What role does community play in your life?

     Community plays a huge role in my life.  It is probably the one thread that ties everything together.  First of all, as a teacher, I am part of a large community of students and their families.  We are all one big extended family.  I can not, nor do I wish to separate myself from them.  I get to know my students and their parents.  I even get to know siblings who are too young to go to our school.  The look on the little one's faces as I greet them too, well, that's just priceless.  For me, working with a member of my school neighborhood community is not just a one shot deal.  I'm planting life long seeds and I let my students know that I'll always be watching.  I'll be their biggest fan when their moment of greatness arrives!
     Yesterday, Davindra, one of my former students walked by the school at dismissal time.  He gave me a huge hug.  Davindra had been my student in fourth grade and now he was in eleventh grade.  Wow, time sure flies.  That seems like yesterday!  We chatted about how he was doing and about how his mom and sister were.  He had stopped by to tell me that he had gotten a job.  I love it!  The media specialist was also there, and in a rather snyde way, she inquired about why he had come by.  "Daviindra was a student of mine.  He came by because I'm the best teacher he ever had."  I said jokingly.  At that moment, Davindra turned to me and put his arm around me.  "You are the best teacher that I ever had.  Really.  You and one teacher that I have now.  You are the two best teachers ever!"  It hit me at that moment... community, a family, people working together, they are all powerful and beautiful things.
     I always get to know my neighbors.  I have also encouraged my daughters and Karl to get to know them too.  Some of them are quriky, but we've all got quirks.  I've come to find out that they will be there for me the same way that I'm there for them.  Karl and I were recently moving a mattress into the house.  Our neighbor, Ron, stopped by, said hi and immediately took over my role as mattress mover.  Getting to know my neighbors is a community building staple that my parents instilled in me.
     Last, but not least, is my family community.  Karl, the girls, the cats, the ferrets and I have come together as a family.  It isn't always easy, but we're trying.  Both of the girls are involved in sports and it's so cute to see them loving (and sometimes hating) it.  I stay in close contact with my younger brother, as he lives closer, and we visit often.  I talk to my older brother when I can, but he has a job that's a little crazy.  We're planning the 5 hour drive up to see him and his family next summer.
     Yes, community is big for me.  The small parts coming together to make something bigger.  Getting to know the people that I see and pass by every, single day.  Taking away the anonymity in life and filling it up with friendship.