Creativity, Community and Kindness

Unknown: 00:00:00

No sleep. Let it sweep you off your feet.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:00:13

Hi, you're listening to find your joy. If you're looking for ways to thrive rather than survive in a world that can seem rather chaotic, you're in the right place. We will be sharing stories of our own, as well as those from guests who have found ways to bring hope, healing and freedom into places where trauma has impacted them. I'm Ali, author of the art of healing trauma. And I'm here to remind you that life is sweet. Now, let's dive in and find ways to create our joy. Hi, this is Ali and find your joy. And oh my goodness, aren't we going to have fun? We are having part two with the diva in the dirt herself. Ms. Maureen Washington. Welcome back Marine.

Maureen Washington: 00:00:59

Thanks for having me.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:01:01

Oh, my gosh, I'm, you know, I have so many things. I thought, Oh, this this could take me weeks. So because I was thinking of all the things I wanted to talk to you about.

Maureen Washington: 00:01:11

Three, then from you, I'd

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:01:15

be I would do it. So one of the things that is not really diva in the dervish, and maybe it is I'm not sure. But when, when we probably did it before, but around the time with isolation, and it was awesome that your kids were able to come and be with you during that time. But you guys started doing some really fun videos. Yeah, like, videos. Pre I'm gonna say these were pre gardening videos. Yeah, one that is coming to my mind. And I'm like, Hey, I have a brand, right. And I remember this, and it was three years ago. That's how much it impacted me, it was so lovely. And the punch line of it somehow, I'll just call it that was it, they ended up down at the end of the driveway at a little like a little bistro type table. And there was wine and stuff. I don't remember what music was on there. I know, there was music involved. I know that there was some it looked like the editing was just a blast to do because people were popping up here and there and everywhere. And so I mean, other than that you are a very large creative family. And you probably just can't do anything else. But be that. What as far down, like, how did tell me how that started?

Maureen Washington: 00:02:30

So that was that was part of fancy, fabulous Fridays, right? Yes. And that and the music for that was was Billy Joel. And we did so we had clips from Billy Joel. And it just turned out that you could really tell a story of it. But where fancy fabulous Fridays came was. And I do like I feel a little bit emotional when I think about it. Because I had a friend in my former town and you know, her depression was just overwhelming. She's also got some health issues. And, and, and she's a beautiful, beautiful soul. Her name is Jessie. And and I just saw a post a post where she just said, yeah, here I am, again, wearing my yoga pants, you know, and you know, why bother even getting dressed, you know, like the the impact was so heavy. And then this. I think it was like three o'clock in the morning, I woke up and it was like, we should have a day of dress up. We should have a day of dress up. That's what we should do. We could do it on Fridays. It could be fancy, fabulous Fridays. And so in that I was I was wanting to have a group where to encourage them to get dressed up, make a nice meal photograph that posted onto the page so that you have something to something to look forward to. You know, because we're then we're all sharing what we ate and how dressed up we were for the you know, for that day. And you know, and no, we took it seriously like we well, as a family when we have family dinner, we always sit around the table but you know, tablecloth would come out nice, the you know, the nice cutlery, the nice dishes like it was and we would make good food that day as a family. And so, you know, I have a I have a I had a plethora of gowns. So it was like, I could down myself up and in whatever the theme was, and so and so I had made that made that first post and invited her in and then the thing is that, you know, she just she just went crazy and put on her old wedding gown and started doing things throughout the house of Claire.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:04:52

Remember that? Because I was I was in that little group and I was getting fabulous every Friday. I was excited about it.

