- This event has passed.
Story Sharing at the Alan Hagstrom Memorial Benches
October 27 @ 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
This Spring, Alan Hagstrom’s two daughters, Sarah and Karen, and Sarah’s partner Ro installed two benches on the grounds of Gammelgården as a memorial to Alan. They chose two benches because their father’s defining priority in life was to inspire, foster, and facilitate the development of community.
The two benches will invite people to have a rest; take a load off; share stories and perspectives; get to know each other better; and experience the views of the prairie, the garden, and the Old Church together.
Sarah and Ro recently planted two native trees nearby that will eventually provide shade for people using the benches as well as sustenance to the birds in the winter and early spring.
When they installed the benches, they also gently regraded the area to better accommodate the benches and their guests, and spent the summer nursing the grass back to health.
They recently cut the tape that was protecting the area, so the benches and trees are now available for use. They thought it would be fitting to hold an informal dedication ceremony on the second anniversary of Alan’s death.
They would like to invite anyone who knew Alan to gather at the benches and share stories of him and what he meant to them. Everyone has experienced a different aspect of him and his life, and you never know when one of your stories may surprise and delight someone else, who may have never guessed, for example, that he absolutely LOVED to play Animal Crossing in the last years of his life (and felt a real affection for each of his villagers) or that he mused more than once that he might like to work for a rideshare platform in his retirement so he could meet people while helping them get wherever they were going.
Meeting, helping, and getting to know people really was what he lived for. So let’s meet and get to know him and each other a little bit better on October 27th at the benches. There will be chairs for those who do not bring their own; and a portable fire pit or two in case it’s chilly out there. (And, if it’s too chilly, we’ll move the gathering inside.)
Feel free to bring snacks for yourself and/or to share with others; and be thinking of stories you may want to share.
For those on Facebook who would like to be reminded of the event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1053605179598399