FINDING COMMUNITY

Last night I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch the movie You've Got Mail.  How many of us remember the day of AOL and awaited the message "You've Got Mail"?  I know I did.  Every time I watch that movie I take away something that makes me think.
If you have never seen it you should watch it.  It is not only a nice and unique love story but there are some very good issues in it.  Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly owns a lovely bookstore in New York City and Tom Hanks as Joe Fox of FOX Books are adversaries.  Fox Books puts Kelly's bookstore Shop Around the Corner out of business by moving into the same neighborhood and building a huge discount book store.  Does this remind you of Borders (now gone), Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Books A Million?  How many small independent bookstores have been put out of business by these retail giants?
This also applies to other Big Box stores like Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart and others.  How many small businesses have gone by the wayside because of these giants?
What is the point of all this you might ask.  Just look at this movie and see the personal touch and the knowledge of books that is given in The Shop Around the Corner.  Then go to FOX Books and see how the people working there have very little knowledge of the books and authors they are selling.  Just think what we have lost.  We have lost the sense of community that can be built when we develop relationships with the people in shops.
Last winter I needed window washing fluid for my car.  I went to the local Aubuchon dealer and yes, I know it is also a national chain but is owned or franchised by locals in small stores.  After I bought the fluid the young man at the counter said let me fill your fluid in the car.  Now that would never happen at Lowe's or Home Depot or Walmart.  Small stores bring a caring and a desire for good customer service that these big stores do not have.  They only care about the bottom line.
When I grew up in Acton, MA we used to shop in Maynard and there was a variety of small stores and I especially remember a small clothing store.  I think it was called Beryl's.  She know her customers so well that when my mother went in she would say, "Ruth, I think I have just the thing for you."  Can you see that happening in many places today? No, we have to go through racks and racks of stuff that has no appeal and no one who cares a damn about what you might want or need.
Today here in my little corner of Maine there is a new small shop in Gorham called Carter's Green Market.  They carry lots of local products and when I go in that store I feel welcomed and they know who I am and we share cooking ideas and other small snippets of information and I feel at home there. It is unusual to find that anywhere today.  I sure hope the local folks appreciate what they have and support them.
A few years ago there was a book written called Bowling Alone and it is about how disconnected we as a society have become.  It talked about places where you can find community and it sure was not in the Walmart's of the world but in small places like libraries and other places where people gather to find community.
Our culture has so separated people that one can feel very alone even when surrounded by lots of people.  So when you get an opportunity to shop visit the small local places like Nonesuch Books in South Portland, Terra Cotta Pasta in South Portland, Molly's Cupcakes in North Windham or Carter's Green Market in Gorham and you will find a welcoming smile and helpful folks to assist you and appreciate your business.