Maureen Washington: 00:04:59

Yes. And so you know what it was like? So she posts that and I go, Oh my gosh, how do I top that? Like, come on, you know, she's doing housework in her wedding gown. It doesn't fit. I didn't show you that back. And so then the following week, I thought, well, I should, I should go outside and do gardening in mind. And it just so happens that I had lost enough weight that I actually could fit in my 32 year old wedding gown, and it was actually too big for me at that point. Beautiful. Yeah. So it was so and then my son, he is a photographer. And so he, you know, we lined it up and just did these different shots. And he made a little tic tock and, and so that just kind of been it became this morphing thing, I think because because I'm a creative being and I'm like, you know, as an artist, like the same with the patio. I started to decorate outside and that drew me to go sit out on my patio was like, Look at this. It's this extension of my house. So again, my creativeness it was just like, let's make a fun video, you know. And so the very first video that we did was Jailhouse Rock. And all my kidults and I, we all had, you know, strike black and white. And had my tenant at the time, you know, film us in different parts of the house. But you know, we started it, where we were walking up the driveway, as if we were being quarantined to our house, we're going to jail. And then we were all in the black and whites. And, and then I think, you know, there was a few of these videos, we didn't go very far with it. Because it was like, ah, you know, I look at that I'm old. And no, I don't have a brain injury. But my old brain doesn't always fire. And so I was looking at my kids, would you come up with a concept, and then I'll do the editing and all you know, or I'll try to do the editing, because I didn't really know how to do editing at the time. And so the Billy Joel was actually Emily. So she's kind of the star of it. And, and, and it just became this really great. A great story using different parts of Billy Joel's music, it was it was, it was one of those things just like bang, you know, was great. And so that's where that that's where fancy fabulous Fridays came in was, was to bring, you know, a community together to say we still need to take care of ourselves, we still need to eat good food, we still need to, you know, look nice. And, and to feel good about ourselves.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:07:33

Yes. Because it's exactly true. And I would I would get so excited on my Fridays. I mean, like, you know, I would be no one who wore pants or bras. I mean, it was just because No, anybody saw me, it was only here. So, you know, if I comb my hair and put a little lip gloss on, I figured I was doing all right. But the the fancy, fabulous fancy Fridays was exciting. And then I was like telling other people to do it. And then we would, you know, we would try to, you know, would send be sending each other pictures and, and things like that. And it was it was another thing that just like you said it was building community, and in a time when it was really challenging. And I think that one of the things that, that I see that you do a lot is and and maybe, you know, I don't know how large your family of origin is certainly your family that you have now is with, with your kids, but you you're a community builder, right. You're, you're that's, you know, probably one of your gifts is that you naturally, people naturally feel comfortable with you. People naturally are drawn to you. And, and so that's a lovely thing, because then they're going to look at that, you know, like your friend Jesse who wasn't doing so well. Like, you know, 99.99% of people on the planet, not calling you Oh, Jesse. It was a rough time for many, many people. Yeah. And but the things that you did, and that that you share them. See, that's the that's the other part. So you did these wonderful things that made life okay for you guys. Yes. Then you shared them. Yeah. And then that made life way better. For a whole bunch of us. Yes. And, and that's, that is a truly remarkable gift to have. And I don't think my guess is I you know, I don't know, my my guess is that you didn't think I'm going to do this thing that's going to you know, I'm going to create this fabulous Friday and it's going to inspire people to put a bra on and brush their teeth. You know, I'm going to I'm going to do you are you you're just you're just marvelously you. And it's contagious.

Maureen Washington: 00:09:53

Oh, thank you. Yeah, for you know, fancy families Fridays was because I saw one person hurting I wanted to help one person. And so that's what that is. And I am a strong like, even myself as a musician, you know, you can feel competition, like when there's other singers or other musicians around, there's a competitive thing that goes on. And if I feel it, you know, if you ever see me on stage with a lot of people, and you see me start backing up, it's because I will not compete. Because it's like, if you link your arms with me, and we all walk together, we all succeed. And it doesn't matter what you know, how well gifted you are, if we are a wall and a force, we will all move together. And that, and that is my, my stance for everything in life, I'd say, you'll never see me go. I'm the greatest And I'm this and I'm, I am, I'm the lowest and I'm the humblest, you know, of, of everybody. Because I, I prefer to see what God has created in people and see them moved forward. And so that is that's my, my bent, you know, where I, when I, when I see someone who I can see the potential in them, I will do what I can to push them forward. And you know, but the great thing is, is that, as I'm pushing them forward, guess who's walking with them right behind us. And so, so it's like, I live in a place of humility, where I just, you know, would never puff up and go, look at how great I am. Look. Well, you know, at one of my videos, I did go look at I grow grains, vegetables, you know.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:11:36

