“Happiness is pretty simple; someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to” ― Rita Mae Brown
Brown also said, “One of the keys to happiness is having a bad memory,” but that is a subject for another day. It is Valentine’s Day, so let’s throw some love.
I love the traffic circle. I know, I know, but it is one of the distinguishing characteristics of our beautiful community. The circle makes you stop, be present, be alert, be patient with your fellow travelers and polite to the drivers on your right and left. Commuters understand that they are passing through a special place. It is beautiful in every season, thanks to the attention of the ground crews, displaying a pride of place that welcomes us home.
The Food Lion, stepsister to the up-scale purveyors in the Sandhills, is great. No Starbucks, no dining, no farro or caviar, that’s OK. The service is amazing. Every stocker and cashier has a smile and a greeting for each customer, and they are patient with those who must count their pennies to purchase a meal. I love that.
I look forward to reading our local and state newspapers. Each week, we can take the pulse of our community between the lines. We can feel the beat of our economy in the ads and advertising invested in the Sandhills. Engaging in local politics is a healthy exercise that can warm our hearts and cool our jets. Our legacy and grassroots media sources support our local businesses, boost our sports teams and write our obituaries, tacking us to our neighbor’s activities.
Speaking of neighbors, I love mine. Some I rarely see, but I know where to find them. Knock out the power grid, threaten a snowstorm and watch the neighbors swing into action. Do you have a generator? Is your freezer working? Need some firewood? Would you like some soup? This seems to be the universal condition with good people in good places. We mind our own business most days, but watch what happens when your dog is missing or a fire truck comes down your street.
Fire truck! Send some love to Fire Marshall Bryan Phillips, Sheriff Ronnie Fields and the teams they supervise on our behalf. They serve our community with great dedication and professional ability. Thank you. Thanks also to Mickey Foster, CEO of First Health of the Carolinas, and the Foundation of First Health. Their generosity and vision have gifted us with the Reed Heart Center, Clara McLean House, the Cancer Center and Building the Dream. Many of us believe we are living the dream.
I love our schools. Education has taken some hard knocks in recent years. School boards are the front line, taking heat from every direction. But Moore County has managed to build beautiful institutions that are sensitive to the neighborhoods they serve.
They are inspiring.
Our students and teachers continue to be challenged by external forces and internal reviews, but our students manage to thrive. Sandhills Community College sets a very high bar for excellence and relevance in this and surrounding counties. Sandy Stewart has quickly found his footing at the helm of our public institutions and partners well with our many private academies. The Cooperative Innovative High School on the SCC campus signifies devotion to expanding the opportunities for skilled workers and vocational development.
It’s a brave new world.
I look forward to attending The Village Chapel, the first interdenominational church in the United States. All are welcome. The Chapel is one of the many silent partners in our community that make us such a special place. If you rise early, you can partake in communion at 8 a.m. every Sunday and still make your tee time. Families show up for a rowdy service which includes an interactive children’s sermon at 9:30 a.m. For the more reverent, there is a full-on formal service at 11 a.m.
A big hug for the pastor who preaches three sermons on Sunday and keeps it real. Blessings to all the churches and organizations that keep the lights on at the Ark, The Food Bank, The Coalition and the other hundred agencies that make Moore County more.
“Someone to love, something to do, something to look forward to …”
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Connie Lovell lives in Pinehurst.
