I know a lot of you are wondering how I feel about where I call home. Having traveled half way around the world, experiencing different cultures and even working with folks from different parts of the country has made me sometimes critical of some of the things that I see in our community.
It's not that I'm against or for anything; for me, it's about what is the real purpose and how will it benefit first those behind me and then the community at large. I will never give up the pertinent questions and asking the questions others may think of but feel they don't have an outlet to ask. At times, I may sound as if I speak for one group of people at large and depending on your perspective that may be true. But, I assure you once again, I have concerns for the community at large and how it can grow, prosper and be the place that many of us say exist, even if reality in certain areas has presented a different picture.
Yet, with all that, I can always reflect on experiences and witness some situations that makes me certain and proud to call this place home. Imagine two elderly women -- one white, one black -- greet each other with a hearty smile, a warm embrace, and as they departed they told each other "I love you." I never saw that overseas.
I've got a high school classmate who has the gift of gab. But what I like the most, no matter where you are, whom you're with, or what you are doing, this fellow will speak. For the past 38 years I've known him, he's been that way. Some people find him annoying at times, but whether he's telling a story or working, when I see him I can't help but smile.
I like the fact most of our financial institutions know us on a first name basis. I know some may not find that professional, but that teller or bank officer just may be sitting next to you at the football game.
There are not many places where you can be driving, and the person in the approaching car waves at you even though you have no idea who the person was waving. That just makes my day. That never happened while I was driving in England. I had some people remind me in a most expletive fashion that I was driving on the wrong side of the road when I would forget briefly where I was driving.
This community, believe it or not, makes me more appreciative of my parents. Any given day, I may receive a compliment not for something I did, but for who my parents are. I say this to those folks who are between the ages of 18 - 35 to take care of your reputation not for your own sakes, but the sake of any children you have or may have. Folks are willing to help, listen or even let you do something all because of your parents. That's special, and I don't take it for granted.
I never knew whether it was a law or not, but we still pull over and stop for a funeral motorcade. I just thought that was so cool because it's one of the few times you're not concerned about who or what race or nationality of the individual being funeralized. It's always a respect thing. In some places in the state they have gotten away from this practice.
It may not be as prevalent as it was back in the day, but most people are neighborly in how they carry on a conversation. I appreciate that because it forces me not to think negative of a person if I disagree with them. There were some very friendly people overseas, but I met no one who said to "tell everybody else at the house I said hello."
You know, I can just as easily remark on the negatives and the "isms" still that exist, but these are not the things that make home for me special. Those things will always exist, but the beauty is some of those things that I just talked about. I will always fight to make things better, find a better way to do things and address issues that affect us. But, I'm willing to take the risk for a place that I call "home."
Post a Comment