NA Social's about to be dead, so "Long Live NA Social."

Surely my favorite of all Vaclav Havel quotes is this one.

“You do not become a ''dissident'' just because you decide one day to take up this most unusual career. You are thrown into it by your personal sense of responsibility, combined with a complex set of external circumstances. You are cast out of the existing structures and placed in a position of conflict with them. It begins as an attempt to do your work well, and ends with being branded an enemy of society.”

Closer to home than Czechoslovakia, there's this.

"This is the end of New Albany Social as Beth and Kelly."

Well, damn. Several friends have asked me to explain why NA Social is winding down its operations, if "operations" is an appropriate way to describe a couple of local women on a fun and instructive "journey discovering all the awesomeness there is in downtown NA."

I've directed them to Kelly's post (below), and since my opinion doesn't matter, I'll offer it anyway.

There comes a time when you realize the fix is in, that others have more power than you, and no matter how you play your hand it's doubtful you can win. At this juncture it seems pointless. It's not exactly like resigning from a chess match, although "resignation" is one aspect of the way it feels.

Never mind that NA Social did it better than that other organization, because the latter had the official stamp from approval from the "cool kids," and NA Social didn't.

By extension, an under-appreciated fact of life in New Albany after eight years of a civic governing clique is that gradually, almost imperceptibly, downtown's previous spirit of improvisational cooperation and egalitarianism has been supplanted by a nervous calculation: whose "side" do I need to be seen supporting?

That's a calculation unlikely to be friendly to NA Social or any other genuinely independent organization similar to it, and it's yet another sad testament to the current money/power/control imperative pursued on a daily basis by City Hall.

Regular readers know that as time passes, it's becoming increasingly harder to do what I'm doing here. That's why I'm an unrepentant fan of what Kelly, Beth and their socialites have been trying to do at NA Social, because swimming against the tide is damn tough.

That's my two cents, offered as a dissident who struggles with Havel's personal sense of responsibility on a daily basis. NA Social's about to be dead -- Long Live NA Social.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019

Although we’ve come, to the end of the road...

Prepare yourself folks, there’s going to be a lot of cheesy quotes, quote memes, maybe some curse words, maybe even some politics. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. This is raw. This is real. This is me.

Deep breath.

If you have followed the page for a while, we have said it before, but this time we mean it. This is the end of New Albany Social as Beth and Kelly.

Last week was rough for me (Kelly). And it was the last straw for me. Last week a very rude lady said my daughter was dressed as a prostitute.

Beth and I get nothing out of this page. We only get the enjoyment of seeing our socialites out there trying new places. That really brings us so much joy. But when it starts affecting me and more importantly my children, that’s when I have to step back.

The same day that the woman insulted my daughter, a local business owner posted a gif on his personal page taking a stab at me. Calling me the most dramatic, hypocritical, victim playing individual he knows. This was after I posted my blog about the taco walk.

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2018

What’s today?

Today is a difficult day for me. I still carry around a lot of hurt feelings from what happened to me last August. But I also carry around a lot of gratitude from what happened last August. I have debated on writing this because I preach almost daily about how my page is a positive page, but I have also been completely open and honest with everyone. So here we are...

(snip)

So, enough of the negativity

I have gained so much from this page. I’ve met people that I have impacted my life. I’ve eaten foods that have rocked my world. I have grown. I have gained.

There are so many amazing women in this community. So many strong women.

Beth and I talked about this one day after I came up with #wwyd (What would Ysha do) Ysha is one of the most level headed, loving, kindest people I have met. Whenever I get angry I say to myself, #wwyd. But then I usually do it anyway lol.

So mottos to live by:

Be kind like Ysha (owner of MESA)
Be fierce like Stephanie (owner of Salon b)
Be pure like Kim (owner of Sukhino)
Be supportive as Susan (Countryside Insurance)
Be as fun as Mara (gm at The Earl)
Be as sexy as Scott (chef at MESA) sorry, I had to add that 😂

I could go on and on.

Speaking of Beth. She came into this knowing she would be spending her own money. Spending her own time. She has been my rock. I get crazy y’all. And she has had to listen to it all. So can we give her a huge pat on the back?

So I’m closing, thank you socialites. Our socialites are a force to be reckon with. I don’t think people get how strong our army of over 6k on Facebook and almost 3k on Instagram is. #socialitesforever (not even two years!!)

We are going until the end of the month, so let’s finish strong! We are going to really focus on those who have lifted us up. Forget the haters!

Help us go out with a party! Buy tickets to our MESA event! And maybe we will go to The Earl afterwards ...