we were walking downtown
(i felt the need to cue copeland, letting the music roll around me as i type this entry. in truth the song was picked because ... surprise ... we were walking downtown.)
a group of us headed out for dinner at the rockford tonight. in actuality, the group originated as one of our vintage small groups. of all the groups, this one survived through a unique series of relationships that were forged. & we even had a few more people join us that were tagging along. the highlight (besides my ABC sandwich, of course ... complete delectability in wheat bread grilled, piled with thiny sliced granny smith apples, bacon & cheddar cheese, dusted on the outside with a tidge of powdered sugar ... mmmmmm) was our discussion on community.
as we were perched high above downtown glenwood avenue, looking at all the people actively in downtown on a week night, we realized the actual feel of community. sometimes i wish i was a downtown dweller. to be closer to the live music, festivals, neighborhood bars & pubs, funky cafés, eclectic art galleries & the like. to be able to walk to the small indie theatre for a movie. granted, i'm not but a ten minute drive from all of that, but getting into the vehicular transport does prevent one from meeting someone on the sidewalk (unless of course you park three blocks away like me ... and walk ... in the rain ... not that i'm bitter, oh no).
webster's defines community like so:
i think definitions 1(c) & 1(d) define community nicely: interacting. various. common. characteristic. interest. together. within. still wrestling with how i can contribute more in this community.
i'm not sure where i'd make the most difference. so perhaps rather than sitting around contemplating that i should should at least do something. never mind that i have no idea if i'll even be here in raleigh in a year. or whether i'll be here for life. or whether i'll be gone next year from this earth.
now if only i had gotten some of my favorite fruit frappé from one of the local coffeehouses, new world café. see, i'm doing my part. drinking frappé IS doing part of my part, at least!
a group of us headed out for dinner at the rockford tonight. in actuality, the group originated as one of our vintage small groups. of all the groups, this one survived through a unique series of relationships that were forged. & we even had a few more people join us that were tagging along. the highlight (besides my ABC sandwich, of course ... complete delectability in wheat bread grilled, piled with thiny sliced granny smith apples, bacon & cheddar cheese, dusted on the outside with a tidge of powdered sugar ... mmmmmm) was our discussion on community.
as we were perched high above downtown glenwood avenue, looking at all the people actively in downtown on a week night, we realized the actual feel of community. sometimes i wish i was a downtown dweller. to be closer to the live music, festivals, neighborhood bars & pubs, funky cafés, eclectic art galleries & the like. to be able to walk to the small indie theatre for a movie. granted, i'm not but a ten minute drive from all of that, but getting into the vehicular transport does prevent one from meeting someone on the sidewalk (unless of course you park three blocks away like me ... and walk ... in the rain ... not that i'm bitter, oh no).
webster's defines community like so:
com·mu·ni·ty
Pronunciation: k&-'myü-n&-tE
Etymology: Middle English comunete, from Middle French comuneté, from Latin communitat-, communitas, from communis
1 : a unified body of individuals: as a : STATE, COMMONWEALTH b : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself (the problems of a large community) c : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society (a ommunity of retired persons)e : a group linked by a common policy f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests (the international community) g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society (the academic community)
2 : society at large
3 a : joint ownership or participationb : common character : LIKENESS c : social activity : FELLOWSHIP d : a social state or condition
i think definitions 1(c) & 1(d) define community nicely: interacting. various. common. characteristic. interest. together. within. still wrestling with how i can contribute more in this community.
i'm not sure where i'd make the most difference. so perhaps rather than sitting around contemplating that i should should at least do something. never mind that i have no idea if i'll even be here in raleigh in a year. or whether i'll be here for life. or whether i'll be gone next year from this earth.
now if only i had gotten some of my favorite fruit frappé from one of the local coffeehouses, new world café. see, i'm doing my part. drinking frappé IS doing part of my part, at least!
This entry was posted
on 16 June 2004 at 6/16/2004 08:54:00 PM.
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i oftentimes wish i was a downtown dweller as well. there's something so quaint about being able to walk to the market in the morning...well, to walk anywhere for that matter.
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