Slow Living Key to Tacoma's Tomorrow

Good things come to those who wait. It's true with beer ... with coffee ... with food ... and with the place we call here. And thus were my ponderances on a long drive home to Tacoma this weekend -- ponderances about what it is in common about the things that I love about Tacoma, and life in general. And the theme became clear: I like it slow.

I learned to appreciate the dark brews, like Guinness and Murphy's, while spending a college semester studying in Cork, Ireland. When it comes to the beer of legends dear, you take it slow. The essence of Guinness is that couple-minute wait it takes for it to settle before thou shall even be allowed to partake. And I'm happy to say you can get it that way locally at Doyle's. (Though nothing will ever compare to homeland Guinness ... sorry.)

And then there's coffee. I always knew you had to wait for it to brew, but only this last year during my treks to Blackwater have I learned that, like Guinness, really good coffee takes patience, too. While I rave about and lust after the lusciousness that is the Blackwater's tasty blend, I warn all newcomers that patience is a virtue here. Don't come with only 5 minutes to spare. You come here to savor the flavor. To experience. To soak in not just the coffee, but the atmosphere. It's always best enjoyed with others. Patiently.

My beverage pondering led me, understandably, to food. Slow food. (For a local example, check out Stadium Bistro -- it's all made from scratch with an emphasis on local foods.) Slow food is more than sustenance, it's a movement. A way of life. One that lends its philosophies to beyond just the bites we take. I like this quote from the Slow Food Movement's philosophy:

"We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process."

That's how I feel about supporting our local little/guy gal businesses. "Buy Local" is not just a phrase, it's a philosophy. By actively supporting those businesses who have invested in the place we call here (wherever that here might be for those reading), we become a part of the process.

We create what our local tomorrow will look like.

So let's resist the fast-food nation tendencies. Celebrating local people, places and ideas is all about embracing the things that take time. Let's celebrate taking time ... and building our community right. By importing other folks' success, we are pressing fast-forward. We ignore our heritage, our culture and the essence of what our here is all about. But slowly, surely, with steady hand and healthy heart, we can continue to enhance the soul and self-sustainability of our community.

Go slow, Tacoma. Go slow.

And for those who call it here -- Buy Tacoma. It makes a difference.