Sharing local 'news' - true, distorted, hoped, imagined, or exaggerated - has always been a way of social life.
Many like to kid around, play games, or just 'hang out'.
Endless are the many ways that humans find to socialize -
There once were special fun events called "Box Socials", where the ladies brought boxed lunches to be auctioned off to raise funds for schools, churches, civic, or needy charities.
Sometimes the highest bidder also won the right to picnic with the lady who prepared it.

Most of us like a certain amount of privacy in our home lives.
When there's a job to do, it can be annoying to have someone looking over one's shoulder.
Seldom, though, do we hear workers complain of a lack of it as they go about their day, pay jobs - it goes with a public territory.
Recently, however, a builder/carpenter landed a contract to transform a big old three-story downtown store into a residence.
It's located on the most high traffic street in mid-town.
Most of his work, however, happens in secluded residential places.
So, accustomed as he is to little scrutiny, it was no surprise when he remarked with obvious dismay, "Yep, we're renovating that old store, right there in front of God and everybody !!"

Socializing, talking politics, joking, etc.,. once was around a wood-fired pot-bellied stove at a local gathering place - a downtown store.
The same talkative folks could be seen there day after day.
Then along came the Internet - and blogging.
It's not quite the same. The numbers dwindled as one by one young and old connected - via Internet.
I was reminded of this today while shopping.
As usual in this store, several 'regulars' were gathered around a table doing their usual thing.
Even without a pot-bellied stove, they could look at each other as they chatted, seeing their facial expressions, looking into their eyes, knowing there are few secrets.

It's catch-up time when friends and relatives show up for summer visits.
Folks not seen for a while, update you on their lives as you share happy, relaxed days together once again.
Far too soon, summer ends.
Then it's back to the grindstone with not-so-friendly weather.
A need to get away from it all seemed even more pronounced today when I received an email from a recent visitor who has always vacationed here for only one week, once a year.
They were here last week.
He and his family hope to come again this summer for another week, if they can work it out despite demanding schedules.
When announcing this hope...the parting shot: "If this does not work out, you can be sure we'll come next summer, come Hell or high water!!"

The cook accidentally mixed three common kitchen ingredients - potassium, nitrate and charcoal.
As he set it aflame, it created an explosion, surprising him with its multi-colors.
Later, the same mix was stuffed into the hollow of bamboo shoots to create an explosion.
Eventually, the fireworks were used to chase away evil spirits, to celebrate weddings, victory in battles, eclipses of the moon and religious ceremonies.
It is thought that China visitor Marco Polo spread the use of fireworks as he traveled other countries.