The plant and book giveaway on May 30 started as a Christmas present of grow lights and ended as a fun event that attracted 29 adults and six kids who’d been starved for human interaction in the COVID era.

Rev. Eric bought the grow lights for Ellen, who dug into nine years’ worth of saved seeds, started way too many tomatoes, realized there was no chance she could transplant 80-90 tomato plants on the Severson property but, hey, everyone needs tomato plants, right?

The idea, like the seedlings, grew.

Several UUs were starting seeds and opted to start some more. Others decided it was a good time to divide crowded plants in their yards. Still others thought it would be nice to share books, too, because not everyone has a place to plant veggies but everybody loves free books…

For an hour on Sunday afternoon, May 30, people caught up with each other in the UUFoM parking lot. Kids played. Ellen, surprising no one, acquired two new tomato varieties. People kept mentioning “next year.” Some people started talking about arranging regular “parking lot parties” this summer.

The best part may have been that, given the CDC’s relaxation of guidelines for wearing masks during outdoor events, most of us could see all those smiles!

Thanks to the people who donated, helped, just attended or (especially) brought a relative or friend. Clearly a bunch of us have been lonesome. If you have an idea for getting together on the fellowship grounds, contact Wendy to figure out an open date.