho m ad e th e p ro ducts a nd w heth er th ey w ere p aid fa ir
w ages o r if th e p ro ductio n p ro cess w as h ealt h y to w ork ers a nd th e e nvir o nm ent. If I h ad s to pped to th in k a b out it a ll, I p ro bab ly w ould h ave
th o ught w e w ere h elp in g p eo ple in le ss-d evelo ped c o untr ie s b y b uyin g th eir g o ods, r a th er th an u nd ers ta nd in g th at w e m ay h ave b een s u p portin g a
sy ste m th at e nric hed fa cto ry o w ners w hile e xp lo it in g w ork ers .
W e lo ad ed th e s ta tio n w ago n to th e b rim w it h a c arg o o f m ad ra s b ed sp re ad s, lo ng p rin t s k ir ts , c arv ed w ooden b oxes, a nd b arre tte s fr o m I n d ia ;
dangly e arrin gs, b lo ck p rin ts , a nd th ro w r u gs fr o m T haila nd ; b ead s a nd in cense fr o m P ak is ta n; w oven fa ns, b ask ets , a nd le ath er n eck w alle ts fr o m
A fr ic a; a nd h and -b lo w n g la sse s, p otte ry , w oven s h o uld er b ags, a nd p easa nt b lo use s fr o m M exic o — all it e m s th at w e fe lt w ould a p peal to o ur
1960s g enera tio n.
B ack in P hilly , w e fo und s o urc es fo r b ooks lik e
Die t fo r a S m all P la net
by F ra nces M oore L ap pé a nd
Be H ere N ow
by R am D ass; T -sh ir ts ;
je ans; re co rd s b y B ob D yla n, T he R ollin g S to nes, a nd J a m es B ro w n; a nd h o use p la nts th at w e d is p la yed w it h a c o rn y s ig n th at s a id B rin g s o m e
L IF E in to y o ur a p artm ent. F ro m lo cal c ra fts p eo ple w e b ought h and -d ip ped c and le s, m acra m é b elt s , a nd w ooden k it c hen u te nsils . P ap er la nte rn s
and te a s e ts c am e fr o m C hin ato w n. A n o ld g la ss d is p la y c ase s e rv ed a s a c o unte r, w hic h w e fille d w it h je w elr y a lo ng w it h a s m all s u p ply o f r o llin g
pap ers a nd p ip es— th o ugh d esp it e o ur ta tte re d je ans a nd lo ng h air D ic k a nd I w ere p re tty m uch s m all to w n s tr a ig ht a rro w s w hen it c am e to p ot.
N ext to th e c o unte r w e p ut a s e co nd hand o ld -fa sh io ned c ash r e gis te r, a nd n earb y w e p la ced a b ig o ld r e d s o fa w here c usto m ers s a t a nd ta lk ed
w it h u s w hile w e w ork ed b ehin d th e c o unte r. T his a re a s e rv ed a s o ur liv in g r o om , w here w e s p ent m ost o f o ur tim e, s in ce th e s m all r o om th ro ugh
th e b ack d oor o f th e s to re w here w e s le p t w as n o t b ig e no ugh to e nte rta in g uests .
F in ally , in O cto ber o f 1 970, w e h ad e no ugh m erc hand is e to m ak e a g o o f it a nd o pened th e d oor o f F re e P eo ple ’s S to re fo r b usin ess. W e b are ly
had e no ugh m erc hand is e to c o ver th e s h elv es, b ut a s w e to ok in c ash , w e im med ia te ly b ought m ore , g ra d ually fillin g th e s to re to th e b rim . S o th at
no o ne w ould h ave to le ave th e s to re e m pty -h and ed fo r la ck o f m oney, w e c re ate d a “ F re e B in ” fu ll o f o ld c lo th es d is c ard ed b y c o lle ge s tu d ents .
I q uic k ly b ecam e c o m fo rta b le w it h th e u nexp ecte d n atu re o f c it y lif e . A fr e q uent F re e B in “ sh o pper” w as a n eig hb orh o od b ag la d y w ho q uack ed
unco ntr o lla b ly w hile fla p pin g h er a rm s lik e w in gs w hen s h e w ante d to “ sa y” s o m eth in g. M y in it ia l e nco unte r c am e o n o ne o f m y fir s t m orn in gs in
P hila d elp hia w hen I w as h avin g b re ak fa st a t th e c o rn er d in er. S it tin g a cro ss fr o m m e a t a lo ng ta b le fu ll o f c usto m ers , th e p ers o n I c am e to k no w a s
D uck W om an s u d denly p ut b oth h and s in to h er fr ie d e ggs a nd s m eare d th em a ro und o n h er p la te a nd a ll o ver th e ta b le w hile q uack in g. A mazin gly ,
no o ne e ls e a t th e ta b le p aid a ny a tte ntio n, c o ntin uin g to e at b re ak fa st. I t w as ju st D uck W om an d oin g h er th in g, I le arn ed , a nd I w ould g et u se d to
her. W eek s la te r D uck W om an w as tr y in g o n c lo th es fr o m th e F re e B in w hen s h e g o t s tu ck w it h a d re ss o ver h er h ead in o ur tin y d re ssin g r o om . I
w ent to h elp h er, a nd fr a ntic ally s tr u ggle d to p ull d ow n h er d re ss, a lm ost o verc o m e b y h er b ody o dor a s s h e th ra sh ed a gain st th e w alls , q uack in g
lo ud ly . L if e in th e c it y w as s u re d if fe re nt fr o m I n go m ar. I w as fa sc in ate d to s e e w ho w ould c o m e th ro ugh th e d oor n ext.
O ur fr ie nd , S co tt, n o w a W harto n b usin ess s c ho ol s tu d ent, m ad e a n in vestm ent in th e b usin ess a nd b ecam e o ur p artn er. H e h elp ed c o ok u p id eas
lik e h avin g a lo ss le ad er— in o ur c ase , p opula r r e co rd a lb um s th at w e s o ld a ro und c o st a t $ 2.7 5 to d ra w c usto m ers to th e s to re , h o pin g th ey w ould
buy m ore w hen th ey c am e in sid e. W e b egan to s tr e tc h o ur d olla rs b y b uyin g in exp ensiv e m erc hand is e a nd fin d in g c re ativ e w ays to g et a h ig h
m ark up . F ro m o ur T -sh ir t w ho le sa le r, w e b ought lo ng w hit e u nd erw ear a nd u nd erw ear to ps w it h th re e b utto ns a t th e n eck . I w ent a cro ss th e s tr e et
to th e A cm e m ark et fo r fa b ric d ye a nd a p la stic g arb age c an a nd w ent a b out d yein g th e u nd erw ear b rig ht c o lo rs , s tir rin g th e h o t c auld ro n w it h a
m op h and le . T he to ps c o st u s a ro und a d olla r a p ie ce, a nd a fte r d yein g w e s o ld th em fo r s ix d olla rs . I h ung o ne p air o f lo ng jo hns I h ad d yed b rig ht
pin k in th e w in d ow o f th e fr o nt d oor, u nb utto ned th e r e ar fla p , a nd h ung o ur o pen s ig n th ere . A t c lo sin g tim e, I b utto ned th e fla p a nd flip ped th e
sig n to
CLO SED
.
V in ta ge c lo th in g p ro vid ed a no th er b ig m ark up . D ic k fo und a d eale r w ho s o ld u se d c lo th es b y th e p ound . U su ally th e o w ner s o ld th e c lo th es in v ery la rg e q uantit ie s, o fte n b y th e to n, to b e s h ip ped o vers e as. B ut h e to ok a lik in g to u s a nd g ave u s th e lib erty to p ic k th ro ugh th e o ld c lo th es to fin d
cho ic e it e m s. I r e m em ber c lim bin g in to h uge b in s in h is w are ho use fille d tw elv e to fif te en fe et h ig h w it h u se d c lo th es. D ic k a nd I s a t o n th e m ound s
of c lo th in g, d ig gin g th ro ugh m any u se le ss it e m s. W e w ere o n a tr e asu re h unt to fin d th e o ccasio nal o ld v elv et d re ss, s ilk s lip , fu r c o at, o r le ath er
ja ck et th at c o uld b rin g a h ig h p ric e in th e s to re . W e b ought th ese a t a fe w d olla rs a p ound a nd s o ld th em fo r tw enty -fiv e to fif ty d olla rs a p ie ce. T his
m ore th an m ad e u p fo r th e lo ss-le ad er r e co rd s a le s.
S om e o f th o se o ld d re sse s a nd ja ck ets b ecam e m y p ers o nal fa vo rit e s, e sp ecia lly a n o ld le ath er p ilo t ja ck et w it h a h id den in sid e b re ast p ock et th at
pro ved h elp fu l. A s s o on a s w e s o ld e no ugh m erc hand is e , D ic k h and ed m e o ne th o usa nd d olla rs in c ash , w hic h I s ta sh ed in th at h id den p ock et
befo re h ead in g b ack to N ew Y ork C it y to b uy m ore m erc hand is e . A fte r th e fir s t tr ip , I d id m ost o f th e N ew Y ork b uyin g o f in te rn atio nal c ra fts a nd
oth er im ports a nd a ls o b ought lo cally m ad e c ra fts a nd d id th e d eco ra tin g a nd d is p la y, w hile D ic k p urc hase d m ost o f th e c lo th es, r e co rd s, b ooks,
and p la nts a nd — wit h s o m e a ssis ta nce fr o m S co tt— hand le d th e fin ancia l a ffa ir s .
In th e b egin nin g w e c o uld n’t b uy o ur je ans fr o m a b ig b ra nd n am e c o m pany lik e L evi S tr a uss & C o. b ecause w e c o uld n’t m ak e th e m in im um
ord er. A ll w e c o uld a ffo rd w as to b uy th re e p air s in th re e s iz e s fr o m a le sse r- k no w n b ra nd . O nce w e s p lu rg ed a nd b ought th re e p air s o f p urp le
velv et b ell- b otto m je ans, a b ig in vestm ent fo r u s. T hey w ere th e m ost e xp ensiv e it e m s in th e s to re , a nd w e w ere e ager to s e ll th em s o w e c o uld b uy
six m ore p air s , th en tw elv e, a nd s o o n.
T he p urp le v elv et je ans le d to s o m eth in g w e h ad n’t y et th o ught a b out. O ne d ay w hen I w as in th e s to re a lo ne, a g ro up o f te n o r tw elv e h ig h s c ho ol
gir ls d esc end ed o n th e s to re a ll a t o nce. I w as tr y in g d esp era te ly to k eep m y e yes o n e ach o f th em a s th ey a sk ed m e q uestio ns to d ra w m e to
dif fe re nt p arts o f th e s to re . S ud denly th ey a ll le ft a s th ey c am e, a t o nce, a nd I n o tic ed w it h d is m ay, a s th ey h urrie d o ut th e d oor, th at o ne o f th e g ir ls
w as w earin g a p air o f th e p urp le v elv et je ans!
“S to p, th ey’re m y je ans!” I c rie d o ut, a nd th ey to ok o ff r u nnin g. I lo ck ed th e d oor a nd g ave c hase . U p th e s tr e et a nd a ro und th e c o rn er w e w ent,
dodgin g tr a ffic a cro ss a b usy th o ro ughfa re . I w as g ain in g g ro und , a nd a s th e g ro up r e ached th e p ark in g lo t o f th e s u p erm ark et a t th e c o rn er o f 4 4th
and W aln ut, I lu nged a nd ta ck le d th e c ulp rit to th e g ro und . W it h o ut th in k in g, I u nzip ped th e je ans a nd y ank ed th em o ff h er. A s s h e la y o n th e
sid ew alk in h er u nd erp ants s c re am in g, I r a n b ack to th e s to re a nd tr iu m phantly r e tu rn ed o ur p urp le v elv et je ans to th e s h elf . I w as d ete rm in ed th at
w e w ould s e ll th at p air , a nd m ore a nd m ore a nd m ore u ntil s o m ed ay L evi S tr a uss & C o. w ould b e v ery g la d to s e ll to u s.
M eanw hile , m y ta ck le d id n’t s to p u nw ante d v is it o rs . N ot lo ng a fte r th e je ans e p is o de, w hen I w as a lo ne in th e s to re a gain , a te enage b oy w alk ed
out w it h h is s h ir t lo okin g s u sp ic io usly b ulk y. “ W hat d o y o u h ave o n th ere ?” I a sk ed , a nd h e s u d denly r a ced d ow n th e s tr e et. I h ad le arn ed to w ear
sn eak ers w hen w ork in g in th e s to re , a nd I r a ced a fte r h im . A t tw enty -th re e, I w as in g re at s h ap e— but c o uld I c atc h a fo urte en-y ear- o ld b oy? H e
ra n in to a b ack a lle y w it h m e s p eed in g b ehin d , a nd le ap ed o ver a fe nce. I d id w hat h e d id , o nly to fin d th at h e w as c o rn ere d a gain st th e b ack o f a
build in g. H e h ad a k nif e in h is h and , a nd w e s to od fa cin g e ach o th er, b oth o f u s g asp in g fo r b re ath .
“Ju st g iv e m e b ack m y s h ir ts ,” I s a id a s c alm ly a s p ossib le . W e s ta re d a t e ach o th er fo r w hat s e em ed lik e a fu ll m in ute . A t la st h e th re w d ow n th e
knif e , a nd b egan r e m ovin g h is s h ir t, a nd th en a no th er, a nd a no th er. I c o uld n o t b elie ve th e n um ber o f s h ir ts h e h ad s to le n a s h e d ro pped o ne a fte r
ano th er o nto a p ile o n th e g ro und . F in ally h e s to od b are -c heste d . “ T hank y o u,” I s a id , s c o opin g u p th e s h ir ts a nd r a cin g fo r h o m e.
