Revelations - May 2016

This is a monthly column helping us to get to know our friends and members in a deeper way. We thank Monte High for taking the time to do these in-depth interviews for us every month.
 
     It is the day of the Rainbow Prom. Mallory is hanging out at the Confluence Collective with her good friend Eric. She is excited about attending the Prom even though Eric cannot accompany her as planned. She’s trying to fix her dress, which a friend recently rescued from a dumpster. It is a fabulous dress! But the zipper is broken.
     People are constantly stopping by the Collective. Today a fellow named Gerald is hanging around. (Mallory has run into Gerald a couple times previously, yet knows little about him.) Gerald is listening to Eric and Mallory lament over the fate of the fabulous dress. He crosses the room to offer his services.
     You see, it turns out that Gerald once wanted to become a clothing designer, and for a while studied fashion design in school. It turns out that he has a sewing machine in his car. Actually, literally, unbelievably so!
     The thread spins from the spool onto the dress spinning, the room spinning, the earth spinning, the universe spinning. In the process of fixing her dress, Mallory finds a date to the Rainbow Prom, a soulmate, a family, the father of her child, and her soon-to-be husband. Love makes Mallory’s world go ‘round.
     Yes, Mallory is succumbing to the institution of marriage. On Saturday, July 23, 2016, Mallory Pam Rice and Gerald Alan Martinez will tie the knot. Yet, when Mallory met Gerald, she fell in love with the whole family. For Mallory and Gerald, the wedding ceremony is an announcement of the union of a family. They want everyone to know that there is a synthesis between them – Mallory, Gerald, Kiyah, Isabelle and Audrey. They have banded together and they are all in cahoots.
     Turning, turning, turning, you just never know how things are going to turn out. You see, it turns out the fateful, fabulous dress also played a role in shaping the UUCGV. When Mallory was originally hired in March 2011, it was with the understanding that she would work for only a year before leaving to attend graduate school. The UUCGV says thank you Gerald, for being so irresistible!
     Mallory described her role as administrator during the first year working for our congregation, as that of a “church mouse.” She sat back in her hole (recall her tiny, dark, back corner office at the Grand Ave. location) and prepared the Order of Service, sent out the weekly email, checked email and answered the phone; but, the phone rarely rang. Other than by Rev. Zakir, she was rarely seen.
     Mallory’s role in the congregation has expanded greatly over the years. Luckily, Mallory has a degree in anthropology (Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, primary in Anthropology, secondary in Sociology, with a minor in Mass Communications). It takes mad skills to figure out the ways of an unusual UU tribe. Have you noticed that the congregation has gradually been running more and more smoothly over the last several years? Well, Mallory has a hand in that. Indeed, she has more hands than the Hindu goddess Durga.
     When people drop in, Mallory is the first face people see in our congregation. It is a kind and joyful face. She is a people person, and can genuinely speak of us with enthusiasm. Like many UU’s, she’s been a UU at heart for a long time yet didn’t know it until she found the UUCGV. You see, she loves the UUCGV, its transformative community, and its transforming building and grounds.
     Mallory’s office is spacious and full of light. On most days a look around will tell you that she’s comfortable with a little chaos. She is the first responder on a consistently ringing telephone – it could be someone in crisis, someone asking for more information about the congregation or someone wanting to know if the improv class has been canceled because of the snow. She’s an expert hugger and a compassionate listener, and ministers to congregants as well as people off the street.
     Several years back Mallory did a four month ethnographic study on homeless women. After spending countless hours living with them, walking in their shoes in a very deep way, these women captured her heart, and she knew she had to do something. Since then, helping homeless people has been a passion for Mallory.
     Mallory organizes anything and everything. She’s a leader of projects and a taker of notes and a sedative to nerves on edge. She pays bills, sets appointments with inspectors and shows people how to use the elevator. She designs the newsletter and has the dirty job of telling people that their articles are too long. Yet she enjoys her job. She has wonderful coworkers. She and Rev. Wendy spend so much time together that they seem to be beginning to read one another’s mind. Yes, Mallory’s to-do list goes on and on.
     And life goes on...  in endless song...
Learn more about Colorado West Pride Fest at www.coloradowestpride.org. Events are May 5-8. We will march in the parade on May 8 as a congregation.

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