But that requires a standing ovation at times. And I think a lot of us who, wherever we come from whether whether we've been performers or whatever we've done in our younger years, we remember those feelings. Yes, right. I remember being younger, and doing things and thinking, I don't know if I'm being noticed, as I should be. I remember those. And hopefully, as we mature in our gift, as we mature in our life, that same thing, like it's like, I can't help but see beautiful things and other people. And I know I get it. God created me to be that way. So what what was the Oh, words? Oh, words. You're just so annoying sometimes. But the ground that needed to be tilled in that? Yes. Was that in my younger years, I could be quite judgmental. And so I needed to work that out. Because what the gift was was seeing inside people, right? So I needed to it doesn't I remember a really amazing, I can't remember who it is right now. But a prophetic type person who said once you know, don't be thinking that you're prophetically gifted, if you if you if you can point out what's wrong and another person we're humans, there's lots to see. It takes no great genius. You're you're not Moses, when you are Elijah, because you can say, I see the stuff in this person. And I think that's a little bit off. I don't know if I can trust them. Well, of course you can. You're human and they're human and, and but what for me when I started to get less insecure, more healed? Yes. Then that's the stuff that we can see. And I love that you that you say that? Because I can see that. You know, music is like this. It could be this beautiful wall of love. And, and like you said, if arms are linked, that's a beautiful way to describe that, then that's what can go out. I love that. Yeah, that's good.

Maureen Washington: 00:13:52

No, no charge for that one for you.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:13:55

Yeah. Thank you very much. I'll just put that right in my pocket. I can remember a friend of my two when we were we used to play in a band together and we were talking about that very thing. That the moment you the royal you the moment any of us becomes a little aware of ourselves in the middle of a song. Whether it's this is great or this sucks or whatever that thing is, but the moment it comes back to us. It's gone. Yeah. And so getting back to you with your friend. I think that probably the reason that fabulous Fridays fabulous fancy Fridays was so fabulous. I'm what now that you said that that was intended for one person that even makes more sense why it felt so full of love and care because you are pouring into someone that you loved. And we were just all the grateful recipients oh you good girl.

Maureen Washington: 00:15:00

But it's never it's never my intent. Like, that's, that's not. That's never it's never my intent. You know, it's just like, I'm just looking at one person that's hurting and so how I can help them. And you know, and that was just, you know was to me it was a God inspired idea in the middle of the night and then bang, here I am, you know, opening it up to people, but I think, you know, like, I'm a, like, I'm an I'm a introverted extrovert which, you know, I think many musicians are, you know, you go, you're your state, your front and center on the stage. There you are. But yeah, you're all you're doing, all I want to do is be in my bed in my pajamas, you know, covers up, right. And please

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:15:42

don't talk to me after I'm just trying to get home.

Maureen Washington: 00:15:46

I just gotta get my jammies on and, and, you know, and then just, you know, criticize everything I did that was wrong. But

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:15:54

looking at me

Maureen Washington: 00:15:57

to turn around, I know, you paid $30 for that ticket, by the way, look a date. But again, it's a driven thing in me. So myself as a performer, because I'm on train, you know, musician, you know, picked up things along the way in some education, I

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:16:17

just a few.