I s till h ad n’t le arn ed th e o bvio us. O ne e venin g, a s I w as a gain w ork in g th e s to re a lo ne, I n o tic ed a m an s p end in g a lo ng tim e lo okin g a t o ur r e co rd
co lle ctio n. W hen a no th er c usto m er I w as w ait in g o n le ft th e s to re , th e m an fo llo w ed c lo se b ehin d w it h a s u sp ic io us-lo okin g b ulg e u nd er h is ja ck et.
I c o uld n’t b e s u re e no ugh to a ccuse h im , s o I lo ck ed th e s to re a nd c autio usly fo llo w ed a s h e w alk ed u p th e s tr e et, h o pin g th at if h e h ad s to le n th e
re co rd s, I m ig ht s e e h im ta k e th em o ut o f h is ja ck et. I c o ntin ued fo llo w in g a t a b lo ck ’s d is ta nce b ehin d , c are fu l th at h e n o t s e e m e. B lo ck a fte r
blo ck w e w ent, m ovin g w estw ard d eep in to a n u nfa m ilia r n eig hb orh o od. I t w as n ig ht, a nd I w as a lo ne, b ut I w as to o a ngry a nd to o in te nt o n m y
eco no m ic s u rv iv al to th in k a b out th e p ossib le d anger. A t la st h e tu rn ed u p th e p orc h s te p s o f a r o w h o use , a nd I c am e c lo se r to w atc h h im fr o m th e
sid ew alk . H e o pened h is ja ck et a nd p ulle d o ut a b ig s ta ck o f r e co rd s. I h eard m yse lf s c re am a t th e to p o f m y lu ngs, “
Giv e m e b ack m y r e co rd s!
”
H e lo oked d ow n a t m e fr o m h is p orc h w it h c o m ple te a sto nis h m ent a nd s a id , “ H ere , la d y,” h o ld in g th e r e co rd s o ut to m e. I le ap ed u p th e s te p s,
gra b bed th e r e co rd s, a nd r a n fo r h o m e a s fa st a s I c o uld .
I r e tu rn ed m y p riz e d r e co rd s to th eir b in s, p ond erin g th is la te st e p is o de in m y n ew lif e in u rb an A meric a. I w as b egin nin g to r e aliz e th at h avin g a
sto re s h o w ed th at w e h ad m ore m oney th an m any o f th o se in th e lo w -in co m e n eig hb orh o ods a ro und u s. W e w ere fa ir g am e. U ntil n o w , e xcep t fo r
th e E sk im o v illa ge, I h ad liv ed w it h p eo ple in th e s a m e g enera l e co no m ic b ra ck et a s m y o w n fa m ily . I w as b egin nin g to e xp erie nce a n ew r e alit y .
Y ou w ould th in k b y th at tim e w e w ould h ave fig ure d o ut th at w e a lw ays n eed ed to h ave tw o p eo ple w ork in g a t a tim e. B ut th ere w as ju st to o
m uch w ork fo r e ach o f u s to d o to h ave b oth o f u s in th e s to re a ll th e tim e, a nd w e c o uld n’t a ffo rd to h ir e e m plo yees to p ro vid e a s e co nd p ers o n.
S co tt w as in s c ho ol fu ll tim e, a nd D ic k w as o fte n o ut p ic k in g u p m erc hand is e o r o ver a t S co tt’ s a p artm ent in th e e venin g ta lk in g a b out th e b usin ess.
S co tt’s g ir lf r ie nd , M ary , a nd a fr ie nd n am ed B arb ara h elp ed u s te nd th e s to re o n o ccasio n, b ut I s till o fte n w ork ed a lo ne a nd c o ntin ued to th in k
no th in g o f it . I th o ught I c o uld h and le a nyth in g. I h ad s o fa r, h ad n’t I ?
T he s h o plif tin g e ffo rts s o fa r h ad b een a k in d o f h ig h-v o lt a ge g am e, w it h m e te arin g d ow n th e s tr e ets to c o rn er th e c ulp rit s . T he n ext in cid ent w as
m ore s e rio us. O ne a fte rn o on, w hile I w as a lo ne in th e s to re a s u su al, tw o y o ung m en c am e in . O ne o f th em c alle d m e o ver to a sk th e p ric e o f a n
it e m o n a b otto m s h elf to w ard th e b ack o f th e s to re . A s I b ent d ow n to c heck , a n a rm c am e a ro und m y n eck , y ank in g m e u p . F ro m th e c o rn er o f
m y e ye, I s a w h is a cco m plic e e m pty in g th e c ash b ox b ehin d th e c o unte r.
“D on’t m ak e a s o und ,” m y a ssa ila nt s a id r o ughly . H e h eld a la rg e k nif e to m y th ro at. “ W hat’ s th ro ugh th at d oor? ”
“T he b ase m ent.”
“O pen th e d oor,” h e d em and ed a s h e p ush ed m e to w ard it . I d id a s h e a sk ed , a nd h e s h o ved m e th ro ugh th e d oor a nd lo ck ed it b ehin d m e. S tu m blin g d ow n th e s te p s, I r e gain ed m y fo otin g a nd r a n a cro ss th e b ase m ent, w here I flip ped o pen th e h in ged m eta l d oor le ad in g to th e s id ew alk
and c lim bed o ut. I s p otte d th e r o bbers w alk in g d ow n th e s tr e et a nd fo llo w ed th em . I r e aliz e d I c o uld n’t r u n u p to th em — at le ast o ne o f th em h ad a
knif e — so I w alk ed a s a fe d is ta nce b ehin d , p oin tin g a t th em a nd y ellin g to e very p asse rb y, “ T ho se m en ju st r o bbed m y s to re ! C all th e p olic e!”
T he tw o o f th em c o ntin ued to w alk n o nchala ntly a lo ng, a s th o ugh th ey w ere c o m ple te ly in no cent a nd h ad n o th in g to d o w it h m e. W ould a nyo ne
ta k e m e s e rio usly , o r w as I s e en a s ju st a no th er c ra zy D uck W om an?
T hen a p olic e c ar c am e a lo ng, a nd th e tw o m en to ok o ff r u nnin g in o pposit e d ir e ctio ns. T he o ffic er w as a b le to c atc h o ne o f th em , th e o ne w ho
held th e k nif e to m y th ro at, b ut u nfo rtu nate ly h e w as n o t th e o ne w it h th e c ash . W e h ad lo st m ore th an o ne h und re d d olla rs , a lo t o f m oney to u s.
W hen th e m an c am e to tr ia l, I fe lt c o nflic te d . I w as a p ro gre ssiv e c hild o f th e tim es, a nd I h ad n o fa it h in th e d ehum aniz in g c rim in al ju stic e s y ste m
th at I h ad s tu d ie d a nd re ad a b out in c o lle ge. I d ecid ed th at s e nd in g th e o ffe nd er to ja il c o uld tu rn a y o ung m an w it h p ro ble m s in to a h ard ened
crim in al. A fte r p ris o n, I s u rm is e d , th e lif e o f th e n ext v ic tim m ig ht e nd w it h a s la sh ed th ro at. I d id n’t th in k o f a no th er p ossib ilit y : th at if th e y o ung
m an d id n’t g o to ja il, h e m ig ht fe el e m bold ened a nd ta k e h is k nif e to r o b a gain , m ayb e th is tim e d ra w in g b lo od.
A t th e tr ia l, I w ent o ver to th e d efe nd ant’s m oth er a nd to ld h er I d id n o t w ant to c ause h er s o n to g o to p ris o n. I e xp la in ed w hat h ad h ap pened —
th at h e h ad h eld a k nif e to m y th ro at a nd s to le n m y m oney a nd th at I h o ped h e w ould s tr a ig hte n o ut if I g ave h im th is b re ak . W hen th e ju d ge a sk ed
m e if th e m an w ho c o m mit te d th e c rim e w as in th e r o om , I s a id I w asn ’t s u re , a nd h e w as s e t fr e e. I t w as n o t th e p erfe ct s o lu tio n, w hic h w ould
have b een fo und in a c o m munit y -b ase d s y ste m c o m mit te d to re hab ilit a tio n, o ne th at w ould h ave h elp ed h im d eep en h is h um anit y , n o t d estr o y it .
B ut a s fa r a s I w as c o ncern ed , it w as th e b ette r o f th e tw o c ho ic es I h ad — pris o n a s it w as o r n o p ris o n.
T he im pact o f th is e xp erie nce, w hic h g ave m e th e c ap acit y to s e nd s o m eo ne to p ris o n, s ta yed w it h m e fo r a lo ng tim e. I t w as o ne r e aso n th at y ears
la te r, w hen I w as d evelo pin g e d ucatio nal p ro gra m s a t th e W hit e D og C afé , I s p onso re d to urs to p ris o ns, h ir e d p eo ple c o m in g o ut o f ja il, b ro ught in
sp eak ers to le ctu re o n r e sto ra tiv e ju stic e, a nd in vit e d e xo ffe nd ers to te ll th eir s to rie s.
A s I s o on d is c o vere d , b ein g th e v ic tim in th e a sso rte d e ffo rts to r o b F re e P eo ple ’s S to re h ad a ls o in sta lle d in m e a n e le m ent o f p re ju d ic e th at I h ad
no t y et b een a w are o f. I w as w alk in g a lo ng o n a s id ew alk o ne d ay w hen a c ar ju m ped th e c urb ju st in fr o nt o f m e. T he d riv er h o pped o ut y ellin g,
“S to p, th ie f! ” A head I s a w a y o ung b la ck m an r u nnin g, a nd I im med ia te ly c hase d a fte r h im , a ssu m in g th at h e w as th e th ie f. D ow n th e s id ew alk a nd
aro und th e c o rn er I r a n, b ut s u d denly I s to pped in m y tr a ck s a nd , to m y a m aze m ent, b urs t in to te ars . I w ent h o m e, s o bbin g a ll th e w ay. I th re w
m yse lf o n th e b ed a nd c o uld n’t s to p c ry in g. W hat h ad c o m e o ver m e? W hy w as I s o te rrib ly u p se t? I fe lt lik e a r a cis t b ecause I h ad im med ia te ly
belie ved th e d riv er o f th e c ar— a w hit e m an— and s ta rte d c hasin g th e b la ck m an w it h o ut q uestio nin g w ho w as r ig ht.
I h ad g ro w n u p in a s h elt e re d a ll- w hit e w orld w here I h ad e nco unte re d o nly a fe w b la ck p eo ple in m y e ntir e y o uth . N ow I h ad b een e xp erie ncin g
crim e fo r th e fir s t tim e, a nd a ll th e p erp etr a to rs h ap pened to b e b la ck . H ad m y e xp erie nces m ad e m e p re ju d ic ed ? I fe lt te rrib le , a s th o ugh g rie vin g
over a lo ss. B ut w hat lo ss?
F in ally , I c am e to u nd ers ta nd m y g rie f. I n th is u rb an n eig hb orh o od w here I n o w liv ed , it w as in d eed m ore lik ely th at a b la ck y o uth w ould b e p oorly
ed ucate d , ra is e d in p overty , a v ic tim o f v io le nce a nd th eft, jo ble ss, a nd — yes— th ere fo re m ore lik ely to c o m mit a s tr e et c rim e th an th e a vera ge
w hit e w ho liv ed h ere . T his w as h eartb re ak in gly sa d to m e. I w as g rie vin g fo r th e id eal A meric a th at I w as g ra d ually lo sin g— a c o untr y I h ad
belie ved in a s a c hild , o ne th at w as b ase d o n p rin cip le s o f e q ualit y a nd fa ir n ess, w here a ll c hild re n w ere g iv en a q ualit y e d ucatio n, a sa fe
envir o nm ent, d ecent h o usin g, m ed ic al c are , a nd a p ath w ay to w ard s u ccessfu l c are ers . I n o w s a w , in m y o w n n aïv e b ut h eartfe lt w ay, th at th e
ric hest, m ost p ow erfu l c o untr y in th e w orld — a c o untr y I lo ved a nd b elie ved in — had fa ile d to a chie ve it s id eals a nd th at, a s a s o cie ty , w e a ll
su ffe re d fo r it . I lo nged to h elp b uild a m ore e q uit a b le s o cie ty , a nd I b elie ved , a s th e E sk im os h ad s h o w n, th at o ne’s s u rv iv al d ep end ed o n th e w ell-
bein g o f e very o ne in th e c o m munit y .
D esp it e th e c halle nges, I e njo yed liv in g in th e c it y . G ro w in g u p , I h ad a lw ays y earn ed fo r m ore e xcit e m ent a nd d iv ers it y , a nd n o w I w as fa sc in ate d
by th e v arie ty o f p eo ple a nd c ult u re s a ro und m e a nd b y th e m any c ho ic es o f th in gs to d o. I th riv ed o n th e fa st p ace, th e fe elin g o f n ever k no w in g
w hat I w ould fin d a ro und th e n ext c o rn er, a nd p erh ap s m ost o f a ll, th e a ctiv is m c o ncern in g is su es im porta nt to m e— peace, c iv il rig hts , a nd
eco no m ic ju stic e. W e d id n’t ta lk m uch a b out th ese is su es b ack in I n go m ar. L iv in g in a s m all s u b urb an to w n s e p ara te d it s o ccup ants n o t o nly fr o m
th e ric hness o f a d iv ers e c o m munit y , b ut to o o fte n fr o m a ctiv e e ngagem ent in b uild in g a b ette r s o cie ty . N ow , h ere I w as in P hila d elp hia . W hat
co uld I d o to s u p port a ll th e m any in sp ir in g p ro gre ssiv e a ctiv it ie s g o in g o n in m y n ew h o m e c it y ?
