Where Everybody Knows Your Name

The man in the orange shirt was unexpected at the party. He was weird and caused many of us to smile, and others to draw back. He definitely didn’t belong to the scene in front of us. Though I don’t know his name, he looked like a “Jake”.

The Place
Last evening we attended the local Festival in the Park which is held throughout the summer on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Different groups are showcased, both local and world renowned.

The Setting
A cool, clear sky over the crowd and on stage two groups that were playing lively music – kind of bouncing country mixed with rock. The style of music was making the kids bounce. The two to five year olds were having a wonderful time as the music rolled out over us.

The Focus
It was hard not to notice a group of about twenty young adults nearby where we were sitting. They were sharp looking and dressed well. From the appearance they were either University Students or late high school –likely a mixture of both. They knew each other and appeared to be returning from their summer places to meet again in Peterborough. It was a true reunion with great delight shown for each other as they poured into the park. The group grew to about thirty or more.

As the music rolled on they began to dance and jig with each other. They provided far more action than was on the stage. It was a demonstration of vitality mixed with pure fun. Dozens of us “older couples” sitting on our folding lawn chairs smiled and looked on at the beautiful sight. We were almost young again – with them.

The Oddity – Jake
Their delight with the night and with each others was visible all over the park. They drew more attention than the stage at times as they danced and carried on.

As we watched and other young adults were attracted, a man in an orange shirt came bouncing up to them. He stepped into their revelry and bounced with them. As they locked arm in arm and kicked feet left to right, he did the same. He grabbed one girl’s arm to join the one line dance. She looked startled – she didn’t know him.

The contrast was evident. The young males of the group were tanned and sporting muscle – some with no shirts and others with. “Jake’s” orange shirt covered his rounding belly. His base ball hat was mounted on sideways and he had a really funny grin on his face – his mouth never closed. From below his ball cap stuck some gray hair. This was one older man trying to grab a piece of the youth that bounced on the lawn.

It wasn’t long until the group stopped dancing and just looked at “Jake” as he bounced around in the middle. The music rolled on and so did “Jake”. But the crowd stopped – they didn’t know what to do with “Jake”.

Two young jocks stepped forward and began dancing with “Jake” as the girls looked on laughing. “Jake” pulled away after a bit, realizing that perhaps he had become the center of the action – too much.

“Jake” may have been mentally challenged, or from the country or maybe he was a university professor – (likely an anthropologist). It was hard to tell.

As a people watcher it was fascinating to take it all in.

Where do I go with this?

• The young people needed each other and were so happy together.
• “Jake” needed others and was delighted to slip into the group.
• He didn’t fit.
• Oh how this is like the church… I have to dwell/mull on this one a while.

Years ago a popular TV show was entitled “Cheers”. Do you remember the words to the song? Here they are – (the whole song never actually aired..)

“Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows Your name.

You wanna go where people know, people are all the same,

You wanna go where everybody knows your name.”

Where everybody knows your name
By Greg Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo
(The whole song never actually aired)

• Making your way in the world today
• Takes everything you've got;
• Taking a break from all your worries
• Sure would help a lot.
• Wouldn't you like to get away?
• All those night when you've got no lights,
• The check is in the mail;
• And your little angel
• Hung the cat up by it's tail;
• And your third fiance didn't show;
• Sometimes you want to go
• Where everybody knows your name,
• And they're always glad you came;
• You want to be where you can see,
• Our troubles are all the same;
• You want to be where everybody knows your name.
• Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead;
• The morning's looking bright;
• And your shrink ran off to Europe,
• And didn't even write;
• And your husband wants to be a girl;
• Be glad there's one place in the world
• Where everybody knows your name,
• And they're always glad you came;
• You want to go where people know,
• People are all the same;
• You want to go where everybody knows your name.
• Where everybody knows your name,
• And they're always glad you came;
• Where everybody knows your name,
• And they're always glad you came...