Maureen Washington: 00:16:19

But, but my first few years, like, I wouldn't call myself a musician, because I didn't have education. I was I was always worried that my band was going to find out who I was, and then they were going to get out of here, you get out of town. You don't deserve to be in this great band. that stayed with me for many, many years. But one of the things it was Carl roosting who, cuz I'm a super emotional musician. Like, like I, you know, the songs like, you know, people who's your favorite artists. It's not the artist. It's what the lyrics do to me. And I get caught up with them. And, and he and I were still new, together as bandmates. And we were flying home. And you know, and I cried, you flip them songs, and I thought, he's totally gonna go can't stand it. You know, not working with you, you big cry baby. And so, you know, I kind of like, so yeah, you know, as we're flying home, I said, Well, you know, it's kind of like, you know, man, Will she ever stop crying? He goes, No, he says, I love how deep you get into the song. And that right there released me to always go, whatever is doing, I can allow it to do that. Because it was like, Well, I don't know, the other musicians can be judging, but he didn't judge me. Yeah. And so my, my idea on stage is all about, I want you to feel something I don't look to I don't look at your face and go, are you enjoying it? Are you enjoying it? Do you think I'm doing a good job. And that again, came you know, here's another little side story was when my husband was dying. I had a gig at one of the restaurants and it was like, I'm in my cocktail dress. And I'm gonna run out the door. And I said, two hours, I'll be right back. And he said, I gotta use the bathroom. And so I get them up, put them on the commode. And one of my kidults had emptied the commode, but they didn't put it back, right. And so of course, there's pee all over my hardwood floor. So I get them, put them back up into the bed. Now I'm cleaning the floor in my gown. And then I go two hours, I'll be right back. So as I'm driving down there, I went, what the heck am I doing, I have a dying husband. And then I'm gonna go up there. And I'm gonna say name naming, you know, for all these people like I am. So it's like, and they don't even know that I've got a dinosaur, ah, and then as I'm driving, it was like, but you're going to go do your job. Because you don't know if there's someone in that room that might be in a place of respite. And you're gonna give them two hours of a break, go do your job. And that's what I did. And that's, again, shifted my thinking of my job is not to be the best singer to be the, you know, dah, dah, dah, dah. My job is if you come into my show, and you are excited, that I'm to lift you higher, if you came into my show, and you were downtrodden, or who knows what the heck is going on in your personal life. My job is just to give you two hours of just going here, it's going to be okay. So that's what I do. And that's, that's kind of my whole my whole thing in life. If I see something that like, my kids and I are all deep, empathetic people, and it's like, I'll pick the one out in the room that it's, you know, the most downtrodden. And that's the one like, you know, I gotta make a beeline for them. And, you know, I gotta lift them up a little bit. You know, not always and I'm not conscious. It's just it's Just what I, what, what you need to do. And it's like my whole, like, when I end my shows, it's always, always choose kindness. There is so much mess out there. And if each one of us just, I just want to be kind to you, I want to be kind to you. Could you imagine if everybody just did an act of kindness in one day? You know, what, what an amazing world? This would be? Amazing. Yes.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:20:26

We could start to really shift things there could there there is? No, you know, it's so funny. I sound like I'm, I'm how I'm I'm half a redneck, need a compound, gonna put a big wall around it and keep everybody safe? And the other half of me is love and rainbows and unicorns? And like, just, yeah, it can be a little bit challenging to be both committed quite fully to both those girls.

Maureen Washington: 00:20:56

So make a big compound, but I just bring you all in.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:20:58

That's right. It's like,

Maureen Washington: 00:21:00

not sure he's out there.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:21:02

Oh, I mean, I don't know if I ever totally I don't remember, because I because I don't remember. So I'm really glad that I got to meet Darryl before, you know, while he was still because he's a magnificent being. So I want to say that. And that. He that now that I'm thinking of it. The first video I saw from your family was the one he made for his sons on a shaving that was absolutely stunning. I remember when I first met him, and I remember, I hope that this is okay, I did. I remember when I first met him. And he just always went out of his way to be so kind to me. And I and I was I didn't it was before my accident, but I was still a bit scrambled in those days. And I thought why is this guy so he's just so nice. And then I started looking into him, you know, reading his Facebook style, you know, just doing all this. And then I found out that he wasn't you know, he there was an expiration date that was a little closer than we would want it to be and are way closer. And I at that moment said I I'm going to get to know this guy. And I made it my business do even just a little Facebook thinks and stuff. Because I didn't want this thing to pass. I didn't want him to come and go. And I had this what turned out being you know, maybe one or maybe two years, a very short window to have an opportunity to get to know this person. And and I'm really grateful that I did and I think I can't even met Well, she was already your biggest fan. Well, second, maybe only to your mom. But what I can just imagine like what a team and that you continue on with this beautiful amazing. Like, no wonder your kids are so awesome. How could they be anything that awesome look at their parents are

Maureen Washington: 00:23:13

fabulous. I do say they are fabulous people they I do. They are if I had to be locked down with a group of people. I was locked down with the best people in the world. Just our and their personalities and yeah, you know, yeah, there was fighting and scrapping going on. But ultimately, I would hope so. Ultimately who they are, you know, it's just they are amazing, amazing people.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:23:42

Yeah, and it's so you've been growing and cultivating fabulous things since way before the garden. This This has been a you know, a 30 year process or something like that. That's been going on for for so long. And now you just did a show. Was it just someone to do well with with my with my son Beau. Okay, I'm trying to remember I remember that. That one of your kids just was did a show with you. Yeah, yeah. So that was pretty fabulous.