A n id ea s o on b egan to fo rm . O ur s to re h ad b eco m e a p opula r h ango ut, lik e th e fo rts I o nce b uilt in th e w oods. T he r e d s o fa b y th e c ash r e gis te r
w as a lw ays fu ll o f p eo ple w hen it w asn ’t m ono poliz e d b y o ur d ogs. J u st a s I fir s t im agin ed th e m ix o f o ur m erc hand is e to b e lik e a g enera l s to re fo r
peo ple o ur a ge, s o to o w e c ult iv ate d a n o ld -tim e g enera l s to re a tm osp here — a p la ce w here p eo ple s to pped to d is c uss th e is su es o f th e d ay. W e
had a b ulle tin b oard b y th e d oor w here n o tic es w ere h ung a b out a p eace m arc h, a c o -o p fo rm in g, o r fr e e c la sse s, a nd w e s a w h o w o ur s to re h ad
beco m e a p la ce to s h are in fo rm atio n. In a s m all to w n lik e In go m ar, e very o ne k new w hat w as g o in g o n, b ut in a c it y th e s iz e o f P hila d elp hia , s o
m uch w as h ap penin g th at th ere n eed ed to b e a v ehic le fo r b ette r c o m munic atin g h o w to g et in vo lv ed , h o w to fin d r e so urc es a nd s e rv ic es, h o w to
so lv e a p ro ble m , h o w to w ork to geth er to b rin g c hange. ( R em em ber, th is w as d ecad es b efo re th e I n te rn et.)
D ic k a nd I h ad s e en a p ub lic atio n fr o m B osto n c alle d th e
Peo ple ’s Y ello w P ages
, w hic h lis te d a ll th e c o unte rc ult u re o rg aniz a tio ns in to w n. W e
lik ed th e b asic id ea b ut d id n’t w ant a b ook th at fu rth er d iv id ed p eo ple b y a p pealin g o nly to th e c o unte rc ult u re . W hy n o t m ak e a b ook th at w ould
brin g p eo ple to geth er, e m bra ced b y e very o ne fr o m th e B la ck P anth ers to th e G ra y P anth ers a nd e ven th e b usin ess c o m munit y ? W e d ecid ed to fo rm a n o np ro fit p ub lis h in g c o m pany ( a le gally c ertif ie d n o np ro fit th is tim e) s o w e c o uld r e ceiv e c o ntr ib utio ns to s u p port th e w ork .
D ic k n am ed it S ynap se , r e fe rrin g to th e n eura l c o m munic atio ns c ir c uit s in th e b ra in .
W e ro und ed u p a fe w o th ers to jo in o ur e ffo rt a nd F re e P eo ple ’s S to re b ecam e h ead quarte rs fo r re se arc hin g a nd p ub lis h in g th e
Whole C it y
C ata lo g
, a r e so urc e g uid e th at lis te d a nd d esc rib ed e very c o m munit y a ctio n g ro up , s e rv ic e o rg aniz a tio n, d o-it - y o urs e lf , a nd a lt e rn ativ e e nte rp ris e
th at e ngaged p eo ple in th eir c o m munit ie s— fr o m g ra ssro ots g ro up s to g o vern m ent a gencie s. T ho ugh I d id n’t th in k o f it th is w ay a t th e tim e, I w as
ta k in g a n in vento ry o f th e r e so urc es m y n ew c it y h ad to o ffe r. I n la te r y ears , th is w as e xactly w hat I a d vis e d c o m munit ie s to d o w hen th ey w ere
begin nin g w ork to b uild a lo cal e co no m y— sta rt b y ta k in g a n in vento ry o f w hat y o u h ave.
I h ad b een a n E nglis h m ajo r in c o lle ge a nd re lis h ed h avin g a w rit in g p ro je ct. B y re se arc hin g a ll th e s u b je ct a re as I w as in te re ste d in , I le arn ed a
tr e m end ous a m ount a b out m y n ew h o m e c it y . W hen I h eard a b out a n in te re stin g p ro je ct o r g ro up , I s e t u p a n in te rv ie w w it h th e le ad er, a nd fr o m
th ese p eo ple I c o nnecte d to o th er g ro up s a nd a ctiv is ts , s o th at I b uilt a n etw ork o f fr ie nd s a nd c o nta cts e ngaged in th e is su es I c are d a b out. M any
of th o se r e la tio nsh ip s la st to th is d ay.
L is tin gs in th e
Whole C it y C ata lo g
were a r e fle ctio n o f a ll th at w as h ap penin g in P hila d elp hia in th e e arly 1 970s— in clu d in g, in n o p artic ula r o rd er,
th e E co lo gy F ood C o-o p, H ealt h L aw P ro je ct, P hila d elp hia ns fo r E qual J u stic e, M t. A ir y B ab y S it tin g C o-o p, B la ck P olit ic al F oru m , C asa D el
C arm en, R ad ic al J e w is h C om munit y , A rc hit e ct’s W ork sh o p, P eo ple ’s B ail F und , I m pris o ned C it iz e ns U nio n, I n d ia n R ig hts A sso cia tio n, C it iz e ns
C ouncil fo r C le an A ir , P hila d elp hia W ar T ax R esis ta nce, W om en’s S tr ik e fo r P eace, P ennsy lv ania ns fo r W om en’s R ig hts , G ay A ctiv is ts A llia nce,
P eo ple ’s P ain tin g C o-o p, M ovem ent fo r a N ew S ocie ty , P eo ple ’s V id eo C ente r, P hila d elp hia F re e P re ss, P hila d elp hia R esis ta nce P rin t S ho p,
B la ck P eo ple ’s U niv ers it y , a nd C anad ia n g ro up s to w hic h P hila d elp hia ’s d ra ft re sis te rs c o uld g o (s u ch a s th e V anco uver C om mit te e to A id
A meric an W ar O bje cto rs ). T he lis tin g fo r F re e P eo ple ’s S to re r e ad , “ K eep s u s a liv e w hile w e’re d oin g th in gs lik e th e
Whole C it y C ata lo g
.”
V olu nte ers c o ntr ib ute d th eir tim e to w ork o n th e
Cata lo g
. S om etim es a c usto m er w ould w alk in th e d oor a nd o ffe r to re se arc h a n a re a w e
need ed h elp o n, a nd a no th er w ould o ffe r to ty p e. ( It’s h ard to im agin e th at w e u se d ty p ew rit e rs b ack th en.) W e g ath ere d p ho to gra p hs, d ra w in gs,
and q uo te s to s p rin k le th ro ugho ut th e b ook th at e xp re sse d b oth o ur d is illu sio nm ent w it h o ur s o cie ty a nd o ur h o pe a nd in sp ir a tio n in b rin gin g c hange
by w ork in g to geth er. I c ho se a q uo te fr o m B la ck E lk , th e g re at S io ux h eale r a nd v is io nary , w hic h r e ad
I c o uld se e th at th e
wasic h us
[w hit e p eo ple ] d id n o t c are fo r e ach o th er th e w ay o ur p eo ple d id b efo re th e n atio n’s h o op w as
bro ken. T hey w ould ta k e e very th in g fr o m e ach o th er if th ey c o uld , a nd s o th ere w ere s o m e w ho h ad m ore o f e very th in g th an th ey
co uld u se , w hile c ro w ds o f p eo ple h ad n o th in g a t a ll a nd m ayb e w ere s ta rv in g. T hey h ad fo rg o tte n th at th e e arth w as th eir m oth er.
B la ck E lk c o ntin ued to b e a g uid e fo r m e, a nd s o m e fo rty y ears la te r, w hen s p eak in g a t a c o nfe re nce, I w ould a gain q uo te th e p ro phetic S io ux
le ad er. B la ck E lk e nvis io ned a fu tu re w hen th e h o op w ould b e r e co nnecte d a nd th e w orld r e unit e d — ju st a s th o se o f u s in th e lo cal liv in g e co no m y
m ovem ent w ere h o pin g to d o, c o m munit y b y c o m munit y , a s w e b uilt a nd c o nnecte d ju st, s u sta in ab le a nd h um ane e co no m ie s.
F und in g fo r p rin tin g th e fir s t e d it io n o f th e
Cata lo g
cam e s e re nd ip it o usly . O ne d ay w hen I w as ta k in g a p ho to gra p h o f a rtis ts p ain tin g a m ura l to
use in th e
Cata lo g
, th e d ir e cto r o f th e P hila d elp hia M use um o f A rt’s D ep artm ent o f U rb an O utr e ach, D avid K atz iv e, s to pped b y to w atc h, a nd
w e b egan c hattin g. H e w as e nth usia stic a b out th e id ea o f th e
Cata lo g
and m ad e a n u nso lic it e d g ra nt to w ard it s p rin tin g. O ur fir s t g ra nt! I w as s o
excit e d . O th er a cq uain ta nces c o nnecte d u s to tw o a d dit io nal fu nd ers , th e R elig io us S ocie ty o f F rie nd s a nd th e P hila d elp hia G as W ork s, w hic h
co m ple te d o ur fu nd in g a lo ng w it h a g enero us p rin te r w ho a gre ed to p rin t fo urte en th o usa nd c o pie s a t c o st a nd to w ait u ntil s a le s p ic k ed u p b efo re
co lle ctin g th e b ill.
W hen it w as tim e to la y o ut th e p ages o f th e
Cata lo g
, w e c lo se d th e s to re fo r a w eek d urin g th e s lo w s u m mer m onth o f A ugust to p ro vid e s p ace
to d o th e w ork . L ock in g th e fr o nt d oor, w e s e t u p s e vera l o ld d oors o n s a w ho rs e s to b e u se d a s ta b le s a rra nged a cro ss th e s to re . O n th ese w e
pla ced r o w s o f b lu e-lin ed p ap er ( u nd ete cta b le to th e p rin te r in th e o ld -fa sh io ned o ffs e t p rin tin g p ro cess) th at p ro vid ed a g uid e fo r g lu in g o nto th e
pages h und re d s o f lit tle ty p ed p ie ces o f p ap er, a lo ng w it h p ho to s a nd d ra w in gs. W e h ad n o a ir - c o nd it io nin g a nd c o uld n o t e ven o pen a w in d ow o r
use a fa n b ecause th e m ovin g a ir w ould h ave b lo w n th e p ap er a ll o ver th e p la ce. D ic k a nd I tie d b and anas a ro und o ur h ead s in a n a tte m pt to k eep
our s w eat fr o m d rip pin g o nto th e p ages. I t w as b ack -str a in in g w ork to le an o ver th o se ta b le s fo r a w eek in a c lo se d r o om th at s m elle d o f s w eat
and r u b ber c em ent. B ut w e fin ally fin is h ed th e fir s t
Whole C it y C ata lo g
, w hic h w e p ub lis h ed in 1 973.
T ho ugh I n ever h ad a ny in te re st in b usin ess w hile in c o lle ge a nd im agin ed a c are er in th e a rts , I b egan to c hange fr o m m y n aïv e d ays a s a r e lu cta nt
busin essp ers o n w ho b elie ved th at p ro fit w as a d ir ty w ord . W ork in g in th e s to re p re tty q uic k ly h elp ed m e s e e th e n eed fo r a r e aso nab le p ro fit a nd I
cam e to u nd ers ta nd h o w p ro fit s e nsu re th e h ealt h o f a b usin ess, a llo w id eas to g ro w , a nd c an b e u se d a s c o ntr ib utio ns to c o m munit y n o np ro fit s —
su ch a s o ur p ub lis h in g w ork a t S ynap se a nd th e m any o th er g o od w ork s I w as d is c o verin g th ro ugh m y r e se arc h fo r th e
Whole C it y C ata lo g
.
A s m y lif e e vo lv ed , th e v alu es w it h w hic h w e s ta rte d th e s to re a nd m y th o ughts a b out th e r o le o f b usin ess in c o m munit y lif e s ta yed w it h m e. S o d id
m y in te re st in s e llin g w hat I p ers o nally lik ed to p eo ple I e njo yed b ein g a ro und a nd p ro vid in g a p la ce to g ath er a nd ta lk a b out th e is su es o f th e d ay.
T his w as a fe atu re th at w ould b lo sso m fu lly y ears la te r in th e W hit e D og C afé , w here e d ucatio nal p ro gra m s in sp ir in g c usto m ers to b e e ngaged
cit iz e ns b ecam e a p ro duct o f th e b usin ess a lo ng w it h fo od a nd s e rv ic e.
F ro m th e b egin nin g, b usin ess o w ners h ip fo r m e m eant th e fr e ed om to e xp re ss m y c re ativ it y . I s a w th at b ein g a g o od b usin essp ers o n w as a b out
giv in g m y c usto m ers s o m eth in g s p ecia l a nd th at th e u niq ueness c am e fr o m w ho I w as a s a p ers o n. B esid es lo okin g a t w hat p ro duct o r s e rv ic e w as
need ed in m y c o m munit y , it w as a ls o im porta nt to lo ok w it h in a nd s e e h o w m y b usin ess c o uld b e a u niq ue s e lf - e xp re ssio n. F re e P eo ple ’s S to re w as a k in d o f a rt fo rm th at e xp re sse d m y p ers o nalit y , lik e m y c hild ho od v entu re s, b ut it a ls o e xp re sse d m y p ers o nal v alu es.
F ro m th en o n, h avin g m y w ork tr u ly r e fle ct w hat I s ta nd fo r a s a p ers o n b ecam e a n e sse ntia l a sp ect o f m y c are er. T he s u ccess o f F re e P eo ple ’s
S to re ta ught m e n o t to b e a fr a id to e xp re ss m y p ro gre ssiv e v alu es th ro ugh m y b usin ess, v alu es th at D ic k a nd I s h are d a t th e tim e. I le arn ed th at it
w as p ossib le to d evelo p a c lie nte le o f “ fr e e p eo ple ”— a c o m munit y o f c usto m ers w it h s h are d v alu es— so m eth in g I w ould d o a gain s u ccessfu lly a t
th e W hit e D og C afé s o m e tw enty y ears la te r. I a ls o le arn ed th at y o u c an in cre ase th e p osit iv e s o cia l im pact o f a b usin ess b y s ta rtin g a n o np ro fit
affilia te , a s F re e P eo ple ’s S to re d id w it h S ynap se a nd a s I w ould a ls o la te r d o w it h th e n o np ro fit W hit e D og C om munit y E nte rp ris e s.
