This was originally an email I sent to Tyler and he told me I should blog it.  I trust him, so here it is:

I needed to get some work done this morning, so I ventured to the McDonalds near my house to get some coffee and write there.  You may wonder- Why McDonalds? Well, it's cheap and I wanted a new experience. A new experience it was!

First of all, Antioch is always amazing to me because of how truly diverse it is.  I love that I can go into McDonalds and see black people, white people, asian people, and people of all ages. You get that experience in Starbucks but its different.  It's the upper middle class people- I can barely afford to go there anymore. Stupid economy!

Anyway, after getting my non-fat mocha for 3 dollars from a larger black woman who was talking about how she should have called out of work, I rounded the corner to look for a seat.  As I scanned the seating area for the perfect booth where I could write my youth parent letter, I noticed there were an unusual amount of older people taking up at least 8-10 tables/booths.  I listened a little closer, only to realize that they were not just enjoying their dollar cup of coffee, but in fact they were playing bingo! That's right, I have found a new community gathering in Antioch.  And this time its not the Avon lady and her crew, the teenagers spending their money on frappachinos, or even my mystery "people group" of African descent at Starbucks.  It is a community of old people.  I knew old people lived in Antioch but I did not know that McDonalds was their hang out place.  It was just cute, and it made me feel at home.  I am consistently, and pleasantly surprised as I find Nashville to have a small town feel in a larger city. There is something so moving about watching people in community.  Hearing their chatter, laughter and their shared love of bingo.  I don't think it was the game that really mattered to them, but it is a bigger feel of having companionship and connecting with others.  There's a sharing of life that takes place and I can't help but marvel at the beauty of life being lived out together….even as simple as a game of Bingo over an egg Mcmuffin, and a cup of coffee in an Antioch McDonalds.