A friend who lives in a large northern city recently wrote saying she’d hired a local contractor to make some repairs to her house. She’d tried the larger companies, she said, but they either didn’t show up or, when they did, quoted an outrageous amount because they considered the job too small to be bothered with otherwise.
Here here ! Brilliant . But first my best to Merilyn from snowy Atlantic Canada and a speedy recovery . I .loved this so much. Thank you . I needed this today . . I once asked my philosophy professor - as was writing on the board if he believed in God . Saint Thomas Aquinas University. I remember the chalk pausing on the board . He put the chalk down dusted off his hands turned to the class and leaned against the board . “ Well,”he said , ‘“no one has ever asked me that question before and I know you want to know my answer . Here is my answer : I believe in community” . He resumed his writing on the board . I think it was something about presuppositionless beginnings . .
He changed my life In so many ways as do the best writers .
I live in a village and for eight years as my husband’s dementia advanced everyone had our back. I hope this essay reaches many many . Einstein. Einstein . Thank you . Thank you . To the Village!
Agree with much of this. However I think there is a dark side to being lost in a community that also needs to be acknowledged. I guess the conundrum is balancing the need to belong to a community where you can give and receive, with the need to also be an individual and not be completely absorbed - at least I think so. Having too much of either isn't good.
Community means a lot of things to me, and while it encompasses the kind of community that you and your readers describe, I think it has come to mean more. Facebook is a kind of online community, and there are various online communities which can meet certain needs. Recently my mother died, and I have found online Jewish communities where one can say Kaddish. I don’t know any of these people, yet through our common need to focus on a loved one, it has been very moving to tune in, listen, and pray together for ten or fifteen minutes. And I am not a religious person! Go figure.
I’ve been meaning to let you know how much I’m enjoying your newsletter, Wayne. It’s so good to ‘hear’ your voice again. Your thoughts about San Miguel make me want to be there again. I really appreciate your comments on community. Since Geo and I relocated to Kelowna (just as Covid hit), we have found ourselves in a community we have come to cherish, something I hadn’t known before. It’s deeply grounding and connecting. I find myself not wanting to leave because I fear I won’t get back to it! Please give my best to Merilyn. I’m very glad to hear she is recovering from the accident. Stay well.
Cities like Toronto where I live have neighbourhoods, which are more designations for political maps than for designed fot communities. If neighbourhoods are to act as villages, there needs to be a central town square or meeting place, along with small stores and places of service, including a post office, a govt office, etc. It also has to be pedestrian friendly.
Here here ! Brilliant . But first my best to Merilyn from snowy Atlantic Canada and a speedy recovery . I .loved this so much. Thank you . I needed this today . . I once asked my philosophy professor - as was writing on the board if he believed in God . Saint Thomas Aquinas University. I remember the chalk pausing on the board . He put the chalk down dusted off his hands turned to the class and leaned against the board . “ Well,”he said , ‘“no one has ever asked me that question before and I know you want to know my answer . Here is my answer : I believe in community” . He resumed his writing on the board . I think it was something about presuppositionless beginnings . .
He changed my life In so many ways as do the best writers .
I live in a village and for eight years as my husband’s dementia advanced everyone had our back. I hope this essay reaches many many . Einstein. Einstein . Thank you . Thank you . To the Village!
Agree with much of this. However I think there is a dark side to being lost in a community that also needs to be acknowledged. I guess the conundrum is balancing the need to belong to a community where you can give and receive, with the need to also be an individual and not be completely absorbed - at least I think so. Having too much of either isn't good.
Community means a lot of things to me, and while it encompasses the kind of community that you and your readers describe, I think it has come to mean more. Facebook is a kind of online community, and there are various online communities which can meet certain needs. Recently my mother died, and I have found online Jewish communities where one can say Kaddish. I don’t know any of these people, yet through our common need to focus on a loved one, it has been very moving to tune in, listen, and pray together for ten or fifteen minutes. And I am not a religious person! Go figure.
I’ve been meaning to let you know how much I’m enjoying your newsletter, Wayne. It’s so good to ‘hear’ your voice again. Your thoughts about San Miguel make me want to be there again. I really appreciate your comments on community. Since Geo and I relocated to Kelowna (just as Covid hit), we have found ourselves in a community we have come to cherish, something I hadn’t known before. It’s deeply grounding and connecting. I find myself not wanting to leave because I fear I won’t get back to it! Please give my best to Merilyn. I’m very glad to hear she is recovering from the accident. Stay well.
Cities like Toronto where I live have neighbourhoods, which are more designations for political maps than for designed fot communities. If neighbourhoods are to act as villages, there needs to be a central town square or meeting place, along with small stores and places of service, including a post office, a govt office, etc. It also has to be pedestrian friendly.
Really great, Wayne. Bravo.