B ut I d id n’t ju st le arn a b out b usin ess a nd c o m munit y d urin g m y y ears a t th e F re e P eo ple ’s S to re . I le arn ed a lo t a b out m yse lf , to o. I fe lt th e p ow er
of m y o w n w ill a nd d ete rm in atio n, n o t o nly to c re ate a nd b uild , b ut a ls o to p ro te ct a nd e nd ure . I re aliz e d th at b ein g a n e ntr e p re neur w as a b out
envis io nin g s o m eth in g o ut o f n o th in g. E ven m ore , it w as a b out th e d ete rm in atio n to m anif e st d re am s a nd p ers is t th ro ugh in evit a b le c halle nges to
re aliz e th em . T ho ugh it m ay se em lik e m um bo ju m bo to so m e, I b egan to b elie ve th at w hen I se t m y m in d to so m eth in g, c o m mit tin g m yse lf
w ho le hearte d ly , I a lig ned m yse lf w it h a g re ate r fo rc e th at g ave m e c o ura ge a nd s tr e ngth . T he m ore I b elie ved th is , th e m ore d oors o pened . W as it
so m eth in g I im agin ed ? I t s e em ed th at p eo ple , e ven s tr a ngers , a p peare d ju st a s I n eed ed th em , b rin gin g a ssis ta nce, a d vic e, o r m ate ria l r e so urc es.
E ven th e u nw ante d s tr a ngers h ad le sso ns to te ach.
M eanw hile , n o t a ll w as w ell in m y m arrie d lif e . W hile F re e P eo ple ’s S to re c o ntin ued to g ro w a nd th riv e in th o se fir s t c o up le o f y ears , m y
re la tio nsh ip w it h D ic k d id n o t. T he le ad ers h ip q ualit ie s th at a ttr a cte d m e to h im a s a y o ung g ir l p ic k in g th e b est b oy to m arry h ad n o w b eco m e
oppre ssiv e. A fte r m ovin g to a b ig c it y , s ta rtin g a b usin ess, a nd te stin g m y s tr e ngth in th e w orld , b ein g p erc eiv ed a s le ss w orth y o r c ap ab le b ecause
I w as fe m ale b ecam e le ss a nd le ss p ala ta b le , a nd th at w as th e s it u atio n I fo und m yse lf in . D ic k a nd S co tt in cre asin gly ig no re d m e a s a b usin ess
partn er, k eep in g m e in th e d ark a b out o ur fin ances, a nd jo kin g a b out h o w
th e lit tle w om an sh ould n’t w orry h er p re tty lit tle h ea d a bout
busin ess.
The to ne w as lig hth earte d , b ut it w as n o jo ke. I k new it w as th e w ay th ey s a w th in gs. I re aliz e d th at m y im porta nt c o ntr ib utio ns in
co ncep tu aliz in g th e sto re w ere d is c o unte d . S am e w it h m y w ork in b uyin g and d is p la yin g, and m y ap tit u d e fo r b uild in g re la tio nsh ip s in th e
co m munit y — all d is c o unte d . T he “ im porta nt w ork ” o f c o ntr o llin g fin ances a nd p la nnin g fo r g ro w th w as le ft to th e m en. T his b ro ught m e r ig ht b ack
to th at b all fie ld in th e fif th g ra d e: g ir ls c an’t p la y.
I s lo w ly a nd p ain fu lly r e aliz e d th at m y p la ce in th e w orld w as n o t a t D ic k ’s s id e. I c o uld n’t b e M rs . R ic hard H ayne a ny m ore . N ow it w as tim e fo r
m e to c halle nge tr a d it io n in a no th er w ay a nd n o t a ccep t th e s e co nd -c la ss s ta tu s th ey h ad a ssig ned m e fo r b ein g fe m ale . M y c ho ic es w ere c le ar. I
co uld r e m ain in a s a fe y et c o nstr ic te d r o le , o r ta k e th e r is k to le ad m y o w n lif e .
Ju st a s a ll o f u s, m en a nd w om en, m ust o verc o m e th e p sy cho lo gic al b arrie rs th at te ll u s th at w e a re n o t c ap ab le , th at w e a re n o t g o od e no ugh, th at
w e n eed s o m eo ne e ls e to b e w ho le , I h ad to le t g o o f o ld n o tio ns th at w ere h o ld in g m e b ack . A s s c ary a s it w as, I h ad to g iv e u p a ll D ic k a nd I
had b uilt to geth er in e xchange fo r th e fr e ed om to fo llo w m y o w n p ath . M y c o ura ge c am e fr o m h avin g le arn ed th at w hen I se t m y in te ntio n,
so m eth in g s o m e- w here p ro vid ed w hat I n eed ed to g et th ere . N ow I h ad to fin d o ut w hate ver b ecam e o f th at lit tle g ir l n am ed J u d y W ic k s, w ho se
nam e I h ad c ro sse d o ff m y ta b le t in fif th g ra d e.
D ic k ’s a nd m y liv es w ould ta k e d ra stic ally d if fe re nt tu rn s. H e c o ntin ued o n w it h F re e P eo ple ’s S to re , a nd I h ad n o id ea w here lif e w as le ad in g
w hen I p ack ed m y b ags a nd le ft m y h usb and , h o m e, a nd b usin ess. I g o t o nly a b lo ck a w ay w hen I r a n a r e d lig ht a nd c o llid ed w it h a no th er c ar.
L uck ily , n o o ne w as h urt, b ut th e c ar I w as u sin g c o uld n o t b e d riv en. A p asse rb y o ffe re d to h elp m e h o m e.
“B ut I c an’t g o h o m e. I’v e ju st le ft m y h usb and ! M y b ags a re p ack ed , a nd I’v e g o t to k eep g o in g!” I p oure d o ut a s w e s to od o n th e s id ew alk .
“A nd n o w I h ave to fin d a jo b fa st b ecause I n eed m oney to r e p air th e c ar!”
“M ayb e I c an h elp ,” s a id th e p asse rb y, a v ery fr ie nd ly b lo nd , c urly -h air e d y o ung m an a b out m y a ge. “ I w ork in a r e sta ura nt c alle d L a T erra sse o n
th e 3 400 b lo ck o f S anso m S tr e et n ear th e u niv ers it y , a nd th ey h ave a n o penin g fo r a w ait r e ss.”
“I’ll ta k e it ,” I s a id im med ia te ly , a s if I w as ta lk in g to th e p ers o n w ho w as h ir in g m e.
A nd s o th at’ s h o w I g o t in to th e r e sta ura nt b usin ess th at w ould b e m y lif e fo r th e n ext fo rty y ears — quit e b y a ccid ent! Yie ld w ho w ill to th eir s e p ara ti o n
My o bje ct i n li v in g
Is to u nite m y a vo ca ti o n a nd m y v o ca ti o n
As m y tw o e yes m ake o ne s ig ht.
For o nly w here lo ve a nd n eed a re o ne
And w ork i s p la y fo r m orta l s ta kes
Is th e d eed e ver r e a lly d one
For h ea ven a nd th e fu tu re ’s s a kes.
—Robert F ro st
4
It’ s N ot t h e C oin t h at C ou nts : L earn in g t o D o
Busin ess M y W ay
L A T ER RA SSE
was a h ard p la ce to fin d . S anso m S tr e et w as o nly tw o b lo ck s lo ng in th at p art o f to w n, la rg ely s u rro und ed b y th e e xp and in g c am pus
of th e U niv ers it y o f P ennsy lv ania . W hen I fin ally c am e u p on th e 3 400 b lo ck o f S anso m S tr e et a nd w alk ed d ow n th e n arro w tr e e-lin ed s tr e et fo r
th e fir s t tim e, I w as e ntir e ly e nchante d . T he r o w o f c harm in g, th o ugh s lig htly r u n-d ow n, V ic to ria n b ro w nsto ne h o use s p ro vid ed a s m all o asis fr o m
th e b le ak , u nfr ie nd ly in stit u tio nal b uild in gs th at s u rro und ed it . M any o f th e o ld er h o m es in th e u niv ers it y c o m munit y w ere b ein g to rn d ow n a nd
re p la ced b y s ta rk h ig h-ris e d orm it o rie s a nd o ffic e b uild in gs, s tr ip m alls , a nd a cre s o f d ead z o nes u se d a s p ark in g lo ts fo r th e m any c o m mute rs w ho
dro ve in fr o m th e su b urb s. In sh arp c o ntr a st, th ese h und re d -y ear- o ld , th re e-sto ry ro w h o use s o n S anso m S tr e et w ere h um an-sc ale — quain t,
ho m ey, in vit in g. T he r o sy b ro w nsto ne g ave th e s tr e et a w arm g lo w , a nd th e fr in ge-lik e d eco ra tiv e V ic to ria n tr im a lo ng th e c o rn ic es a d ded a fe stiv e,
old -fa sh io ned a llu re to th e b lo ck .
N estle d o n th at m agic al b lo ck , I fo und th e re sta ura nt I w as lo okin g fo r a nd a sk ed to s e e th e m anager. H e s e em ed v ery e ager to fin d a n ew
w ait r e ss a s s o on a s p ossib le , a nd th o ugh I h ad n o e xp erie nce o th er th an s e rv in g c o ck ta ils fo r a s u m mer jo b in c o lle ge, I w as im med ia te ly h ir e d a nd
put r ig ht to w ork . W hen m y fir s t ta b le w as s e ate d , I w as s o h esit a nt th at th e h o ste ss h ad to g iv e m e a b ig p ush , a nd I s tu m ble d u p to th e ta b le to
gre et m y fir s t c usto m ers . N ot a g la m oro us b egin nin g to m y n ew c are er! B ut I s o on g o t th e h ang o f it .
W hen ta k in g th e w ait r e ss jo b a t L a T erra sse in 1 972, I o f c o urs e h ad n o in k lin g th at I w as b egin nin g tw elv e y ears o f o n-th e-jo b tr a in in g fo r
openin g m y o w n r e sta ura nt ju st d ow n th e s tr e et. A fte r a ll, it w asn ’t th at I a ctu ally c ho se th e r e sta ura nt b usin ess a fte r c o nte m pla tin g th e c are er b est
su it e d to m e. I d id n’t e ven lik e to c o ok. R ath er, I u se d th e c ard s th at w ere d ealt m e. W hen th e o pportu nit y p re se nte d it s e lf , I w ent w it h it , n o t
kno w in g w here it w ould ta k e m e— and fo r th e tim e b ein g, I w as o pen to w hate ver m ig ht c o m e.
N ot lo ng a fte r ta k in g th e jo b, I m oved in to a n a p artm ent ju st d ow n th e s tr e et fr o m L a T erra sse . O n fir s t w alk in g th ro ugh th e d oor o f th e h o use a t
3420 S anso m S tr e et, w hic h h ad a h ealt h fo od s to re o n th e fir s t flo or a nd m y a p artm ent a b ove, a gain I c o uld n ever h ave g uesse d th at I w ould liv e
in th at b uild in g fo r th e n ext th ir ty -e ig ht y ears . B ut I d id im med ia te ly fe el a c o nnectio n to S anso m S tr e et a nd b egan to m ak e it m y h o m e. I t w as n o t
only th e lo ok a nd fe el o f th e s tr e et th at I lik ed , b ut a ls o th e p eo ple w ho liv ed o r g ath ere d th ere .
N ig ht a nd d ay th ere w as a ctiv it y o n th e s id ew alk s— re sid ents c o m in g a nd g o in g to w ork o r to c la ss a nd c usto m ers g o in g in a nd o ut o f th e s h o ps
and c afé s. M y n ew n eig hb ors , ra ngin g in a ge fr o m e ig hte een to e ig hty , in clu d ed a rtis ts , y o ung p ro fe ssio nals , s tu d ents a nd p ro fe sso rs fr o m th e
U niv ers it y o f P ennsy lv ania , a nd ( lik e m e) e m plo yees o f th e lo cal b usin esse s. O ne h o use w as s till a s in gle -fa m ily h o m e, c o m ple te w it h a ll th e o rig in al
V ic to ria n d eta ils , w here a n e ld erly w om an h ad liv ed fo r m ore y ears th an a nyo ne c o uld r e m em ber. B ut m ost o f th e h o use s h ad b een d iv id ed in to
se vera l a p artm ents w it h a fe w s m all r e ta il b usin esse s a nd o ffic es o n th e fir s t flo ors th at s e rv ed th e lo cal c o m munit y .
L a T erra sse w as a n eig hb orh o od h ango ut— a b ohem ia n-sty le F re nch c afé w it h a tr e e g ro w in g r ig ht u p th ro ugh th e le ak y c o rru gate d p la stic r o of o f
th e c o vere d te rra ce, a nd w here th e G ru yère c heese o n th e o nio n s o up w as s o th ic k it h ad to b e c ut w it h a k nif e . I jo in ed th e s ta ff o f fla m boyant
yo ung w ait r e sse s w ho ty p ic ally d re sse d in 1 970s-sty le h o t p ants a nd ta ll b oots o r lo ng flo w in g s k ir ts a nd s h eer to ps. I t tu rn ed o ut th at th ere w as
only o ne m ale s e rv er, S kip , th e v ery s a m e b lo nd , c urly -h air e d fe llo w w ho h ad w it n esse d m y a ccid ent o n L ocust S tr e et. B ala ncin g c ara fe s o f w in e
and tr a ys o f F re nch p astr ie s, w e s e rv ers m ad e o ur w ay th ro ugh th e c ro w ded d in in g ro om s fille d w it h a h o dgep odge o f c usto m ers d re sse d in
every th in g fr o m b usin ess s u it s w it h tie s to tw eed y ja ck ets w it h p atc hed e lb ow s to jo ggin g s h o rts a nd b lu e je ans w it h T -sh ir ts . M any o f th e L a T erra sse re gula rs w ho c am e a lm ost d aily w ere p art o f th e c ult u ra l in te llig ents ia o f th e u niv ers it y . P ro fe sso r N eil W elliv er w as a
pain te r w ho se la rg e-sc ale o ils o f th e M ain e w oods le d h im to b e c alle d o ne o f th e g re ate st A meric an la nd sc ap e p ain te rs o f h is g enera tio n. N eil w as
co chair o f P enn’s D ep artm ent o f F in e A rts a lo ng w it h s c ulp to r R obert E ngm an, w ho w as m y n ext- d oor n eig hb or. I c o uld s e e th ro ugh th e w in d ow s
acro ss th e lig ht c o urt b etw een o ur h o use s in to B ob’s tw o-sto ry s tu d io , w here h e w ork ed o n a n e no rm ous a b str a ct p ie ce c alle d
Triu ne
, w hic h
w ould b e c ast in b ro nze a nd p la ced a t a b usy in te rs e ctio n n ear P hila d elp hia ’s C it y H all. B ob h ad a h earty s p ir it , a nd I re m em ber h im te llin g th e
sto ry o f fe elin g s o a nno yed b y th e s o und o f h is w if e ’s v acuum c le aner w hen h e liv ed in th e s u b urb s th at h e h ad fin ally p ic k ed it u p b y th e h o se ,
sw ung it a ro und lik e a la sso , a nd le t it s a il r ig ht th ro ugh a g la ss w in d ow in to th e y ard .