Maureen Washington: 00:24:11

Yes, it was. Yeah, he's an amazing singer. Like, you know, he like he can sing circles around me his abilities and his his note changing and bending and runs and everything he does the you know, the thing is that he just needs I have more stage time. That's you know, yeah, but it's like as soon as he has enough stage time and whatever you know, he thinks circles around me and his ability to write music and songs the lyrics like it's just you know, that one of my favorite songs which you know, I call it gameplay he goes I'm not calling it that mum. But, but the chorus actually, I don't know if I should sing the chorus in this case someone steals it because yeah, maybe

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:24:56

maybe you know what, I don't know what he what he has Have a look at me. Yeah, rainbows and unicorns, and don't trust nobody. I love you all, but I'm not giving you my kids song. So he has, he has one in particular that touches you quite deeply.

Maureen Washington: 00:25:15

Yeah, yeah. Well, it doesn't touch me deeply. It's just like, it's so well crafted. And oh, and the lyrics are, you know, everybody would go. Who could? Who knew you could put, you know, all the different types of games that we played as kids into a song? Oh, how awesome. But the song is quite profound. Yes. Where it's like the fact that it's like, well, I'm not gonna play, you know, I'm not planning to play all these games. You know, I'm in, I'm in for this into this relationship. You know, with everything. I'm not integrating any games, but it's his quirky little song. And it's just like, you know, just keep going. You need to finish and record it. You need to finish I do have a recording of him just at the piano with it. It's yeah, it's like he's so well crafted. And so yeah, so he was down at Herman's watching a tiller play, if, you know, probably about a month and a half before my concert, and he was just like, in awe. And he goes, he's text me goes mama, tell us so bad house? And they go Yeah, no. And he goes, so with your next show? You think I could sit in and sing a song? I said, Absolutely. You can do for each set. So you're gonna do eight songs. And

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:26:32

oh, that's awesome. Yeah, it really

Maureen Washington: 00:26:34

is. It really, it really was a good experience for him. And it's a different, like, you know, he's in he plays more in the alternative world of music, pop and, and blues, you know, r&b and all of that sort of stuff. But to come into this jazz world, and then to work with Carl, Damien and Joey. You know, like, every time you work with a musician that is, you know, better than yourself? Yes. It ups your game, like, Absolutely, you walk away, you don't even know what you learned. But all of a sudden, there is a shift in you. And I just thought there's, you know, two nights of him working with, with these with these gentlemen. And, you know, that's just gonna, again, push him

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:27:20

didn't know what's possible to know what's possible is the difference. You don't really know. You don't really know until you work with a really great band, that maybe the people that that that yourself and the people you work in, were working with before, maybe weren't the greatest thing ever.

Maureen Washington: 00:27:39

Before but yeah, no, no, it's, it's I was on a doing a CBC Radio interview, and they said, you know, who would be a mentor to you? And I said, for inspiration and stuff. And I said, Karl roosting. I said, he has been my mentor for, you know, for however long now that we've been playing together. I said, and I didn't even know it. Just just listening to him, accompany me, have had has just, it's just like, I'm, I'm a better musician. All of a sudden, I don't know why I understand things differently. Yes. But just working with him. I'm announced to him, you know, he's just doing his doing his thing playing the plan the piano and, but that's where, you know, my inspiration comes from my things that I will challenge myself to do to step out. You know, it's like he's been, he's been my biggest mentor, and musician.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:28:39

Oh, that's beautiful. And you know, it's interesting to me. If I'm coming full circle again, thinking about it. You there's there's a way that not everyone has in them to strive for excellence or not everyone knows that they do. I maybe that's a better way to say that. I think that we that we all have, but some people have a have an ability to focus a little bit more. And for whatever reason, if that's a wiring in their brain, you know, nature nurture. I don't know, right? Maybe a little bit of both. Yeah, you seem to have that quite a bit. In that. You figured out your lane musically. And you poured yourself into that. And you figured out your lane in a garden. And you poured yourself into that. Yeah, and as a do it yourself DIY. Oh, started remember? No, no. Do you not a DUI? Let's not start the rumor here. As a do it yourself or like, like building those things? And I think you know, there's something that happens when and I'm gonna it doesn't have to be with a Woman, but I'm going to say, as a woman, I'm going to say, I really relate to when I do something that maybe typically someone of my generation or gender didn't typically do. And I think I'm going to do this thing. And it just feels so good. It's like, oh, my gosh, I, I, yeah, I met him when my brother passed away. Very suddenly, I spent a lot of time with my sister in law. And we talked a lot about it, I'm not gonna say the line, but everything we did, and we did it without a, you know, any, any part of us being male. I'll just leave that for the listeners to figure out. So but we, you know, there was ever I remember how that felt for us. You know, we had to figure out the what, you know, all the stuff Bruce did that all of a sudden, you know, you didn't have to, you know, didn't have that guy to do that stuff for us. And, and so I know a little bit of that feeling that just is like, it's so empowering.

