Bringing community together.

Not an endorsement. Simply liked the image on the can.

"Just what are the social ingredients which allows a community of people to come together and stay together?"This was a question I was pondering last night as a couple of friends and I were watching the Super Bowl. We all live in the same supported living, building totaling twenty individuals, of that only three of us showed up for this celebration, and that is with the offering up free food.

Despite having a great staff and really a beautiful building with individual apartment suites that are a much bigger than the norm, I'm guessing about 500 ft.², it is been almost impossible in the year and 1/2 I've been here to motivate individuals to break out of the routine. While their physical conditions vary greatly, mentally they are all fine, and most come from a creative past. There are musicians, people who have travelled the world, one would think that this place would "Rock!",but there is a lethargy about the place. Personally I am so glad I volunteer twice a week in Vancouver, because that may be what keeps me going. Yet I don't think the answer is quite so simple, because I've talked to the staff and others who've been here for in some cases over nine years and this state of affairs has crept up very slowly. There is also the impression that this is happening in other supported living facilities. It makes me wonder if it is a side effect of the changes in modern society as a whole. Last night's game (even if one is not inclined to sports) should have been a time for socializing and general goofing around. Yet the building was quieter than normal while the three of us sat in front of a beautiful high definition TV with nachos and a few beverages in hand. The cook had gone out of their way to make some snacks… Making this essentially a free party. Anywhere else in Surrey British Columbia, this would mean the room would've been filled to the brim with so much talking and discussion going on about the game and everything. There would be stories four days about the event.

Perhaps the first question is, not "What makes community", but what stifles it in the modern world. Is society losing its social edge? I am coming up with more questions as I write this. If anyone out there has any answers or hypothesis, please feel free to comment. I am very curious about the topic of community as a whole and this particular incident has me really perplexed.

In case you're curious about the accompanying photo for this article, it is not an endorsement or commentary on the product, but I did find it to be stereotypically perfect for a weekend football game and I simply couldn't resist posting it. Actually now that I think about it even though my apartment is adorned with paintings and I have a general policy of not putting anything up on the walls which are glorified endorsements. This particular drawing is hard to resist, just because of the style in which it was created. My grandfather Gallagher had a much older version of the truck depicted in the image. Perhaps that is what the allure is for me.

All the best to all the visitors to this blog and please do feel free to comment.
Patrick Clark

PS: Not being an avid sports fan, it suddenly dawned on me that the Super Bowl game I watched last night might be "Super Bowl MMXIX" and not "Super Bowl MMXX" as is displayed in the graphic. Regardless of the dating issue, I had a great time. Thanks to one at all.