Community Update

The word du jour seems to be "Selfie."  It can cause a smile thinking of all the beautiful people, esteemed, celebrated and public who have succumbed to this relatively new craze, but when you reflect on it, well, that's a different story.

Suppose we had a world of "Selfies."  Wow!!!

Yesterday I had a tree removed from our property.  I hadn't planned on watching for a variety of reasons, but found myself caught up in an incredible demonstration of precision.  Three trucks arrived simultaneously, by appointment, exactly on schedule.  After a quiet knock on my front door to alert me of their presence, the nine men walked to the rear of the house where the tree was to be removed.

I didn't hear a word spoken, but they seemed to all know the roles they would play. It was akin to watching a ballet orchestrated by Balanchine.  The lead dancer quickly attached a cord to his body, and rapidly climbed the rather thick trunk of the pine tree.  His co-workers each seemed to know their role in the pantomime, and securely wrapped cables around their shoulders and arms.

And then the performance began.  While I watched mesmerized by their professionalism and coordination, I realized that I wasn't the only audience.  Several young Mothers had taken their youngsters to a safe distance so they too could view the operation.  And I thought what a wonderful lesson for these children.  Obviously, there wasn't a "Selfie" in the work crew.  Their safety and precision depended on their caring for each other.  If any of the nine had shirked their responsibility to the other eight, there could have been a disaster.

That didn't happen.  Within two hours, the tree had been taken down, the yard immaculately cleared, and the three trucks drove away.  Perhaps for another performance at another venue, and who knows how many more within the following week.

I watched the young Mothers put the children back into the cars, and I rather wished some of the youngest generation of our clan could also have watched this occurrence.  I doubt if any of the youngsters were aware of the subtle lesson they had just been given; the value of working with others in an increasingly self-absorbed world.

I think most of us who grew up with siblings can recall being taught to share.  The word selfish had a negative value in the vocabularies of yesteryear.  As we gaze about our world, listening to updates on both local and national issues, it is impossible not to realize the importance of sharing our abilities, emotional capital, if you wish, with others.  While it might be fun to take our own picture, let us hope that all the ramifications of being a "Selfie" doesn't become the motto of the season.