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John Bahouth's avatar

For a number of years I have split my time between Niantic CT and Charlottesville VA. My lifestyle in Charlottesville was nearly all pedestrian. My car parked and sat until I went to the airport two weeks later. Walking everywhere connected me to the town and its pulse in ways that long time residents never knew. The Twain quote refers to the act of talking. I might add that when one has a pedestrian lifestyle many "objects" speak to them. The cobblestones, brick sidewalks. The trees in their seasonal changes. The wheeling of provisions to local restaurants as the sun comes up. A fountain bubbling along. The various stranger/friends, people routinely seen and greeted and might never know their name. I'd expand the quote to include actively listening. A good part of this also is my lifestyle in Niantic. Yet I am much more car dependent. Services are a distance away. I might cycle there - yet the roads are narrow, minimal shoulders and drivers are distracted. My optimal situation would be a merger of the two environments. I'd be happy saying farewell to the automobile and live as pedestrian as possible as long as it was near the ocean! :-) With roads that featured broad shoulders and drivers who drive vs drive and text or drive and eat or drive and clip their fingernails or drive and scold their back seat child! Happy Thanksgiving all!

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Dave Weinstock's avatar

You have a gift … one that continues to inspire the folks in this community to strive for their best. Will leave you with my annual thanksgiving ditty … Guy goes to grocery store and is looking at the frozen turkeys. Stockboy comes over and asks,”Can I help you?” Guy points at the turkeys and asks, “Do these get any bigger?” Stockboy responds,”No sir. They’re all dead!” Hope everyone has a warm holiday.

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