Maureen Washington: 00:31:11

It really is. It really is. Yeah, when you just, you know, you just been walking in, you're like, you know, if you think about whatever lane you're just walking in this lane of life. And then you go, Oh, I don't know, if I can, you know, like, I didn't know if I could properly dress a chicken, what I have the stomach to do it would I be able to know and that is that is, uh, you know, doesn't matter who you're doing it, but the thing was going through that process and learning how to take apart a chicken. It was super empowering. You know, and, you know, and the person that that was teaching me from her farm, she says, Yeah, you know, the thing is, she goes, my, all my daughters, they know how to, they know how to do this, they know how to dress a chicken. Because if you were in the middle of nowhere, and you needed to eat you, I would know how to take apart whatever little animal that I'm gonna eat, you know, and it's like, so again, there's that aspect of, of skill set and provision, and, you know, self sufficiency that you go, I know how to do x, y, z. And, you know, and again, with the building, it's like, you know, I love, you know, power tools, you know, drills, but to actually, you know, put together a plan and some of the things that Marissa and I built, we just would have an idea. And then we would just say we got some scrap lumber, and let's build like, so. For years, I've always just had all my tools in a garbage can in the shed. So every time that you want to, if you try to take one out, all of them come out, right. And so we actually designed ourselves a tool, a tool, bench, outdoor tool, bench, and, you know, put some wire wire through one side of it. So we could just put the tools in there all standing up, right. But we didn't, you know, we didn't have a plan or a map, we just went, Okay, this is how we think it should look, we kind of draw it out. And then I cut it to scale. And again, that's, you know, so empowering for my daughter to go, she you know, she's got all these skill sets, that she can, you know, take care of, you know, a complete farm herself, you know, as we've been learning all this together. And so then it becomes a way of life.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:33:37

Right. And I love that in the midst of it that you so quickly realized, I need to teach my kids this because this is a lost art. Yeah. Because when we're in the middle of learning something, it can be a little bit difficult to, to share it because we don't even know what we're doing yet. But it's awesome that you sorted that out pretty quick. Yeah. And then you all got to do that together. And now that's and now your grandkids. Yeah, when they come and they will come. And they will take all your life and it's a beautiful thing. Trust me. But when it's there's something so powerful about knowing that it's going to go beyond like the ancestors we we don't Ark our culture doesn't so much. The typical kind of Canadian culture, we don't talk a lot about the ancestors or, or where we come from and how and so many other cultures are way better at that. Yes. And now we're starting to learn the importance, you know,

Maureen Washington: 00:34:48

that without the pressure canner, like it's, I think it's an all American, you know, I've seen other people's pressure counters and you know, and they're going and it's, you know, 75 it's 80 years old, and so you know, this pressure canner, it won't, you know, it will go on the OS, my, my, my, my kids, you know, it'll go to that next generation and beyond. And so you just go, Yeah, this was, you know, great grandma Marines, you know, Crusher,

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:35:16

I just had this beautiful picture of it. For whatever it's worth it. I mean, I'm probably just Norman Rockwell at heart, but I just have this beautiful picture in my mind of cousins that are not yet born. Yes, gathering around. And they're doing canning together, and they're doing these things. And they, they talk about the great pandemic of 20 to 23. Three, you know, and, and this is when the family got together, and we learned how to do these things. And they'll say, really, did that really happen? Yes, it happened. And this is, this is the same one that yeah, random worried she did that. I just had a beautiful picture of that than it. How far it can go.

Maureen Washington: 00:35:58

Yes. Yeah. Yeah, we

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:36:00

choose that.

