During my time here at the Great West Media, I think I’ve written the word community at least a thousand times. But do I really know what it means? Does literally anyone?
This article came out of an invitation to go lawn bowling. You know, retirees’ bocce ball. At first, I was hesitant, the lawn isn’t my usual “scene,” and the ride there was long enough to be aggravating. Parking would’ve been tricky. Small inconveniences.
Still, I got to the lawn early, as the barbecue started. After small talk and burgers, the bowling proper began. Eating together, even with strangers, was nice.
As our rounds went on, I noticed little things. My sister, the person who dragged me there in the first place, is a part of the bowling league. Little by little, I saw the relationships she’d formed there.
Even as an annoyingly intense barefoot man taunted me for my subpar aiming, I realized something. This is community. Not this group, but this feeling.
The inconvenience paid off.
I’m sure older folks might think I’m silly for what I’m about to write, but it feels like we younger people might’ve missed a class on how to make a community. We organize parties and events and markets and pop ups and clubs, but we still don’t feel comfortable turning to that group for help. We certainly don’t annoy or taunt either.
Halfway through our game, I noticed someone watching from the fence. As a large run club passed her, she stayed put. Together, but still separated. The gate was open, but she didn’t come in.
I wonder if she felt separate from us or if she made herself separate. Maybe she had bad wrists and couldn’t play.
Community feels rare now, and I wonder if that’s by design.
Third spaces, or essentially any public area that comes with zero expectation of spending money, are becoming increasingly rare. Our cities are increasingly designed with outward sprawl, not walkability, so it’s harder to organically happen upon people or lawn bowling.
It can’t all be doom and gloom. Even with all the above, I still felt it. You have too, whether it’s at church or an Oilers game or even regular bowling.
So, I think we should say yes to that terrible thing after work if you can. Take your annoying, freeloader of a coworker to her podiatrist. Ask your best friend to watch your cat for the third time this week. Go to an activity you’d never think you’d enjoy simply because you care about the person inviting you.
Inconvenience others and be inconvenienced in return. Or don’t.
But it’s lonely being the person watching from the fence instead of on the lawn.
-Acacia Carol is a reporter with the Airdrie City View