A fe w d oors fa rth er u p th e s tr e et in a n a p artm ent a b ove L a T erra sse liv ed a no th er n atio nally r e co gniz e d s c ulp to r, R obin F re d enth al. S tr ic k en a t a n
early a ge w it h P ark in so n’s d is e ase th at r e su lt e d in u nste ad y h and s a nd e rra tic m otio ns, R obin w ork ed w it h th e h elp o f a ssis ta nts w ho fo llo w ed h is
dir e ctio ns in co nstr u ctin g th re e-d im ensio nal card board m odels in geo m etr ic sh ap es. S om e o f th ese m odels w ent o n to b eco m e gia nt ste el
sc ulp tu re s th at g ra ced th e P enn c am pus a nd p ub lic s p aces a ro und P hila d elp hia a nd a cro ss th e c o untr y . A c harm in g a nd b rillia nt v is io nary w it h th e
co ura ge to c arry o n h is w ork d esp it e h is c rip plin g d is e ase , R obin a ttr a cte d m any v is it o rs to th e a p artm ent s tu d io h e ra re ly le ft. F rie nd s a nd fa ns
clim bed th e n arro w w ooden s te p s to th e th ir d flo or w here R obin s a t s u rro und ed b y th o usa nd s o f w hit e c ard board m odels th at fille d e very n o ok
and c ra nny o f th e fla t h e s h are d w it h h is tw o c ats .
W hen I fir s t w ait e d o n I a n M cH arg , e ste em ed c hair o f P enn’s D ep artm ent o f L and sc ap e A rc hit e ctu re , I w as im pre sse d w it h h is e le gant m anner,
lo ng b ush y m ousta che, a nd k in d ness to w ard th e s ta ff. B ut I w as to o n aïv e to u nd ers ta nd th e im porta nce o f h is r e cent b ook,
Desig n w it h N atu re
,
w hic h p io neere d th e c o ncep t o f e co lo gic al p la nnin g. N ot u ntil th ir ty y ears la te r, w hen I w as d eep ly e ngaged in th e lo cal liv in g e co no m y m ovem ent,
w ould I c o m e to re aliz e h o w h is re vo lu tio nary th in k in g a ro und h um ans’ p la ce in n atu re w as fo und atio nal to o ur m ovem ent’s w ork . P ro fe sso r
M cH arg , I s a w a t th at la te r tim e, a rtic ula te d s o c le arly a nd p ro fo und ly th e im porta nce o f th is e ra in h is to ry — th at w e a re tr a nsfo rm in g o ur w orld
fr o m th e m odern in d ustr ia l e ra th at h e r e fe rre d to a s o ne o f “ d om in ate a nd d estr o y” to a n ew e ra o f “ c o opera te a nd r e sto re .” B ut in 1 972, I ju st
w ante d to m ak e s u re I d id n’t s p ill h is m artin i.
I s o on le arn ed th at o ur S anso m S tr e et n eig hb orh o od h ad it s o w n e xp erie nce o f “ d om in ate a nd d estr o y” to d eal w it h . N ot lo ng a fte r I s e ttle d in to
m y n ew h o m e a nd c o m munit y , I h eard s h o ck in g n ew s. O ur e ntir e b lo ck , p riz e d fo r it s lo catio n o n th e U niv ers it y o f P ennsy lv ania c am pus, w as
earm ark ed fo r th e d evelo pm ent o f a c o m merc ia l m all. H ow c o uld it b e th at th e re sid ents a nd s m all b usin esse s w ould b e e vic te d , o ur c o m munit y
destr o yed , a nd th e b eautif u l b ro w nsto ne h o use s d em olis h ed to m ak e w ay fo r o rd in ary c hain s to re s a nd fa st- fo od r e sta ura nts ? I w as o utr a ged .
D ete rm in ed to h elp s a ve m y n ew fo und c o m munit y , I e agerly jo in ed th e S anso m C om mit te e, w ho se m is sio n w as to s to p th e d em olit io n a nd to
develo p a n a lt e rn ativ e p la n fo r th e re sto ra tio n o f th is h is to ric b lo ck . O ur p ow erfu l a d vers a rie s in clu d ed th e U niv ers it y o f P ennsy lv ania , th eir
co rp ora te a llie s in th e o ld b oys’ n etw ork w ho w ould b enefit fr o m th e d evelo pm ent, a nd tw o g o vern m ent a gencie s— th e C it y o f P hila d elp hia a nd
th e U S D ep artm ent o f H ousin g a nd U rb an D evelo pm ent, w hic h w ie ld ed th eir p ow er to s u p port th e u niv ers it y ’s e xp ansio n.
S anso m C om mit te e m em bers in clu d ed th e re sid ents a nd s m all b usin ess o w ners o f th e b lo ck , a lo ng w it h th e P enn p ro fe sso rs w ho fr e q uente d L a
Terra sse a nd o ppose d th eir e m plo yer’s d em olit io n p la ns. T he c o m mit te e w as le d b y E llio t C ook, th e r a p sc allio n o w ner o f L a T erra sse , w ho h ad a
fa sc in atin g b le nd o f h ig h-m in d ed v is io n a nd ro guis h b ehavio r th at o fte n w ent o ver th e to p. W hat h e lik ely v ie w ed a s a h arm le ss p ra nk — mak in g
re p eate d , u np aid -fo r, lo ng-d is ta nce p ho ne c alls w it h a n ille gal d evic e c alle d a “ b lu e b ox”— had la nd ed h im in fe d era l p ris o n fo r th re e m onth s d urin g
th e s e ventie s. T here , h e w as tr a in ed fo r h is jo b in th e p ris o n k it c hen b y o utg o in g in m ate G . G ord on L id dy o f W ate rg ate fa m e. O n th e o th er h and , it
had b een E llio t’s h ig her s e lf th at le d th e p ro cess fo r c re atin g a n a lt e rn ativ e p la n fo r o ur b lo ck — a p la n th at w ould p re se rv e it s h is to ric c hara cte r
w hile d evelo pin g a m ix ed u se o f u niq ue s h o ps a nd r e sta ura nts a s a v ib ra nt r e ta il c ente r w it h h o usin g fo r o ur c o m munit y o n th e u p per flo ors . D urin g
th e fig ht to s a ve o ur b lo ck , th e u niv ers it y o ffe re d E llio t a d eal th at w ould h ave s a ved h is o w n b usin ess w hile s a crif ic in g th e r e st o f th e b lo ck to th e
w re ck in g b all. O n p rin cip le , a nd lik ely a ls o b ecause h e e njo yed a g o od fig ht, h e r e fu se d th e o ffe r a nd c o ntin ued h is o pposit io n.
A mong th e o th er m em bers o f o ur c o m munit y g ro up w ere se vera l g ra d uate s o f P enn’s a rc hit e ctu re d ep artm ent, in clu d in g S am L it tle , w ho se
co ntr ib utio ns in clu d ed lig ht s tu d ie s d em onstr a tin g h o w th e to w erin g m all th e d evelo pers p ro pose d fo r W aln ut a nd S anso m S tr e ets w ould le ave th e
P enn L aw S cho ol, a cro ss S anso m S tr e et to th e n o rth , in p erp etu al s h ad e. N eil S chlo sse r w as a no th er a rc hit e ctu re s c ho ol g ra d uate , w ho lik e S am
had m oved o nto th e b lo ck w hile a tte nd in g th e u niv ers it y . N eil’ s fir m , S R K A rc hit e cts , h ad e xp ertis e in h is to ric re sto ra tio n a nd p ro vid ed th e
S anso m C om mit te e w it h re nd erin gs o f th e re sto re d b lo ck o ur c o m mit te e e nvis io ned . I s till re m em ber th e e xact ta b le a t L a T erra sse , a fo ur- to p
rig ht n ext to th e tr e e g ro w in g th ro ugh th e ro of, w here I m et th e h and so m e, d ark -c urly -h air e d y o ung a rc hit e ct w it h k in d b ro w n e yes— because
eventu ally I w ould m arry h im .
M y ro le o n th e S anso m C om mit te e w as b uild in g c o m munit y re la tio ns, a nd I to ok th e le ad in o rg aniz in g a n o utd oor b lo ck p arty p ub lic iz in g o ur
“S ave th e B lo ck ” c am paig n. M y r e se arc h fo r th e
Whole C it y C ata lo g
had m ad e m e a w are o f o th er c o m munit y g ro up s fig htin g d em olit io n, a nd I
in vit e d th em a ll to jo in o ur e vent. E ach g ro up p ut u p d is p la ys a b out it s o w n D avid -a nd -G olia th s tr u ggle s a t o ur “ S ave th e B lo ck ” p arty a m id fo od
booth s a nd liv e m usic — th e fir s t o f m any s tr e et p artie s I ’d th ro w o n S anso m S tr e et in th e y ears a head .
D urin g th at tim e o f s tr u ggle to s a ve o ur b lo ck , I le arn ed fr o m o th ers o n th e c o m mit te e a b out th e le gend ary u rb an a ctiv is t J a ne J a co bs, a uth o r o f
T he D ea th a nd L if e o f G re a t A m eric a n C it ie s
. A t th at tim e in th e 1 970s, J a co bs h ad n o t y et b een r e co gniz e d a s a v is io nary , b ut fo r th e S anso m
C om mit te e s h e w as o ur g uid in g lig ht. I t w as fr o m r e ad in g J a ne J a co bs, w ho lo ved h er o w n n eig hb orh o od in N ew Y ork C it y a s w e lo ved S anso m
S tr e et, th at I le arn ed th e im porta nt c o ncep ts o f “ m ix ed u se ” a nd “ w alk ab le c o m munit ie s,” in w hic h re sid ents p ro sp ere d fr o m a liv ely m ix tu re o f
re sid ences a nd b usin esse s a nd c o uld w alk to s to re s a nd r e sta ura nts , to jo bs a nd s c ho ols , to p ark s a nd th eatr e s. T his a p pro ach to d esig nin g c it ie s
and to w ns b ecam e k no w n a s th e N ew U rb anis m , v it a lly im porta nt to day a s w e s tr u ggle to r e d uce c arb on e m is sio ns.
T he b ustle o f c it y lif e I e njo yed s o m uch w as e lo quently d esc rib ed b y J a co bs a s “ sid ew alk b alle t.” I t w as J a ne J a co bs w ho h elp ed m e u nd ers ta nd
w hy it w as n o a ccid ent th at in te re stin g p eo ple c am e to o ur c o m munit y . T hey w ere a ttr a cte d to th e v ib ra nt c hara cte r o f o ur b lo ck a nd th e u niq ue
w arm fe el o f th e a rc hit e ctu re , th e o nly in ta ct h is to ric b lo ck r e m ain in g o n th e c am pus a m id th e b le ak n ew in stit u tio nal d evelo pm ent th at tu rn ed a c o ld sh o uld er to th e s tr e et lif e J a co bs u p held . A rre ste d s e vera l tim es fo r p ro te stin g d evelo pers , th e o uts p oken J a co bs c o nd em ned th e u rb an re new al
m ovem ent fo llo w in g th e e nd o f W orld W ar II, w hen w ho le n eig hb orh o ods w ere ra ze d , d estr o yin g c lo se -k nit c o m munit ie s a nd th riv in g lo cal
eco no m ie s to b uild s te rile h ig h-ris e o ffic e b uild in gs. S he s h o w ed h o w r e sid ents w ere e nco ura ged to le ave th e c it y fo r th e s p ra w lin g s u b urb s w here
ho usin g d evelo pm ents a nd s h o ppin g m alls w ere d estr o yin g r ic h fa rm la nd s fo r n o m ore th an w hat s h e s c o rn fu lly c alle d “ c heap p ark in g.”
Ju st a s o ur h ero in e o nce p re se nte d h er a rg um ents to r e sis t a h ig hw ay p ro posa l to p ro te ct h er b elo ved G re enw ic h V illa ge, th e S anso m C om mit te e
fo ught to s a ve o ur b lo ck u sin g J a co bs’s w ork to a rtic ula te o ur c ase . W e h ir e d a to p a tto rn ey, R obert S ugarm an, a lo vab le y et fe ro cio us c ru sa d er
kno w n fo r d efe nd in g c o m munit ie s a nd th e n atu ra l e nvir o nm ent a gain st a b use o f p ow er, a nd file d a la w su it b ase d o n th e m is u se o f e m in ent d om ain
and th e la ck o f th e re q uir e d e nvir o nm enta l im pact s ta te m ent. T he S anso m C om mit te e a rc hit e cts d re w u p p la ns to s h o w h o w th e b lo ck c o uld b e
beautif u lly r e no vate d to c re ate a u niq ue r e ta il c ente r fo r th e c am pus a nd p ro vid e u rb an h o m es fo r u niv ers it y fa cult y w ho n o w c o m mute d fr o m th e
su b urb s. W e p oin te d to th e v ib ra ncy o f o th er u rb an c am puse s, s u ch a s C am brid ge a nd G eo rg eto w n, w hic h th riv ed w it h th e m ix tu re o f c o m merc ia l
and r e sid entia l, s tu d ents a nd n o nstu d ents . Q uo tin g J a ne J a co bs, w e s h o w ed h o w m ix ed -u se d evelo pm ent k eep s n eig hb orh o ods o ccup ie d d ay a nd
nig ht, p ro vid in g m ore v it a lit y a s w ell a s s e curit y ; th e s h o pkeep ers k eep w atc h o ver th e n eig hb orh o od d urin g th e d ay a nd th e r e sid ents k eep w atc h
at n ig ht.
