Early morning onversations with old friend David, are always a welcome start to my day. Remembering years back, he would be the first Guest to arrive at our wee restaurant in the cozy and picturesque village of Baltic. Nestled in the valley alongside the waters of the Shetucket River, this small village, a melting pot of society and ethnicity.
Not much has changed. Fred's News Restaurant, a warm and unforgettable memory, the building still standing guard, the neighborhood, no longer alive with hungry patrons heading to the inviting little "town hall epicenter" of a restaurant. Closing my eyes, conjuring up images of early morning Guest, ready to begin their day or report breaking news, discuss hot topics or partake in poignant conversations, sadly the empty building a stark reminder of past times, times shared by a family that grew larger each year.
Without rehashing old events, there is something to be said for a place like the former Fred's News. In today's society where people talk even less, communicate through social media, a society whose wake up call is a constant bombardment of negativity, where people watch, tweet, and type their way to unsubstantiated conclusions, we need people who listen, not just hear but actually listen.
Remembering explanations to and from my kids, both parties throwing the accusatory words, "you're not listening to me," usually brought either party back to reality. Sadly, today's society neither wants nor is in touch with reality. Whether the fiscal cliff, the end of the world, insufficient holiday sales, what's new and exciting with Reality TV shows and what other forms of repetitious nonsense will pop up to challenge our couch potato mentality,remains to be seen. Shocking tragedy, however has served the same purpose. It is by all accounts, the most horrific and senseless actions that are societies reality checks and why?
We talk of the end of the world, where pestilence, fire, and disaster will reign, what of these families, their lives shattered and torn, their children, their futures, their hearts and souls ripped apart by actions that could have been avoided. Perhaps we as a society, a people, had we listened would have heard, noticed and acted upon the signs. With that said, will we learn or will history repeat itself?
Not much has changed. Fred's News Restaurant, a warm and unforgettable memory, the building still standing guard, the neighborhood, no longer alive with hungry patrons heading to the inviting little "town hall epicenter" of a restaurant. Closing my eyes, conjuring up images of early morning Guest, ready to begin their day or report breaking news, discuss hot topics or partake in poignant conversations, sadly the empty building a stark reminder of past times, times shared by a family that grew larger each year.
Without rehashing old events, there is something to be said for a place like the former Fred's News. In today's society where people talk even less, communicate through social media, a society whose wake up call is a constant bombardment of negativity, where people watch, tweet, and type their way to unsubstantiated conclusions, we need people who listen, not just hear but actually listen.
Remembering explanations to and from my kids, both parties throwing the accusatory words, "you're not listening to me," usually brought either party back to reality. Sadly, today's society neither wants nor is in touch with reality. Whether the fiscal cliff, the end of the world, insufficient holiday sales, what's new and exciting with Reality TV shows and what other forms of repetitious nonsense will pop up to challenge our couch potato mentality,remains to be seen. Shocking tragedy, however has served the same purpose. It is by all accounts, the most horrific and senseless actions that are societies reality checks and why?
We talk of the end of the world, where pestilence, fire, and disaster will reign, what of these families, their lives shattered and torn, their children, their futures, their hearts and souls ripped apart by actions that could have been avoided. Perhaps we as a society, a people, had we listened would have heard, noticed and acted upon the signs. With that said, will we learn or will history repeat itself?
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