Orly’s Table 6
I believe it is that 26th of November. I’m pretty sure that the 30th is on Tuesday, since that’s when I have my call with Richard, my pro-bono creativity coach who offered his services after we messaged back and forth on Instagram. He’s an older gentleman of at least his mid-sixties and he’s a coach in training, which means he needs to do some volunteer coaching and I happened into his way. I haven’t told him about the listening table yet, and I’m eager to tell him how good it has been. I feel like this overshadows the rest of my work. We all need to feed the beasts in our lives. Now, I have chosen a spot in the Palisades in The Village Green.
I’m facing Erewhon and Lululemon. There are two main differences between this spot and any other spot I’ve chosen so far. One, I’m not on a path. I’m off the sidewalk, across from a busy area. Two, I started at 3pm instead of the so far traditional 1pm. Ultimately, I don’t like this placement, it’s central, but there must be a better spot. I could face the Starbucks, which will make it easier for people to approach me. Or I can go across the street to the Palisades Grove, where I’m doubtful they’d let me set up. These, and remain here, are my options. People, myself included, don’t like doing things they don’t have to and moving at all is something I don’t have to do, so I’ll stay. I’ll pay attention here for a little longer. I’ve got some reading to do.
I have low expectations for this spot.
Aryssa: It’s 4:07pm now and I have yet again had a successful encounter. Aryssa, a young woman in her later teens shared with me about her general life. She recently graduated high school and was working at a café and at the farmers’ market (where she just came from). She spoke about relationship issues at length. To boil it down, she wants more from her boyfriend and is displeased with the power imbalance. She feels like he has more power, so she needs to raise her standing before making requests. She can’t disapprove of his habits unless she’s got her stuff together, she believes. So she asks me for advice and I point to my new sign that says ‘No Judgment, No advice, no charge.” She presses me anyways, and I relent, giving some cliché, follow your heart-type answer. Something I’d probably pulled from my friend and dating coach Ilana’s social media page. Aryssa and I both agree that this was not a good piece of advice as I delivered it. I appreciated that feedback, and it gives me confidence that the no advice sign is a good idea. Next time, I will be firmer about my no advice stance.
Geneva: A power walking retired woman stops by and is wowed by the listening table. She gives me some pointers about getting an ad in the newspaper. She says that she’s willing to help me get set up in a senior living community, which I express interest in. She gives me her phone number and says she’ll help me “keep this rolling” as long as she doesn’t have to contribute any money. Networking and ideas, she can offer me. Says that I should ask the newspaper for complimentary ad space. Says I should find a connection to a children’s hospital, too. These suggestions are tolerable, but also feel like they’re coming from a place of enthusiasm more than a place of utility. I feel like there is a lot going on and I want to harness it. (I end up connecting with her a few times on the phone but nothing comes of it.) Being able to do this and connect and roll with it, as Geneva says.
Back to Aryssa: we agreed I’m bad at giving advice, so I asked what she wanted to do or what she would have wanted to hear and she gives herself the advice she needed. Go figure. We chat for a little longer about good things to do in this neighborhood and briefly about religion, and then she leaves.
Anthony: This man saw me from across the street and made a beeline my way. He says he wrote a movie and has a pitch coming up, and he’d like to practice his pitch. He doesn’t know that I spend four days a week working as a Hollywood professional who specifically crafts pitches for TV shows and I don’t feel like it’s necessary to tell him. More fun for me, no harm for him. He explains what a pitch is and I say I’m ready to hear it. It’s a drama about a mixed bag of high school stereotypes who are trapped in a room together during an earthquake at prom. Anthony’s energy is bright and energetic. He asked for my insight and I gave it to him. He thanked me and left.
A man in a car pulls up and lowers his window. He says that he dreamed of this and he’s glad to see this. He says there’s a lot of goodness here. Alas, it is now cold and growing dark. Seems like there are no discernable disadvantages to this location or later time slot. Good to know.
The next day: I wake up and check my Instagram. I’ve been posting pictures of the listening table with captions explaining a bit of what I’ve learned. I see a comment from a man who says that he is going to do a listening table in his city next week. I can’t wait to see a picture of it. I am so moved. People are feeling it. (I never saw the picture.)