In m y s e p ara tio n fr o m D ic k , w e a gre ed th at I w ould ta k e r e sp onsib ilit y fo r th e c o ntin ued p ub lic atio n o f th e
Whole C it y C ata lo g
and ru nnin g th e
no np ro fit p ub lis h in g c o m pany S ynap se . W e a ls o a gre ed th at I w ould r e ceiv e a tw o-h und re d -d olla r- a -w eek s tip end fr o m th e s to re fo r o ne y ear s o
th at I d id n o t h ave to w ork fu ll- tim e in o rd er to fin is h th e
Cata lo g
. T ho ugh S ynap se , a s a n o np ro fit , h ad n o v alu e, it w as v alu ab le to m e a s a w ay
to b e in vo lv ed in th e c o m munit y a nd b rin g a b out p osit iv e s o cia l c hange. B ecause I w as a sh am ed a b out le avin g th e m arria ge— div o rc e w as n o t
co m mon in I n go m ar a nd h ad a n egativ e s tig m a a tta ched to it — and b ecause I fe lt te rrib le a b out th e h urt th at m y le avin g h ad c ause d D ic k , it d id n o t
se em a p pro pria te to ta lk a b out m oney o r h o w w e w ould s p lit th e o nly th in g w e o w ned o f r e al v alu e, th e s to re . I w alk ed a w ay, ta k in g n o th in g e ls e
w it h m e b ut a v erb al a gre em ent fr o m D ic k th at w hen h e s o ld th e s to re , I w ould g et m y s h are . N ot h avin g a w rit te n a gre em ent w as a m is ta k e I
w ould m ak e a t le ast o ne m ore tim e.
T he fir s t is su e o f th e
Cata lo g
was fin is h ed in 1 972, ju st b efo re I m oved to S anso m S tr e et. F or th e n ext tw o y ears , w hile I w ork ed p art- tim e
w ait in g ta b le s a t L a T erra sse , I fo cuse d m uch o f m y e nerg y o n r e se arc hin g, w rit in g, a nd d esig nin g th e s e co nd e d it io n.
In th e s p rin g o f 1 974, ju st a s I fin is h ed th e s e co nd e d it io n, a n ew ly h ir e d g enera l m anager o f L a T erra sse h ad s e nt th e re sta ura nt in to a ta ils p in .
E llio t, o ur b oss, w as liv in g in B osto n w hile a tte nd in g g ra d uate s c ho ol, a nd th in gs w ere g ettin g in cre asin gly c hao tic . R um or h ad it th at th e r e sta ura nt
w as lo sin g m oney. T he c ash ie r, M arg e G re ensp an— a q uic k -w it te d , m id dle -a ged m oth er o f th re e w ho se o pin io n w as v alu ed b y a ll— cam e u p w it h
th e s u rp ris in g s u ggestio n th at I m anage th e r e sta ura nt.
Me?
Tho ugh I h ad a tin y b it o f b usin ess e xp erie nce fr o m F re e P eo ple ’s S to re , I c erta in ly h ad
never r u n a r e sta ura nt, n o r s u p erv is e d e m plo yees, b ut M arg e m ust h ave s e en s o m eth in g in m e th at I h ad n’t y et d is c o vere d . S in ce E llio t w as in th e
m id dle o f e xam s, h e h ad n’t m uch c ho ic e a nd o ver th e p ho ne h e a sk ed m e to ta k e th e jo b fo r tw o w eek s u ntil h e h ad th e c hance to fin is h h is
se m este r a nd h ir e a p ro fe ssio nal m anager. T his s e em ed lik e a w ild id ea, b ut w hy n o t? I h ad ju st s e nt th e s e co nd e d it io n o f th e
Cata lo g
off to th e
prin te r, s o h ad th e tim e.
E llio t fle w d ow n fr o m B osto n, fir e d th e m anager, p ro m ote d m e, a nd re tu rn ed to B osto n. S ud denly , a t a ge tw enty -se ven, I w ent fr o m b ein g a
w ait r e ss to g enera l m anager o f a r e sta ura nt w it h 1 20 s e ats a nd o ver fif ty e m plo yees.
What h ad I g otte n m yse lf in to ?
The p re vio us m anager h ad
le ft h is d esk to ta lly e m pty — no t o ne file , jo b d esc rip tio n, fo rm , s y ste m , o r re co rd o th er th an b asic b ookkeep in g (a nd th at w as in ad eq uate , a s I
so on fo und o ut) . T here w as n o in str u ctio n b ook, a nd n o o ne to g uid e m e in th is b ig u nd erta k in g. F ortu nate ly , E llio t h ad a ls o p ro m ote d M arg e fr o m
cash ie r to b ookkeep er, a nd w e s h are d a s e co nd -flo or o ffic e. W it h a tr e m end ous s e nse o f h um or a nd m oth erly w arm th , a lo ng w it h a g re at d eal o f
fa it h in m e to h and le th e jo b, M arg e p ro vid ed th e s u p port a nd e nco ura gem ent I n eed ed to g o d ow nsta ir s a nd fa ce m any d if fic ult s it u atio ns, w hic h
began w it h h avin g to s u p erv is e th o se w ho h ad ju st b een m y p la ym ate s th e d ay b efo re .
O n m y fir s t d ay a s a m anager, a w ait r e ss a nd c lo se fr ie nd p ic k ed u p a lo af o f n ew ly m ad e p âté . H eld o nly b y th e tw o e nd s, th e lo ng lo af g ave w ay
in th e m id dle a nd c ra sh ed to th e flo or. T here w ent th e p ro fit s ! W hat in th e w orld w as s h e d oin g s o c are le ssly c arry in g a p âté th at h ad ta k en th e
kit c hen h o urs to m ak e? W hat s h o uld I s a y to o ne o f m y fr ie nd s?
T hen th ere w as th e in co m pete nt F re nch c hef w ho se B and -A id I o nce fo und in th e s o up . N ot o nly h ad h e n o s e nse a b out c o okin g, b ut o n S und ay
m orn in gs— Sund ay w as h is d ay o ff— ju st a s th e b arte nd ers h ad a lo ng lin e o f B lo ody M ary s lin ed u p w it h c o nd im ents o f c ele ry s ta lk s a nd lim es
aw ait in g th e b ru nch r u sh , h e w ould ta k e a s h o w er in h is a p artm ent a b ove th e b ar w it h h is fo ot c la m ped o ver th e d ra in s o th at th e w ate r o verflo w ed
th ro ugh th e c eilin g a nd in to th e d rin k s. T here w ent th e p ro fit s a gain !
O ne o f m y b ig gest c halle nges w as th e fe ro cio us lu nch c hef, Y vo nne L ig hty , w ho h ad te rro riz e d m e w hen I w as a n ew w ait r e ss, a lo ng w it h th e r e st
of th e s ta ff, w it h d ep re catin g in su lt s d eliv ere d in a th und erin g v o ic e. T he s o und o f h er y ellin g a lo ng w it h th e b angin g o f h er o m ele t p ans a gain st th e
sto ve c arrie d a ll th e w ay to m y b ed ro om w in d ow s ix h o use s d ow n th e b lo ck . S he w as s c ary . T he la st m anager h ad s u ccum bed to h er d em and s
th at s h e b e a llo w ed to w atc h s o ap o pera s o n te le vis io n w hile s h e c o oked lu nch. N ow I w ould h ave to ta k e a w ay th e te le vis io n th at s h e g uard ed
lik e a m ad d og a nd m ak e p eace in th e k it c hen.
T he jo b o f m anagin g a r e sta ura nt w as n o t a n e asy o ne, a nd ta k in g th e jo b h ad c erta in ly n o t b een m y c o nsc io us c ho ic e a s a c are er p ath , b ut w hen it
becam e c le ar th at th e S anso m C om mit te e d ep end ed o n fin ancia l c o ntr ib utio ns fr o m L a T erra sse to p ay th e le gal e xp ense s fo r s a vin g o ur b lo ck , I
to ok u p th e c ause . I n o rd er to s a ve m y n ew h o m e a nd th e c o m munit y I h ad c o m e to c are a b out, I n eed ed to tu rn a ro und th e fa ilin g r e sta ura nt a nd
pro duce a h ealt h y p ro fit . T his w as p ro fit w it h p urp ose — one I c o m mit te d m yse lf to w ho le hearte d ly . A lt h o ugh I s till s a w m y jo b a t L a T erra sse a s te m pora ry , I th re w m yse lf in to m y w ork le arn in g h o w to ru n th e c o m pany la rg ely b y u sin g m y
co m mon s e nse a nd a lo t o f tr ia l a nd e rro r. B ut I d id fe el th e n eed fo r m ore fo rm al e d ucatio n in b asic a cco untin g a nd s ig ned u p fo r a n e venin g c la ss
at th e W harto n b usin ess s c ho ol. I w as s u rp ris e d w hen I r e ceiv ed a n A in a s u b je ct I h ad a ssu m ed w ould b e d if fic ult fo r m e, p erh ap s s till c lin gin g to
th e 1 950s n o tio ns th at g ir ls w ere n o t g o od a t m ath a nd th at fin ancia l is su es w ere b est le ft to th e m enfo lk . N ow I fo und m yse lf fa sc in ate d to le arn
ab out th e b ala nce s h eet a nd th e p ro fit a nd lo ss s ta te m ent— to ols I p ut rig ht to u se a t L a T erra sse . W ho w ould h ave th unk it ? I c usto m iz e d o ur
fin ancia l s ta te m ents to b ette r s e rv e m y d ecis io n m ak in g, s e p ara tin g th e b evera ge s a le s a nd e xp ense s in to d is tin ct c ate go rie s o f b eer, liq uo r, b ottle d
w in e, a nd h o use w in e, b ecause d if fe re nt c o st- o f- g o ods-so ld p erc enta ges w ere e xp ecte d in e ach a re a.
It w as a n e xcit in g tim e e ach m onth w hen th e fin ancia ls a rriv ed fr o m th e a cco unta nt a nd I c o uld s e e h o w w e d id . J u st a s I h ad h ung b ase b all b attin g
avera ges o n m y w all a s a c hild , I m ad e c harts to tr a ck th e s a le s a nd p ro fit in e ach c ate go ry a nd p oste d th em o n th e w all o f th e o ffic e I s h are d w it h
M arg e. I w as th rille d to w atc h th e s te ad y im pro vem ent a nd k ep t th in k in g o f m ore a nd m ore w ays to in cre ase s a le s, w hic h I fo und to b e m y s tr o ng
su it a nd m uch m ore fu n th an d ecre asin g e xp ense s.
M anagin g p eo ple w as th e fa r g re ate r c halle nge. T here w as n o h elp fr o m E llio t in le arn in g h o w to b e a g o od m anager. W hen h e m ad e a n in fr e q uent
vis it to to w n fr o m h is h o m e in B osto n, w here h e w as in g ra d uate s c ho ol, h e o fte n d em onstr a te d h o w
not
to m anage p eo ple , th o ugh h e d id in sp ir e a
cle an k it c hen. I o nce d id a d ra w in g o f h im o n h is h and s a nd k nees in sp ectin g th e e q uip m ent w it h w hit e g lo ves a nd a m agnif y in g g la ss.
D esp it e o r m ayb e b ecause o f E llio t’s a ntic s a nd o ff- c o lo r h um or, s u ch a s p re te nd in g to s n eeze a n e sc arg o t o ut o f h is n o se w hile s e ate d a t th e b ar,
th e w ork e nvir o nm ent a t L a T erra sse w hen I a rriv ed w as liv ely , a nd I w ante d to k eep th e in fo rm al, e cle ctic c harm th at m ad e th e re sta ura nt
in te re stin g fo r c usto m ers a nd a fu n p la ce to w ork . Y et I h ad to c re ate o rd er a nd d is c ip lin e to im pro ve th e s e rv ic e a nd fo od a nd tu rn a p ro fit .
T his w as a b ig c hange fo r m e. I h ad b een a p ers o n w ho o fte n m ad e fu n o f r u le s. T he fir s t th in g I d id w hen I g o t to G ir l S co ut c am p e ach y ear w as
to r e ad a ll th e p olic ie s p oste d o n th e w all in th e b unk r o om a nd th en v o w to b re ak th em a ll b efo re I le ft. A nd I a lw ays s u cceed ed . N ow I h ad to
w rit e th e r u le s— and e nfo rc e th em . B ut a t le ast I k new a ll th e tr ic k s. A s a w ait r e ss, I h ad g o ne in to th e w alk -in r e fr ig era to r w here n o o ne c o uld s e e
m e a nd e ate n th e fo rb id den F re nch p astr ie s, w ash in g th em d ow n w it h b ig s w ig s o f s a ngria . I k new a b out th e tr a d it io n a m ong s o m e o f th e s e rv ers
and b arte nd ers to g iv e a w ay fr e e d rin k s a nd fo od to fr ie nd s. N ow it w as m y jo b to c hange th e b ehavio r a nd s to p th e lo sse s.
