In my tiny hometown, summer Wednesday nights meant one thing: village band concerts on the lawn in the village square. It was a Big Deal. Nearly everyone came out to listen, visit with neighbors and friends, and partake of the ice cream social that raised money for the volunteer fire department.

The village band was composed of everyone and anyone from the village and surrounding rural area who wanted to play. We had kids who were just starting out on their instruments, oldsters who first learned to play 60 years in the past, local music professionals, college kids home on break, music teachers, and everyone in between.

Of course, being band geeks, one of my siblings and I played in the band year after year. We’d all get together and practice on Tuesday night, then hit the square on Wednesday. Some weeks (and years) the band was better than others depending on who was away on vacation or who happened to be visiting town and sitting in. But, nobody cared if there was the out-of-tune note there or the slightly off-rhythm passage here.

The audience would bring blankets or lawn chairs, or just claim a spot of grass and sprawl. Little kids would run around the perimeter of the square or stand in front of the bandstand and dance.

It was an enchanting evening that happened week after week, year after year. This is the stuff that builds communities.

 

Here at Glibertarians.com, we are no less a community even though we gather mostly virtually. And one of our own traditions is the Open Post.

Enjoy yourselves!