#safertogether

[Photo: Stephen Brashear/AP Images for the Banfield Foundation]

“Naomi and I are honored to partner with @BanfieldFoundation on a very important PSA to help drive awareness that sadly in homes where domestic violence occurs, pets are often victims too. The foundation’s #SaferTogether program provides grants to nonprofit organizations, as they increase their capacity to help people and pets find safety together. Stay tuned for our PSA, airing this fall. Visit www.BanfieldFoundation.org/SaferTogether to learn more. #ad #behindthescenes” [via  dangerusswilson]

EST. 9.21.2013 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Mr.& Mrs. Stafford #celebratingtogether #safertogether . . . . #pandemicanniversary #bride #groom #engaged #beachwedding #ultimate #wedding #ido #married #mrandmrs #weddings #weddingdj #weddingday #weddingfun #eventproduction https://www.instagram.com/p/CFaW-hJjnTE/?igshid=1wt0wa8dr637b

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Candice & Humberto #celebratingtogether #safertogether . . . . #pandemicanniversary #bride #groom #engaged #mountainmeadowsgolfcourse #ultimate #wedding #ido #married #mrandmrs #mountainmeadowswedding mountainMeadowsreception #weddings #weddingdj #weddingday #weddingfun #eventproduction https://www.instagram.com/p/CFXLbYHjNYM/?igshid=8kuvd7m3mryp

: a scene from biking this morn: 1) an older man wishing every kid on an open-windowed school bus at a red light a good day, individually, and shouting, "Learn something! Be somebody!" as the light turned green. 2) three little boys on that bus pressing their faces against the back window and waving at me and me waving back carefully, fervently, because my balance is terrible as the bus turned right on Penn Ave. I have been thinking a lot lately about neighborhoods and how from as early as age 5 I was told that some neighborhoods are good and others bad so avoid them.  I am mad about that now. Maybe it was for safety's sake but shouldn't safety be everyone's concern? And the more people who are out and about, looking out for one another, doesn't that make a place safer? So anytime anyone perpetuates the idea of a neighborhood being dangerous and to avoid it, doesn't it just become more dangerous? Sure, crime statistics. What about all the other hours of a day when a place is peaceful? I know I have a vagina and shouldn't be lollygagging in any neighborhood late at night much less a 'bad' one during the day because I should probably be afraid at all times of men and guns and getting the twelve dollars in my purse forcibly taken from me.  I'm tired of being afraid though. I just wanna go everywhere, in good neighborhoods and ones I have heard are 'bad' and say hello to anyone making eye contact, and witness really lovely scenes like the one described above.  And then I start thinking about cars, and how nice they are for when you wanna buy a whole watermelon at the grocery store and pick up free stuff off Craig's List, or visit your mom and dad 140 miles away, or show up places on time and not sweaty, but they keep you in little climate-controlled compartments (if you're lucky enough to have a/c, woof!) that go very fast and completely remove you of the pleasures (and sometimes discomfort) of experiencing a neighborhood.  So, less fear, more walking, biking, being in places physically? Okay.