T ho ugh I h ad b een a n atu ra l le ad er g ro w in g u p in m y n eig hb orh o od a nd a m ong m y c o lle ge fr ie nd s, it w as u su ally a ro und p la yin g g am es, p la nnin g
partie s, o r g ettin g in to s o m e s o rt o f m is c hie f. I h ad n ever ta k en a fo rm al le ad ers h ip r o le in s c ho ol a nd w as r e p elle d b y th e id ea o f b ein g a b oss— a
pers o n I im agin ed a s a la rg e m an in a d ark s u it s it tin g b ehin d a d esk s m okin g a c ig ar a nd lo okin g d ow n h is n o se a t th e “ h elp .” I s till c arrie d a
heig hte ned c o nsc io usn ess a b out th e p ossib ilit y o f a b usin g m y p ow er. I e ven fo und m yse lf a b dic atin g p ow er w hen I a ctu ally n eed ed it , a p ro ble m I
exp erie nced o ccasio nally th ro ugho ut m y c are er b oth in b usin ess a nd in n o np ro fit le ad ers h ip . T his w as p artic ula rly th e c ase w hen d ealin g w it h
asse rtiv e m en, w ho , p erh ap s u nk no w in gly , p ush ed m e a sid e w hen m y o w n a p pro ach a p peare d le ss fo rc efu l. I n eed ed to le arn h o w to s ta nd u p fo r
m yse lf a nd u se m y p ow er w is e ly . T ho ugh I n ever lit u p a c ig ar a nd lo oked d ow n m y n o se , I s o on g o t th e h ang o f b ein g th e b oss.
M y fir s t s h o w dow n h ap pened w it h a b ig , b urly b arte nd er. I n o rd er to in cre ase s a le s, I h ad c o m e u p w it h th e id ea o f b uyin g a b ab y g ra nd p ia no fo r
th e d in in g r o om , s o th at w e c o uld h ave e nte rta in m ent d urin g d in ner a nd a ls o b uild a la te n ig ht c ro w d. A fte r d in ner w hen th e d in in g r o om c lo se d , th e
bar w as a lw ays p ack ed to th e g ills , a nd I s a w th e e m pty d in in g ro om a s a m is se d o pportu nit y . A t fir s t, th e b arte nd ers d id n’t s e e it th at w ay,
th in k in g th at m y p la n to e xte nd th e d in in g h o urs w ould ta k e b usin ess a w ay fr o m th e b ar. W hen th e b ig , b urly b arte nd er r e fu se d to m ak e d rin k s fo r
th e w ait r e ss w ork in g th e n ew la te s h if t in th e d in in g r o om , I r e aliz e d I h ad to fir e h im . I th in k I w as m ore s u rp ris e d th an h e w as w hen I s a id , “ G et
out! ”
T he n ext b ig c hange fo r th e b arte nd ers c am e w hen I p ro m ote d th e o nly fe m ale , C ath erin e A ustin F it ts , to b e b ar m anager. I t w asn ’t b ecause s h e
w as fe m ale , b ut b ecause I s a w h er a s b ein g th e m ost c ap ab le p ers o n fo r th e jo b. T he b arte nd ers s o on c am e a ro und w hen s h e im ple m ente d s o m e
gre at n ew id eas a nd w e d evelo ped a ro ck in g la te n ig ht b usin ess th at to ta lly fille d th e d in in g ro om a s w ell a s th e b ar, d ra m atic ally in cre asin g th eir
tip s. ( S om e th ir ty y ears la te r, a fte r C ath erin e h ad s ta rte d h er o w n c o m pany, S ola ri, to g uid e fin ancia l in vestm ents , o ur p ath s c ro sse d a gain a ro und
our s h are d in te re st in s m all b usin ess a nd b uild in g c o m munit y w ealt h .)
I b egan to d evelo p a m anagem ent s ty le I fe lt c o m fo rta b le w it h , w hic h I c am e to d esc rib e a s a b ala nce b etw een fr e ed om a nd s tr u ctu re , in d iv id ualit y
and c o nfo rm it y , sp onta neit y a nd d is c ip lin e. I w ante d to c re ate a w ork pla ce th at p ro vid ed e m plo yees th e m axim um a m ount o f fr e ed om to b e
th em se lv es w it h in a c le ar fr a m ew ork o f p olic ie s a nd jo b r e sp onsib ilit ie s.
T hat’s h o w m y m oth er r a is e d h er th re e c hild re n, a nd h o w s h e r a n h er th ir d g ra d e c la ss, w hic h w as th e n o is ie st in I n go m ar E le m enta ry S cho ol— a
kin d o f c o ntr o lle d c hao s, w here le arn in g c o uld th riv e. I la te r r a is e d m y k id s th e s a m e w ay, a nd th at’s e ven h o w I h ave a lw ays tr e ate d m y d ogs—
m axim um fr e ed om w it h in th e c o nfin es o f w hat’s s a fe a nd s u it a b le . ( W ell, m ayb e n o t s u it a b le b y e very o ne’s s ta nd ard s.) M ost im porta ntly , it ’s th e
philo so phy b y w hic h I tr y to m anage m y o w n lif e — a b ala nce o f fr e ed om to b e m yse lf w it h e no ugh s e lf - d is c ip lin e a nd ju st e no ugh c o nfo rm it y to
su cceed in s o cie ty .
M y fir s t le sso n in b ala ncin g fr e ed om a nd c o nfo rm it y c am e in k in d erg arte n. O n th e o penin g d ay o f s c ho ol, I w as y elle d a t, v ery lo ud ly , fo r e atin g m y
co okie a nd m ilk b efo re g ra ce w as s a id . I w as h um ilia te d b y th is tr e atm ent a nd u nhap py a b out g o in g to s c ho ol, s o th e s e co nd d ay, w hen M om
dro pped m e o ff, I s n uck a w ay a nd h id u p o n th e h ill b ehin d th e s c ho ol b uild in g. I a m use d m yse lf b y d ig gin g u p w orm s a nd d ra p in g th em g ently
over th e b ra nches o f a s m all tr e e I w as h id in g b ehin d to s e e w hic h c o uld w ig gle o ff fir s t, b ut fin ally I g o t b ore d a nd w ante d to s e e w hat th e o th er
kid s w ere d oin g. I c re p t u p to th e w in d ow a nd p eek ed in to fin d th ey w ere p la yin g m usic al c hair s — my fa vo rit e g am e— so I ra n in to jo in th e
gro up . T hat w as m y fir s t e xp erie nce o f g iv in g u p fr e ed om fo r s o cia liz a tio n, p la yin g b y th e r u le s s o I c o uld g ain th e jo y o f c o m munit y . A nd m ayb e it
w as th en I b ecam e d ete rm in ed to s o m ed ay h ave a c are er th at a llo w ed m e to e at w henever I w ante d .
N ow I w as a p ply in g th is th eo ry o f b ala ncin g fr e ed om w it h c o nstr a in t to th e re sta ura nt b usin ess. I h ad b een in re sta ura nts th at e xem plif ie d e ach extr e m e— to o m uch co nfo rm it y and str u ctu re , w hic h in hib it s in d iv id ualit y and cre ate s a stif f, b orin g atm osp here ; o r to o m uch fr e ed om and
in d iv id ualit y , w here th in gs g et o ut o f c o ntr o l a nd y o u w ond er if y o u w ill e ver g et y o ur fo od. L a T erra sse w as a b it th at w ay w hen I fir s t a rriv ed . I
re m em ber a tim e a s a w ait r e ss w hen I s a t o n a c usto m er’s la p a nd d ra nk h is g in a nd to nic ! T ho ugh r id in g th at e d ge b etw een c o ntr o l a nd fr e ed om
w as n o t th e e asie st w ay to m anage a b usin ess, fo r m e it w as th e
only w ay
to m anage.
Y ears la te r, I w as in tr ig ued to fin d th at th is c o ncep t e xis ts in n atu re , w hic h is lik ely w hy it c am e in tu it iv ely to m e. S is te r M ir ia m M acG illis , th e
fo und er a nd d ir e cto r o f G enesis F arm , a n E arth lit e ra cy c ente r in N ew J e rs e y, in tr o duced m e to th e w ork o f T ho m as B erry , th e C ath o lic p rie st
w ho d esc rib ed h im se lf a s a n “ E arth s c ho la r.” L is te nin g to th e ta p es o f h is ta lk s a t G enesis F arm , I d is c o vere d th at, a cco rd in g to B erry , th e te nsio n
betw een fr e ed om a nd c o nstr a in t is , in fa ct, a n atu ra l p heno m eno n. B erry p oin ts o ut th at E arth w as c re ate d b y th e p erfe ct b ala nce b etw een th e
energ ie s w it h in th e E arth p ush in g o ut a nd th e c o nstr a in t im pose d b y g ra vit y th at c o nta in s th at e nerg y h o ld in g it a ll to geth er. A d egre e o f d if fe re nce
one w ay o r th e o th er w ould e it h er c o lla p se o r e xp lo de E arth . T hat p erfe ct te nsio n is p erp etu ate d in to in fin it y , a nd it is a t th at p oin t o f te nsio n w here
cre ativ it y th riv es a nd w e e njo y lif e o n E arth .
T hat is ju st w here I w ant to liv e m y o w n lif e — at th at p erfe ct p oin t o f te nsio n b etw een fr e ed om a nd c o nstr a in t w here c re ativ it y lie s. A nd I b elie ve
th at is th e s a m e p oin t a t w hic h a b usin ess th riv es. O ddly e no ugh, I d is c o vere d m any y ears la te r th at a no th er h ero o f m in e, E . F . S chum acher,
auth o r o f
Sm all I s B ea utif u l
, h ad a s im ila r o utlo ok w hen h e s a id “ a ny o rg aniz a tio n h as to s tr iv e c o ntin uo usly fo r th e o rd erlin ess o f o rd er a nd th e
dis o rd erlin ess o f c re ativ e fr e ed om .”
T o e xp la in m y e vo lv in g m anagem ent p hilo so phy to m y s ta ff, I w ro te th e
In tr o ductio n t o L a T erra sse f o r N ew S ta ff
, w hic h c o nta in ed a ll th e r u le s
and re gula tio ns I w as im ple m entin g as w ell as enco ura gem ent to b e auth entic ally o ne’s se lf and to p artic ip ate in m ak in g su ggestio ns fo r
im pro vem ents in s y ste m s a nd r u le s. I w ro te a th o ro ugh jo b d esc rip tio n fo r w ait r e ssin g th at e ven h ad a ta b le o f c o nte nts a nd a n in d ex, a s I h ad d one
w it h th e
Whole C it y C ata lo g
, a nd it w as ju st a b out a s th ic k . M y o nce-e m pty d esk w as s o on b ulg in g w it h jo b d esc rip tio ns I w ro te fo r e very
posit io n a s I le arn ed th em , a lo ng w it h fo rm s I d esig ned fo r ta k in g r e se rv atio ns, k eep in g in vento ry a nd o rd erin g s u p plie s, s e atin g c harts I d re w fo r
each d in in g r o om , c harts tr a ck in g c o sts in e ach d ep artm ent, a nd s a le s in e ach c ate go ry a t v ario us tim es o f th e d ay— all th is b efo re c o m pute rs .
I w as s o h ap py to s e e th e re su lt s o f m y h ard w ork : T he s a le s th at h ad b een s ta gnant fo r y ears w ere c lim bin g, a nd c o sts w ere c o m in g in to lin e.
M ost o f a ll, I w as p ro ud th at th e p ro fit s I e arn ed w ere u se d to d efe nd o ur b lo ck .
M eanw hile , e ffo rts o n th e S anso m C om mit te e to ok a b ig ju m p fr o m la w su it s to s tr e et c o m bat. W hile th e r o w w here I liv ed o n S anso m S tr e et w as
still o ccup ie d , th e re sid ents a nd s to re fr o nt b usin esse s b ehin d u s o n th e s o uth h alf o f o ur b lo ck , th e 3 400 b lo ck o f W aln ut S tr e et, h ad ju st b een
evic te d . W ors e w as to c o m e.
E arly o ne m orn in g, I h eard a r u m blin g fr o m b ehin d m y r o w h o use h o m e. R unnin g to th e r e ar w in d ow , o pen to c atc h th e s u m mer m orn in g b re eze , I
stu ck m y h ead o ut to d is c o ver a b ulld oze r g rin d in g it s w ay u p th e b ack a lle y. I w atc hed in h o rro r a s it b egan r a m min g in to th e r e ar o f a h o use in th e
ro w b ehin d m in e. B ric k s b egan to to pple , a nd a c lo ud o f d ust p artia lly h id th e g ap in g h o le in th e w all. T he d evelo pers w ere m ak in g th eir m ove to
cle ar th e la nd . M cD onald ’s a nd D unk in ’ D onuts w ere a t th e d oor.
I fle w d ow n th e s ta ir s a nd u p th e s tr e et to L a T erra sse . B urs tin g in to th e k it c hen, I y elle d o ut to E llio t, w ho h ap pened to b e d ow n fr o m B osto n a nd
w as r e p air in g a s to ve, to c all o ur la w yer a s I r a ced to th e b ack a lle y. R ound in g th e c o rn er, I s a w th e b ulld oze r p re p arin g to r a m a no th er h o le , th is
tim e in th e b ack o f a b uild in g th at, u ntil th e re cent e vic tio n, h ad h o use d a lo cally o w ned m en’s c lo th in g s to re . I ra n d ow n th e a lle y y ellin g a nd
w avin g m y a rm s a nd w it h o ut a s e co nd th o ught la y d ow n in fr o nt o f th e r o arin g b ulld oze r, b lo ck in g it s a tta ck .
F ortu nate ly , th e d riv er s to pped a nd c alle d it a d ay. H ow c o uld h e n o t w hen a tw enty -so m eth in g b lo nd e in c uto ff je ans a nd T -sh ir t la y in h is p ath ?
Turn s o ut h e h ad a cco m plis h ed a la rg e p art o f h is a ssig nm ent. T he d evelo per’s s tr a te gy, it s o on b ecam e c le ar, w as to ir re p ara b ly d am age th e b ack
of e ach b uild in g o n th e r o w b efo re o ur c o m munit y g ro up c o uld file fo r a r e str a in in g o rd er. F or th e m om ent, I h ad m anaged to h alt th e d evelo per’s
ad vance, a nd w e b egan th e lo ng p ro cess o f le gal a p peals to s a ve o ur b lo ck .
