Environments and Change
Jul. 1st, 2003 04:43 pmI grew up in a town with a multi-cultural community.
I didn't know that. At the time, there was no such THING as "multi-culturalism."
The largest minority group in my home town was the French-Canadian group. They lived mostly on the west side of town. As I lived in the (privileged and wealthy) North End, I didn't see much of them directly, but there were clear signs of them. St. Mary's Bank's signs were in French, not in English, which seemed odd to me as a youth.
We intermittently had Mayor Dupuis or other French surnamed individuals serving as elected officials.
My connection to that community was pretty small. My parents had friends, the Brassards, who were of that group. They ran a jewelry store, but Roger was also the Postmaster for Manchester, which is the largest city in New Hampshire, now, as it was then.
For all that I didn't know either of them, nor their children (who were quite a bit older than I) at all well, I knew Roger better than his wife. I knew him from the twinkle in his eye. He loved fun, and mild forms of mischief. Of all of my parents' friends, I suspect that I felt the least judged by him for my school failures and disappointments.
Roger was fun. And funny. We didn't do anything. We didn't play games (not that I remember) - but he was a hearty man, in the older sense of the word, full of life and laughter. he was not an intellectual peer for me or for my folks.
He was a friend. Loyal, stalwart... He embodied what it meant to be loyal - and I could STILL learn a lot form that, I think.
On hearing this morning, of his passing, I was sad not to have known it before. But, honestly, he had passed from MY life a decade or more ago, along with others of my parents' friends with whom THEY had fallen out of SO active interaction that I couldn't miss them. Some of my parents' friends I have developed relationships of my own with, but not most of them.
And, my mom pointed out, he really passed on a few years ago, except in body.
**************************
My father called a mutual friend to bring the news, and after he identified himself, the man said, "Who died?"
That, as much as the other stuff prompted this post. Susan noted the other day that it makes her sad to know that we are getting older, that our time together is shorter than it was.
I don't usually think of it that way - it is a factor, though, and I AM conscious of it... as the next post may show.
I didn't know that. At the time, there was no such THING as "multi-culturalism."
The largest minority group in my home town was the French-Canadian group. They lived mostly on the west side of town. As I lived in the (privileged and wealthy) North End, I didn't see much of them directly, but there were clear signs of them. St. Mary's Bank's signs were in French, not in English, which seemed odd to me as a youth.
We intermittently had Mayor Dupuis or other French surnamed individuals serving as elected officials.
My connection to that community was pretty small. My parents had friends, the Brassards, who were of that group. They ran a jewelry store, but Roger was also the Postmaster for Manchester, which is the largest city in New Hampshire, now, as it was then.
For all that I didn't know either of them, nor their children (who were quite a bit older than I) at all well, I knew Roger better than his wife. I knew him from the twinkle in his eye. He loved fun, and mild forms of mischief. Of all of my parents' friends, I suspect that I felt the least judged by him for my school failures and disappointments.
Roger was fun. And funny. We didn't do anything. We didn't play games (not that I remember) - but he was a hearty man, in the older sense of the word, full of life and laughter. he was not an intellectual peer for me or for my folks.
He was a friend. Loyal, stalwart... He embodied what it meant to be loyal - and I could STILL learn a lot form that, I think.
On hearing this morning, of his passing, I was sad not to have known it before. But, honestly, he had passed from MY life a decade or more ago, along with others of my parents' friends with whom THEY had fallen out of SO active interaction that I couldn't miss them. Some of my parents' friends I have developed relationships of my own with, but not most of them.
And, my mom pointed out, he really passed on a few years ago, except in body.
**************************
My father called a mutual friend to bring the news, and after he identified himself, the man said, "Who died?"
That, as much as the other stuff prompted this post. Susan noted the other day that it makes her sad to know that we are getting older, that our time together is shorter than it was.
I don't usually think of it that way - it is a factor, though, and I AM conscious of it... as the next post may show.