Mike McCurry’s “Talk of the Town column In The Clarendon Courier
It’s a Social World
Laughter echoed from the basement of Christ Lutheran Church one snowy Monday night. The evening began with a craft; a hefty cotton ball which slowly morphed into snowman with two eyeballs and the legs were fashioned from pipe cleaners. As a game ensued, the laughter and screaming got louder. As the night settled around in a circle, one of the dads began to tell a story. The girls were intrigued by the twists and turns the story teller told about nature. The dads were pleased it had a moral lesson about life. The night ended with our Indian Princesses and fathers reciting the “friend forever” creed.
I remember enjoying social studies back in my school boy days but never thought I would be writing about it, or much less, living it out! American playwright Tony Kushner said, “The smallest indivisible human unit is two people, not one; one is a fiction. From such nets of soul’s societies, the social world, human life springs.”
Today our communities have expanded geographically and online through social networks like Facebook, twitter, and the Mom’s List but is there really a substitute for the network in which you live? Who makes up your community network? Your church, neighbors, the Babysitting Co-op, Lions Club, Infant Welfare Society, Bridge Club? Theater, dance, cheer? Parents from your kid’s sports teams: AYSO Soccer, Clarendon Hills Little League, Cardinal Baseball, gymnastics, Falcons Football, Biddyball, Jody Harrison, Red Devils? Your age and or quite possibly, the age of your children’s might have a lot to do with your connections around town. When we live in a town the size of Clarendon Hills (8750 according to the 2012 survey), which (in my opinion) is not that big at all, it is wonderful to belong to the various smaller networks of people that make our life more purposeful, interesting, manageable and meaningful.
One of the highlights of my networking in our wonderful community is my association with charitable groups and family-centered organizations that benefit so many. These groups highlight the various interests that abound in our Village. Recently, aprogressive dinner party was organized by our local chapter of Infant Welfare. A few weeks ago, my wife Amy and I joined about 25 other couples to begin the evening at the Caveney’s, on Oxford Ave., for a resplendent array of appetizers. We then drew slips from a hat to learn that we would visit two doors down at the Tatum’s house next for a lavish dinner, other dinner hosts were the DeKuiper’s of S. Prospect, the Craig’s of Churchill Place, the Haran’s of Colfax and the Wyent’s of Golf Ave. Scapa for night-caps was the destination for some of the dedicated crowd. All areas of town made for a great evening – how cool!
Another shining example of local connecting and for those interested in a unique hobby, you might enjoy knowing about a group of about 30 to 50 guys – all beer aficionados – who get together to sample the newest batch of beer that our local “home brewers”, Eric Tech and Jack Gelman produce. In addition, each guy who attends either brings his own sample of home brew or a favorite six-pack to be enjoyed by all during the night’s festivities. There is food, laughter and even networking as many of the guys know each other from their involvement in Indian Princess / Indian Guides, sports or school. Many of the guys even get their hair cut by Paul, at the Barber Shop. This casual but integral group has been around for a couple of years and the number of attendees seems to be growing with each “meeting”. Maybe a micro-brewery in Clarendon Hills next? Interesting hobby to say the least!
Lastly, I would like to mention that my family participated in an Easter Egg Hunt at Steeves Park last Sunday. Families from Walker Elementary School organized the event that almost got rained out! Dozens of children lined up in anticipation of the great hunt and a chance to find the Golden Egg. We had such a wonderful time watching the kids run and hanging out with the parents. Everyone brought something to eat or drink and it made for a pleasant afternoon. It’s so nice to be a part of a community that is active and involved.
So how are you connected? Clarendon Hills offers so many opportunities to connect with one another. The weather is changing, maybe it is time to venture out and try something new or invite someone in? You never know what might happen!
Mike is a Clarendon Hills resident; husband; Indian Princes; Indian Guide Dad; a Coach; an “old” football player and a real estate broker. Mike’s columns are usually crafted about the buzz in and around Clarendon Hills. It sometimes has a spin on real estate or cultural information, highlight a new business or announces school happenings. He might include a “get-to-know” about some of our interesting Clarendon Hills residents and even a little about Clarendon Hills history. Whatever it is, it is sure to be about the “Talk of the Town”.