Being the outsider
Community is a broad term, but it can be felt simply and deeply. I felt the community of Holyoke the minute I drove into the city limits.
Growing up in Greeley, I knew that our town was somewhat small, but I didn’t know everybody’s names. Here in Holyoke, you know what your neighbor had for breakfast. That is how close knit the community is here, and I am grateful that I have gotten to be a part of it over this summer.
New people coming into Holyoke: beware of the limited stop signs! This is the first time I have been in a town so small that there is no need for one on every street. Although I know I do not need to stop, my body involuntarily makes every road have an invisible stop sign.
Becoming accustomed to the culture changes in Holyoke was something I was not prepared for. I was not prepared to have to fend for myself like a wild animal for food after 8 p.m. since everything was close to closing.
I was not prepared for Holyoke Marketplace to only have six aisles since I was so used to the football field sized Walmart in my hometown. It made me realize that perhaps Walmart is way too big. I do not need to be intrigued by the three aisles of candles. All I needed was some toothpaste, a couple of apples and a magazine to read when I have the free time. Holyoke Marketplace had all of that, and in convenient spots too!
Being in Holyoke has made me realize that I have taken too much for granted. Being able to enjoy walking around downtown and knowing the people I pass by is something that has not gone over my head.
I am incredibly happy that I was able to be in Holyoke for the Dandelion Daze festival. It was something that felt like magic to see the town excited and participating in the event.
Although there are events similar to this in Greeley, it’s mainly full of people I don’t know and who are from way out of town. And yes, Dandelion Daze did have its fair share of outsiders like me, but I did not feel excluded. I knew who I sat next to when Dance Fuzion did its routines. I knew who was serving dinner that night, and what that dinner meant to them. I knew that my roommate and her sister played in the cornhole tournament alongside my coworkers. I knew the people who were both working the festival and enjoying the festivities. I have never been able to say that about Greeley.
There is a sense of community in every single area in this town. From the shop who will repair my broken garage sale watch which I had no hope for, to the siren heard at different intervals during the day and even to which specific dog barks I hear when I am outside. There was no bland day when I was in Holyoke. Every day had something new for me to explore, learn and grow from.
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