Tia nanm en S quare it w as n o t. B ut, e ventu ally , I c am e to u nd ers ta nd th at m y a ct o f c iv il d is o bed ie nce in o ur c o m munit y ’s s tr u ggle to p ro te ct o ur
ho m es a nd s m all b usin esse s fr o m th e o nsla ught o f c hain s to re s w as a ls o a fig ht fo r d em ocra cy, a nd a n a ct fo r p eace a s w ell.
O ur la w yer s u cceed ed in g ettin g a r e str a in in g o rd er to h o ld o ff d em olit io n w hile h e file d o ur a p peal. W e e nd ed u p a p pealin g a ll th e w ay to th e U S
S up re m e C ourt. W hen, a b out a y ear la te r, th e h ig hest c o urt r e je cte d h earin g o ur c ase , w e lo st th e fig ht to s a ve th e W aln ut S tr e et h alf o f o ur b lo ck ,
w hic h w as d em olis h ed to m ak e w ay fo r o ur fu tu re n eig hb ors — Cin nab on, C VS, D unk in ’ D onuts , a nd th e G ap . B ut th e S anso m S tr e et h alf o f th e
blo ck w as s till o urs , a nd w e c o ntin ued to fig ht o n.
E llio t r e m ain ed w ra p ped u p in g ra d uate s tu d ie s, a nd w hen h e w as in to w n h e s p ent h is tim e m eetin g w it h la w yers a nd h o ld in g S anso m C om mit te e
m eetin gs. S in ce th e b usin ess w as im pro vin g, a nd I w as e njo yin g m y jo b, h e h ad n o r e aso n to h ir e s o m eo ne e ls e a nd g ave m e th e fr e ed om to d o
th in gs m y w ay— th o ugh n o t u ntil a fte r I h ad p ut m y fo ot d ow n in a n e arly e xchange. W hen h e c am e b ack to P hila d elp hia fo r h is h o lid ay b re ak th e
fir s t y ear I w as in th e jo b, h e b egan to q uestio n m y p la ns fo r N ew Y ear’s E ve, a lw ays a c ru cia l n ig ht fo r a r e sta ura nt. I to ld h im th at I h ad to d o
th in gs m y w ay o r n o t a t a ll, a nd I s u rp ris e d m yse lf a t h o w s u re I w as o f th is . H e b ack ed o ff a nd g ave m e th at lu ck y b re ak to p ro ve w hat I c o uld d o
in m anagin g th e r e sta ura nt o n m y o w n.
E ven th o ugh I s u cceed ed a nd th e re sta ura nt p ro sp ere d , a ll th e w hile I m enta lly h ad o ne fo ot o ut th e d oor. W hen p eo ple a sk ed w hat I d id fo r a
liv in g, I s till o nly ta lk ed a b out S ynap se a nd m y d esir e to b uild it in to a c are er th at c o m bin ed m y in te re sts in c o m munit y b uild in g, s o cia l a ctiv is m , w rit in g, a nd d esig n. N o m atte r th at th is w as n o th in g m ore th an v o lu nte er w ork . W hy m entio n th e re sta ura nt? A t th at p oin t, I d id n’t re aliz e I’d
sp end a to ta l o f tw elv e y ears a t L a T erra sse , w it h te n o f th o se y ears a s g enera l m anager. T o m e, L a T erra sse w as s till te m pora ry .
I th o ught I w ould s o on b e fin is h ed w it h m y r e sta ura nt “ p ro je ct,” a nd th at w ould b e th at. B ut s lo w ly I b egan to s e e th at m anagin g a b usin ess w as a
never- e nd in g p ro cess, a nd th ere w ould n o t b e a tim e w hen, lik e p ub lis h in g, I w ould s a y to m yse lf “ I’v e fin ally g o t it ju st a s I w ant it : I ’m fin is h ed .”
E ven s o , I c o uld n o t im agin e th at I w ould c o ntin ue a c are er in b usin ess, b ecause I h ad a lw ays w ante d to d o s o m eth in g to m ak e th e w orld a b ette r
pla ce, a nd I s till c o uld n o t e nvis io n a c are er in b usin ess a s a w ay to d o th at.
B ut o ne n ig ht th at c hanged . I w as ta lk in g a t th e b ar w it h a c usto m er a b out m y p are nts ’ a ge, a n e ccentr ic c hara cte r n am ed Is a ac w ho c am e in
alm ost e very n ig ht, p artly b ecause a fte r th e r e sta ura nt c lo se d a nd th e o th er c usto m ers w ere g o ne, I le t h im p la y o ur b ab y g ra nd p ia no . T he b la ck
sh eep o f a d is tin guis h ed P hila d elp hia fa m ily , Is a ac w as v ery in te llig ent a nd h ad g o ne to P rin ceto n, b ut h ad a fe w s tr a nge h ab it s s u ch a s n ever
changin g h is c lo th es. H e d id ta k e a d aily s h o w er a t th e b oard in g h o use w here h e liv ed , b ut th en h e’d p ut o n d ir ty c lo th es, w hic h h e ro ta te d b ut
never w ash ed . I d on’t th in k h e b ru sh ed h is te eth e it h er. I o nce m ad e a n a p poin tm ent fo r h im to v is it th e d entis t, a nd w hen I a rriv ed to p ic k h im u p ,
he w ould n’t c o m e o ut o f h is r o om . A fte r m uch c o axin g, h e o pened th e d oor a nd s to od th ere w it h h is e yes c lo se d . I h ad to le ad h im b y th e h and to
th e d entis t’ s o ffic e w here h e fin ally o pened h is e yes a nd h is m outh fo r a s w eet s o und in g d enta l a ssis ta nt.
Is a ac a p peare d in th e b ar m ost n ig hts a ro und m id nig ht a nd e njo yed g ettin g in to c o nvers a tio ns w it h g ra d uate s c ho ol s tu d ents w hile h e d ra nk b eer,
sm oked C am el c ig are tte s, a nd in cessa ntly d ru m med h is fig ure s o n th e b ar, g lid in g th em b ack a nd fo rth a s th o ugh p la yin g th e p ia no . O ne c o uld n’t
help b ut n o tic e th at Is a ac h ad a m is sin g fin ger, w hic h h e s a id w as lo st in a n a ccid ent. T he lo ss p re vente d h im fr o m b eco m in g a c o ncert p ia nis t,
th o ugh h e h in te d th at it w as se lf - in flic te d . Is a ac fa sc in ate d m e, a nd w e b ecam e fr ie nd s, so I c o nfid ed in h im a b out m y a m biv ale nce to w ard
busin ess. “ It’ s ju st a b out m oney,” I c o m pla in ed o ver a s c o tc h o ne n ig ht. “ H ow c an th is w ork h ave r e al m eanin g in m y lif e ?”
“O h, m y d ear,” I s a ac r e p lie d , “ it ’s n o t lik e th at a t a ll, n o t in th e w ay y o u r u n th e b usin ess. W hen a c o in p asse s fr o m o ne h and to th e n ext, it ’s n o t
th e c o in th at c o unts , b ut th e w arm th o f th e h and .” T his m ay h ave b een a c o rn y s a yin g, b ut it w oke m e u p to s o m eth in g th at w ould g uid e m y c are er
fr o m th en o n— th at b usin ess is n o t a b out m oney, it ’ s a b out r e la tio nsh ip s.
T his s im ple c o ncep t d ra m atic ally c hanged m y v ie w o f b usin ess. M y u ncerta in ty a b out m y a ccid enta l c are er b egan to e vap ora te , a nd I tu rn ed to m y
jo b w it h r e new ed e nerg y. A bout th at tim e, I w as o ffe re d a jo b w ork in g a s a n a rtis t d esig nin g a nd p ain tin g w all m ura ls , a nd I w avere d a b it b efo re
re aliz in g th at th e re sta ura nt b usin ess w as it s e lf a n a rt fo rm fo r m e. I w as a
busin ess a rtis t
. I fin ally a ccep te d th e fa ct th at I lo ved th e re sta ura nt
busin ess, a nd lo oked a t m y p osit io n a t L a T erra sse a s m ore th an a te m pora ry jo b.
M ore im porta ntly , I b egan to re aliz e ju st h o w m uch I re ally c are d a b out th e sta ff a nd th e c usto m ers — so m e b ecam e m y b est fr ie nd s— and I
re aliz e d th at I h ad c re ate d a w ond erfu l w ork pla ce a nd a w arm a nd e xcit in g p la ce fo r c usto m ers to g ath er fo r c o nsis te ntly g o od fo od a nd s e rv ic e. I
had fir e d th e “ B and -A id c hef ” fr o m th e k it c hen, a nd a fte r o ne fa ls e s ta rt w it h a no th er c hef w ho tu rn ed o ut to h ave a n a lc o ho l p ro ble m a nd k ep t a
fr e eze r fu ll o f c arro ts h e h ad c arv ed in to p enis e s to s h o w o ff to th e s a le sm en, I w as lu ck y to fin d a ta le nte d a nd c ap ab le p ers o n to ta k e o ver th e
kit c hen in 1 976. K am ol P utle k b le nd ed c la ssic F re nch c o okin g w it h a s p la sh o f th e c uis in e o f h is n ativ e T haila nd , a nd th is d elic io us fo od, lik e s e a
bass P ro vençal a nd T hai n o odle s a la d , s o c o nsis te ntly a nd th o ughtfu lly p re p are d , fin ally p ut L a T erra sse o n th e m ap a s a fo od d estin atio n.
In th e b egin nin g, I w as o fte n to o a tta ched to m y e m plo yees. I r e m em ber th e d ay a fa vo rit e w ait e r, D ean, le ft to g o b ack h o m e to T exas. I w as in
te ars to s e e h im g o . It w as s o m eth in g I h ad to g et u se d to — th e c o m in g a nd g o in g o f e m plo yees in th e re sta ura nt b usin ess, n o to rio us fo r h ig h
tu rn o ver. I c o nso le d m yse lf b y r e co gniz in g th at e ach tim e s o m eo ne le ft, I h ad th e o pportu nit y to g et to k no w a n ew p ers o n, a nd I b egan to s e e th at
as a b enefit o f th e b usin ess. F or m any y ears a fte r h e le ft, D ean c alle d m e fr o m T exas o n H allo w een to s e e w hat c o stu m e I w as w earin g th at y ear,
w hic h w as a lw ays s o m e s o rt o f a nim al – p ig , c o w , s k unk , r a cco on, a nd , o f c o urs e , d og.
In tim e, I le arn ed n o t to b eco m e s o a tta ched , b ut a lw ays to c are . I to ok lo ts o f p ho to gra p hs o f e very e m plo yee th at w ork ed fo r m e a nd a rra nged
th e p ho to s in a lb um s s o th at I w ould a lw ays r e m em ber e ach p ers o n. I r e co gniz e d e very b ir th d ay a nd , w hen th e o ccasio n a ro se , th re w e ngagem ent
partie s a nd b ab y sh o w ers . T he fir s t n ew p are nt a m ong m y e m plo yees w as a b lo nd -h air e d y o ung m an n am ed T om S le nza te w ho m I h ir e d a s
pro perty m anager to k eep o n to p o f c le anin g a nd r e p air s — because I k new th at w as o ne th in g th at E llio t w ould b e e xam in in g w it h h is m agnif y in g
gla ss! T om s e em ed s o w et b ehin d th e e ars th at it w as a b ig s u rp ris e w hen h e b ro ught in h is w if e a nd n ew born b ab y g ir l to m eet e very o ne. I to ok
pho to s o f T om w it h h is b ab y fo r m y a lb um . T ra gic ally , a fe w y ears la te r, T om p asse d a w ay. H e w as th e fir s t p ers o n I k new to d ie fr o m A ID S.
I e njo yed d is c o verin g u nd eru tiliz e d ta le nt a nd p ro m otin g e m plo yees in to p osit io ns w here th ey c o uld s h in e. I h ad m oved th e p ia no fr o m th e b ar to
th e d in in g ro om a nd h ir e d c la ssic al p ia nis ts to p la y d urin g d in ner a nd ja zz p erfo rm ers to d ra w a la te n ig ht b usin ess. I n o tic ed th at o ne c la ssic al
pia nis t, P asq uale I o cca, w ho se C ho pin w as h eavenly , a ls o h ad a n a p tit u d e fo r fin e w in es. I s o ught h is o pin io n a s I s tr u ggle d to b uild o ur w in e lis t
and e ventu ally a sk ed h im to b e D ir e cto r o f W in e a nd M usic , a p osit io n I c re ate d ju st fo r h im . T hat b egan a p ra ctic e I u se d a gain o ver th e y ears fo r
fillin g m anagem ent p osit io ns: h ir e a ta le nte d p ers o n a nd d esig n th e jo b a ro und th at in d iv id ual’ s s tr e ngth s a nd in te re sts , r a th er th an d efin e th e p osit io n
fir s t a nd fin d s o m eo ne to fill it .
P asq uale te nd ed to b e a q uie t p ers o n w it h o ut a b ig s o cia l lif e , a nd I o fte n d ra gged h im o ff o n a d ventu re s. O nce d ow n a t th e s h o re in C ap e M ay
P oin t, N ew J e rs e y, I b ro ught fiv e o r s ix g ia nt b lo w -u p p la stic a nim al- sh ap ed flo ats fo r rid in g th e w aves. P asq uale h ad a p urp le h ip popota m us, I
to ok th e tu rtle , a no th er fr ie nd to ok a g ir a ffe , a nd s o o n, a nd w e s e t o ut to s e a. S om eho w P asq uale d rif te d a ro und th e je tty a nd o ut o f s ig ht. W hen I
no tic ed h e w as m is sin g, I w ent to s h o re a nd r a n d ow n th e b each p ast th e je tty to lo ok fo r h im . T here I c aught q uit e a s ig ht. A g ro up o f n uns fr o m
th e n earb y c o nvent h ad fo rm ed a h um an c hain to re sc ue P asq uale a nd h is p urp le h ip po w ho w ere b ein g