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April 19, 2006
Rock on
A cab driver from New Jersey asked me last Friday what it was like to live in Concord. We were in heavy traffic on the way to Penn Station, and he had told me about his visits to a friend in Vermont. Trees, small towns, fresh air – the usual bucolic amenities that we who live in northern New England sometimes take for granted.
I filled in a little bit: good schools, a pleasant downtown, a short commute to work, interesting politics at every level, Concord’s 64-square-mile area and the many long walks you can take in the woods without leaving the city.
When I got home that night at about 8:45, a rock-’n’-roll band was playing behind my house. I like all kinds of music, but this was unusual in my quiet neighborhood. When I walked in, it was the first thing I asked my wife about. In response she showed me a strip of paper she had found tucked into our screen door. Here’s what it said:
“Dear friendly neighbor,
“Tonight from seven (7) to nine (9), there will be a small show featuring a few high school bands, held at 20 Pine Street. This notice is to give you some warning about the noise occurring during this time. I hope this doesn’t cause any major problems. If there are any questions, you can contact ---- ----- at --------.”
Now, if this had happened the weekend before, I would have known exactly how to answer the cabbie’s question about life in Concord: This is a city where people care about other people, and if you don’t believe me, get this . . .
Posted by Mike Pride at April 19, 2006 10:05 AM