LESSON LEARNED #12 - SHARING AND CARING NETWORK

Why do you think the sitcom "Cheers" was so popular? Could it have anything to do with the theme song "where everybody knows my name"?

That got me thinking - about EARLIER TIMES AND PLACES "where everybody knew my name".

MY LOCAL BANK: I remember this very well. You see I was a bank teller and I knew all my customers names (their kids names and sometimes even their pets names). I was always so pleased to see that the lineup at my wicket was longer than anyone elses. Why? Because they liked to share their stories with me and "I knew their name".

MY LOCAL GAS STATION: Oh the days when someone pumped your gas and checked your oil and pumped up your tires - but even more than that - "They knew my name". I remember my Mother in her 80's still going to a small local service station and paying a little more for her gas because "they knew her name".

MY LOCAL CHURCH: I grew up in a small village and this picture reminds me of the church I grew up in. That was in the day when EVERY small community had its own church. Matter of fact, it was often the centre of the community. Many activities took place in that building or the hall next door - card games, dances, variety shows, turkey dinners, newly marrieds showers ..... A place "where everybody knew my name".

MY LOCAL PARK: The place I grew up - a place where I could go (by myself) meet up with my friends and spend all day and sometimes into the evening - playing. A place "where everybody knew my name".

MY COUNTRY FAIR: I liked this sign because it mentions the parade and of course the fair was in September after school had started up. I lived in a county with 13 different small country schools. We would make up a banner for our school (SS#1) design costumes and join with 12 other schools for a wonderful parade to the fair grounds. And then it was a day of fun ending with a great turkey supper at the town hall. And guess what - I could wander around the fair grounds by myself or with friends and Mom and Dad never had to worry. Why? Because "everybody knew my name".

MY COUNTRY STORE: Not fancy for sure but they always seemed to have everything we needed. There were always some oldtimers sitting in the corner chewing the fat! The owner "Mr. Carter" let me spend as much time as I needed choosing how to spend my .05 cents (I mean for that amount I could get up to 15 candies). And - you guessed it "Everybody knew my name".

Well - I could go on but I think you get the message. It was important in those days that "everybody knew my name". The small town of about 200 people and you bet - everybody knew everybody elses name too.

My generation (boomers) seem to have carried on that tradition. You can see small groups of men and women sitting around a table at the local coffee shop every morning sharing over a cup a..! We tend to live in communities where we know each other. For e.g. - my husband and I chose to retire in an "over 55 mobile home park" with 220 homes and how nice it is to wander around and "Know everybodys name".

I ask you - are we better off these days? The following pictures show us the difference - where nobody knows my name!!!

Don't get me wrong. A lot of our conveniences are good. What I'm concerned about is the__ LOSS OF COMMUNITY__ I remember living in a highrise apartment for 4 years and never meeting the person who lived across the hall or next door. We seem to be so BUSY texting, emailing, etc. that to lift our heads and say good morning is passe.

We live in a world that is running faster and faster toward anonymity. Do you think our advancements might contribute to the loneliness, depression, anxiety, addictions, younger and younger suicides we read about (not in the newspaper of course) but on the internet. I think so!!

I'd be interested in your comments (Pro or con), upvote and resteem if you think this post is worth it.