Sept 30, 2018 - Hello to my community - Oh my, you Blog readers are one of my communities - Did you know that?

Go to the Photo Club Page (Click in left Column) – Dave Cesari posted new photos.

Hey you are my community. See, below, my STORY on COMMUNITIES.

In Psychology Today Dr. Karyn Hall wrote of “Belonging to Community.” I paraphrase: “A sense of belonging to community is a human need, just like the need for food and shelter.” Some find community in a church, some with friends, some with family, and some on social media. Some see themselves as connected to one or two people. Others feel a connection to many. Those that struggle to find a sense of belonging have a loneliness that is physically painful for them. “

Family- community of many generations

The Brubaker family is one of my communities – a community that is generations old.

My daughter Heather and grandson Charlie made me laugh today. On my last visit there, Heather started a conversation during “Happy Hour” by saying we Brubaker’s are different. She said we Brubaker’s try to see the humorous side to any situation.

Heather’s txt to me today said “Oh my goodness. Charlie IS half Brubaker….. we were driving down the road and we saw a sign that said “road work ahead” and he said “I sure hope it does.” I smiled at his Brubaker style humor.”

We all have a community language that is common to our family, our community, our business, and our internet friends. The community communicates in a unique shorthand.

We humans talk and think local – those in our community experience the same things, so we know the same physical and social features of our community and they form the bases for communication. We are part of the community by talking and thinking a certain way.

My community as viewed from the Islander – Islands are always communities

Most of my 80 years were in communities where everyone associated with their neighbors. Since I moved to different places, I was often an outsider. I knew to join the community, I needed to lean the insider’s language and then use their language – and I needed to embrace their attitudes.

Remember, we use the same language within the community but not across communities. “You’uns” may make me one of “we’uns” back home in the hills of western Pennsylvania – But, saying “you’uns” in a presentation to a group of IBM’ers in Westchester County New York would not fly. On the other hand, “Lets take the 6:40” would be clearly understood short-hand for Westchester commuters to New York City.

Just for fun, see if this makes sense to you: “I sure enjoy a pop – even on a unwedder day like this – but I could not have any because it is all. Sonny spilted the last one when he was redding up. I do not think it would have happened if Doris wasn’t rutching around so much. Anyway, I said to Sonny, come here once. I told him I would get more but nowadays pop is so expensive anymore. Looking out the window and seeing white, I said: ‘Is it snowing.’ Sonny said, ‘Is that a question or a statement? It depends where I put the intonation.”

Communities that are generations old have their own way of speaking and an attitude of their own.

That paragraph uses the words and language of the community that I grew up in.

Our community’s language, elicits feelings of home – of belonging – If used in other communities, it can bring ridicule and carry a perceived lack of being part of the community.

I ask you to look at your own community’s shorthand language and enjoy pondering it – Here are a few phrases (and attitudes) from communities that I have been a part over the last 80 years. See if you relate to any of them.

Painted Rock

1. See you at the painted rock.

2. No rush, they are running wild due to Kelly’s jeepsters.

3. Turn left at 4 corners, past James’s, by U block – it was at least 500 pounds.

4. We had a big hatch last night.

Jimmy, put on clean soaks – Love Feast is tonight.

5. Love Feast is in the Soap Holler church tonight.

6. I saw a 10 footer just 2 ports down from the bee tree.

7. I saw a 10 pointer at flat rock.

8. Did you hear an Islander went down off the channel.

9. I am in a pickle. My pig is leaking. I should have painted it.

The Bernice story

10. It is there by the low water crossing where Bernice shot the axis deer.

….. A little side humor – Bernice (98 at the time) said to the Texas Conservation Officer: “It is my ranch and I will shoot whatever I damm well please on my ranch.” The female Conservation Officer understood the language and the attitude. She put her summons-pad away, got off the ranch with haste, and drove away.

Each one of the 10 phrases was understood by members of the community I was a member of at the time.

Like Dr Hall says, focus on building community, learn their language, use it to help say – “I want to be part of you” – them smile.

Select community that will go with you and make them fun times – I selected good!

Oh my – as you swing through life – the communities you build are the most valuable thing you have – even if you have nothing they will feed you, house you, and help you laugh. below are some photos from some of my communities:

I will show photos from only a few of my communities

She laughs with me at one of my Club Communities – The TGO Photo Club.

In my community on the Island – These two have their own community of two. Here we see them working and laughing together. With them I am members of a larger community. That community offers me rides to the airport, holds daily Happy Hours, tells me old Island stories, makes me laugh, invites me to meals, and always waves as I walk by – wonderful community..