We said goodbye to a cherished member of our community today. Her name is Ute, and she is leaving her job at the village food co-op to work in a nearby town.

She is one of those loved, individualistic, and hard-working people in small towns that go right to the heart of the place and are much loved.

Our food Co-op is a good place in many ways, but they are forever unable to keep workers there. Ute made doing things fun; she had a hug for everyone and a story to tell if it got quiet. I went there because of her.

She and Maria fell in love from the first, as so many people in town did—two fiercely individual people with a lot in common.

Ute makes a small town brighter. She also makes the co-op a lot brighter, greeting everyone by name, eager to help, and making sure everyone gets a greeting and a hug. That is not a gift everyone has.

She and Maria share many things in their lives, such as a love of animals and birds, and a love of people. (Ute has more than a dozen exotic birds in her living room) and sheep in a luxurious roost. She is unusual.

When Maria goes to the Co-op, I say hello, get a hug, and go and read in the car; they need time together.

America is a confusing place for many reasons now.

When I look at the news, I see a nation where community seems shattered by lies and manipulation – politicians no longer know how to tell the truth.

Politics has split many communities apart.

We still have our community, politics aside.

When I work at the Cambridge Food Pantry, I’ve discovered that the idea that America has lost its love of community is a lie, and an obvious one.

Day after day, people from all over America read my posts about the struggles of a local Cambridge Food Pantry and send them what they need on behalf of their love of community.

Their only reward is the love they bring.

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The Pantry itself has scores of people in our community who work every day to keep it running during hard times.

What’s the truth? I live in a small town in upstate New York and felt like I had come home from the first day. I never felt that when I lived in cities. ICE is helping to change that.

Community lives in small-town America; we know one another and fight, disagree, and love one another when necessary.

Uta is a big-hearted character who has seen and suffered a lot, but always has her famous hug and smile, and a story, sad or happy.

But she is never cruel or judgmental about anyone,

The food at the Co-op is fine, but she was always worth the trip. She is what I like about where I live. We can love each other and still mind our own business. Individuality is admired, not assaulted.

I’ll miss Ute and so will Maria. We brought a flower and some tears and said goodbye. There are, as always, promises of staying in touch, but I know that is often harder than it seems.

Godspeed, Ute, I already miss your hugs and stories. Community lives, thanks to people like you.