A long, long time ago, there was a T.V. show on NBC called Cheers!. Am I dating myself? Anyway, it was frickin’ awesome. The entire show takes place inside a bar in Boston called Cheers. Every time the big guy named Norm enters the scene, the whole bar shouts his name. NORM!!! And the theme song…
Sometimes you wanna go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see (ah-ah)
Our troubles are all the same (ah-ah)
You wanna be where everybody knows your name
Some of you are singing along with me, I just know it!
Sometimes you wanna go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see (ah-ah)
Our troubles are all the same (ah-ah)
You wanna be where everybody knows your name
Some of you are singing along with me, I just know it!
Well, Arbaney Park is my Cheers! I’ve been walking into that park for the past 12 years (we were based up at Basalt High School and at Crown Mtn. before landing here), and it is a place that brings me joy, hope, friendship. Innocence. All the warm fuzzies.
Sometimes I try to breeze in and out of there, scurrying from one camp to the other, but I can’t get outta there in under 15 minutes. Ever! So many hugs, hellos, and new introductions. Excitement to greet kids that I perceive as their 6-year-old selves, though they are bigger now, wanting to show me their latest trick on the pogo stick. If I ever need a pick-me-up, a confidence boost, or a bit of validation, I'm headin' to the park! A full-strength, two arms around, squeezing-with-all-his-might sort of hug from Aksel Woodson just might be the best heart-medicine in the world! And so I linger as much as I can in my favorite local joint. My kids hate when I have to swing by the park. They know I’m a long talker!
And it’s not just the kids! The adults beam, too, similarly excited to share their newest activity of the day. They feel the thrill of success when their new game works, when the invisible ink project captivates their audience. I’m not sure if the curiosity is trickling down from the counselors or up from the kids, but it is a thrill to be a part of it all.
This is the last Friday note from me for a while, so thank you for a great summer, and for sharing your kids with us. So many colorful threads in the fabric of this community. I am oh-so-grateful to have a place where everybody knows my name. Cheers!
Garry
Sometimes I try to breeze in and out of there, scurrying from one camp to the other, but I can’t get outta there in under 15 minutes. Ever! So many hugs, hellos, and new introductions. Excitement to greet kids that I perceive as their 6-year-old selves, though they are bigger now, wanting to show me their latest trick on the pogo stick. If I ever need a pick-me-up, a confidence boost, or a bit of validation, I'm headin' to the park! A full-strength, two arms around, squeezing-with-all-his-might sort of hug from Aksel Woodson just might be the best heart-medicine in the world! And so I linger as much as I can in my favorite local joint. My kids hate when I have to swing by the park. They know I’m a long talker!
And it’s not just the kids! The adults beam, too, similarly excited to share their newest activity of the day. They feel the thrill of success when their new game works, when the invisible ink project captivates their audience. I’m not sure if the curiosity is trickling down from the counselors or up from the kids, but it is a thrill to be a part of it all.
This is the last Friday note from me for a while, so thank you for a great summer, and for sharing your kids with us. So many colorful threads in the fabric of this community. I am oh-so-grateful to have a place where everybody knows my name. Cheers!
Garry
RSS Feed