This morning I was waiting in a local coffee shop for my son. The booth in front of me had a young mom, working with her 18-month (found out afterwards) to keep him occupied. He climbed up to the top of the booth and started calling me “daddy”. Mom was a bit embarrassed, but I assured her that her son was fine. He kept talking to me, laughing with me, and we had a great conversation. This young blond headed boy made my morning!
Kids. They are worth our time and our energy.
Last week, I had the privilege of having my youngest grandson visit for a few days, along with one of my older grandsons. Picking up Marcell in Massachusetts, we returned to New Hampshire, just in time for us to go watch a couple of granddaughters for a few hours. {{more}}
Leaving there, we decided on some of the great things going on in the region for the next few days. (The main one? We decided to go downtown each day and watch the progress of the Walldogs murals that were scheduled to adorn the city of Keene.) After dinner that night, my wife and I took the boys out for ice cream. One of the great things about the community I live in, is the burgeoning food culture, and ice cream is just part of it.
The next day, we decided we were headed downtown to watch some of the great art beginning to show on the walls of city buildings, We visited the League of NH Craftsmen, and wouldn’t you know it, there was a dog for the boys to visit with. Continuing on down the road, we admired the murals’ beginnings. We ended up at Beeze Tees, one of Jacob’s favorite stores in downtown. Hopping across the road we went into Good Fortune Jewelry and Pawn shop, his other favorite. (You can find him at the knife and gun cabinet.) On the way out of town, we saw Luca serving outside.
That night there was a Swampbats game, and even though they lost, more family fun.
Marcell had to leave Thursday morning, but Jacob and I still wandered downtown to check out some of the murals and such. By Friday the town was looking pretty amazing with all the beautiful murals the Walldogs were painting. Saturday morning, he and I headed up to the road to the Gilsum Rock Swap. It was a surprise to him.
It was a beautiful morning and booth after booth, we admired the beauties of nature. We wandered about for a few hours and he decided on some jewelry he purchased for his mother for her birthday. He ended up with a few stones for himself.
We came home to eat lunch with my wife and then the three of us headed downtown. The progress of the murals was amazing. We ran into a number of folks we knew from about the community. The streets were full of things for the children to engage in, to do. Food, music and fun. What a great day.
Thank you, Keene for all you are!
All these things involve a couple of things…
Generations, coming together and fun.
I am grateful to live in the community we reside in. Does it have problems? Of course! But as long as we keep talking, connect the generations and remember to have fun, it will always persevere.
You may not have a Walldogs visitation, or the food culture we have or even approach the amount of folks and business that commune here, but you, have your community, with its own “spiritual” and cultural DNA. You may never “do it” the way others do in their community, but you have the ability, to walk in your own uniqueness.
I want to encourage you to keep in mind those three things. Generations, fun, and coming together. Don’t fall into the stereotypical thinking related to age groups and communication. Make things available to all groups and watch people begin to come together and have fun.
Our readers would love to hear what is going on in your hometown. Take some time and send us your stories!
Lee is the owner of Positive News For You. He is a 63-year-old businessman. A father and grandfather (5 children and 8 grandchildren), his heart is to see communities come together, overcoming their differences and bringing unity through their diversity. He works on projects for Positive News For You and the nonprofit, PN4UINC, by day and family man by night. 