Thinking about community

I stopped by the pharmacy this morning on my way to the homeschool co-op. My doctor had called in a new refill date for my medication and I knew it was waiting for me to pick up on the way to teach my class. What is unusual about this is the fact my pharmacy is in the grocery store where I used to shop when we lived in a nearby town. My husband tried to talk me into switching pharmacies to a closer location, as has he and my son. What if I had an emergency? Well...call 911.

We had to move a lot when we were following his career. I haven't had the opportunity to put my roots down deep so this time I stood my ground, I wasn't leaving the pharmacists who have gone through a few years of diabetes with me and who already know my story. When I walked in this morning, I didn't have to say a word. The pharmacist went to the section where they keep filled prescriptions. She called me by name and asked how I had been doing (well, I'm breathing). She asked how my husband was feeling now that the temperatures were rising and told me to be certain to say hello.

It feels like the bar on Cheers where "everybody knows my name". (Not intended as a recommendation of the TV show but I do like that song.) Anyway, it's really not that far away and I do drive close enough when going to our homeschool co-op meetings that I can plan ahead, as I did in this case. There are some things I'm willing to go out of my way for.

My son came home from watching a movie at a friend's house recently. They had rented Fiddler on the Roof and he spent some time telling me how much he liked it. I asked him what he found the most interesting (thinking perhaps the Jewish culture as his best friend is Jewish). However, he thought about it for awhile and said..."Community, they had a real sense of community and that's what they knew they were losing".

Now, I ponder such things as "community" and I've chatted with my daughter about the need for true "Christian community" but I didn't know he'd picked up on it. He liked the fact that people helped each other through their professions as shopkeepers. They needed each other. Their faith was central to their very culture. Believe me, that conversation has wrapped around my mind and given much to ponder.

I can't do a lot about the changing culture but I can do my small part by shopping at small stores and farmer's markets, getting to know the cashiers at the bank rather than using the ATM, stopping for coffee at locations where they know who I am...those tasks and errands necessary to life...even if it takes a little more time and effort. People...faces...families...stories...long forgotten in the world of malls and superstores.