Maureen Washington: 00:36:01

Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. And I do, like I started at one point, you know, when we were allowed to kind of congregate again, back together, I actually was putting on classes to show people how to, to do pressure counting, or how to make bread, you know, my kitchen set up in a way, you know, I can have, you know, five or six people all have their own counterspace. And it's like, I want to I want to dis Bell, the, the, you know, pressure canners will kill you kind of thing that, like, they'll blow up or whatever. And, and just to walk through how to do some canning yourself. And then it's like, and if you want to come and use me my kitchen, my canner, you can come and do that if you want to, you know, make your own meals in a jar and stuff like that. So I've had a couple people do that, or they'll come and take a class on, we're going to make salsa, you know, start with the basics and make some salsa.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:36:57

This, this is awesome, I really hope I mean, I, I hope that so many people that hear this will be inspired, and they will go and they will check out your station, your station Hydros your YouTube channel, and whatever, it they'll go and they'll check all that out. And they'll learn because just like what I you know, I just have this picture of like, you know, if you hit a glass windshield, or you hit ice, and it just, there's that first initial thing, and then it goes and it spreads out, like a web or something. And, and I think that, that it's, it's inspiring. Because people, we need to get back to this, yes, we really need to get back to this and and you make it not just not

Maureen Washington: 00:37:46

just for, you know, being self sufficient, but to be in community. So that, you know that if you are, if there is a crisis, that there is a group of people that will come alongside and go here, we're here to help you, we're here to help your kids. You know, if I, if I was to die suddenly there, there's a community of people that would gather around my kids. Or, you know, or it's like somebody is somebody's you know, broke if I broke my leg, a community that would come around and go, we're here to help you while you heal. Yes, those kinds of things. It's, it's, you know, 2020 and 21 I really feel like it, it brought, you know, kind of these, you know, fissures into communities and into families and then made us all pull apart and, you know, and be estranged to one another, you know, we've forgotten, you know, it's like, the look of a person's face. The be able to, you know, see them and to share love and joy with them. You know, you do see people where they're, you know, they're still a little bit like, oh, you know, like, just a human being like, just like the rest of you. You know, yeah, we're all the same. We're all and and to embrace one another. Ah

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:39:12

oh my gosh, virtually hugging you. Yeah, well, thank you. Thank you so much for sharing the magical beautiful lovely incredibly kind the wonder that is you it's it's it's it's really nice it's there's I'm gonna I'm gonna watch these tapes of her because there's so much to glean from them. And I would invite others to do the same because man we covered a lot.

Maureen Washington: 00:39:51

Yes, yes.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:39:55

It is. We this was we took them to church.

Maureen Washington: 00:40:01

But thank you, you know, I really appreciate, again over the years, you know, your little comments on on my Facebook, that's always again, it's really encouraging the words that you speak and then just to being in, you know, inviting me into your world, again, I look at it, that it's just such an honor that you would, you know, welcome me into your space and like, you know, and it's been this wonderful time together, you know, what it's like, really is a time already, you know, like, let's try this again, what other day? You're like, you know, we were like, Oh my gosh, like, you know, what else are they going to talk about, but, but so I do really appreciate you inviting me here. And, you know, share with your listeners. And it's, it's, it truly is an honor, it's an honor and then all the beautiful words that you spoke to me, you know, just, I'm so full, that, you know, I'm just gonna be flying while I while I'm making my sourdough bread, tea. There

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:41:05

you go. It'll be a really fun kind of sourdough today. I just, I'm just, I am so happy and so grateful that that, that you did come and spend some time. So we'll let you get to your sourdough because I do not want to be personally responsible for whatever happens to sourdough. But I may come and take a class off you. And we'll have to see with that I would like to so we'll all talk another time about that. But for now, Maureen, thanks so much for being with us. I really appreciate it. And there's so much to go through. I'm sure the listeners are going to be really blessed by your words. So this is Ally and find your joy. Thank you so much for spending some of your valuable time with us here today. Oh,

Maureen Washington: 00:41:57

my timer just went off. And I don't know if that got picked up. So maybe say goodbye. Now. We'll just have this little part cut out.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:42:03

Because I'm not cutting this part out. I love these parts. They're my favorite parts. No way. There's I didn't even hear it. But okay.

Maureen Washington: 00:42:14

Maybe it may be well, I'm making a piece. I'm going oh my timer.

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:42:21

I'm leaving this in for sure. Because I like this kind of stuff. I'm just a weirdo. So this is Ali and find your joy. Thanks so much for being with us. Maureen. Thank you and to everyone out there. Thanks so much and do know that you are loved

Ali Perry-Davies: 00:42:42

thanks so much for joining me today. If you found a piece of your joy in this episode, I would love to hear about what came up for you so that we can continue to grow the impact of this show. Thanks again. See you soon and remember find your joy.