"floater in the fishbowl...but don't flush yet!"

Hard thing about living in ths same place for so long is that it's a big fishbowl where most think they are the big fish in the little pond -- but like most "fish tales" that grow from the actual catch on the end of the hook... the same stays true for stories that circulate in what another girlfriend and I sometimes refer to as "stupidville" (which is fodder for future blog under heading of "small town, small minds, big mouths").

It can be a blessing that everybody knows everything (or seems that way) in town. It can be the safety net under your children as they walk the tight rope across adolescence -- that there are good, caring people in the community who are there for them if they fall-- or it can be the "village" where you find out stuff you need to know in the grocery store line --like soccer fees are due and tryouts are tonight--which you would've otherwise missed in the myriad of activities on the family calendar. It's having really great kids say hi to you everywhere you go... and back up support for your own kids when you can't be everywhere.

But the curse is that it can be harsh to live in the fishbowl. Short of packing up and moving cross country (which I've considered), life in the 'burg means that most everybody knows your business and everydbody else's business.

That can be harsh--as anyone who has made mistakes knows -- given any length of time living in one place whether it is your community, neighborhood, local school district or office/workplace -- sh*t happens...and people are going to know about it.

They say, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

I say, "if it's painful enough to nearly kill you -- it really, really hurts!!" Whatever life hardship(s) that hit you--they can be hard to heal from and it may be a long, painful process. Or you may be just be momentarily stunned and get your bounce back pretty quick. Either way, you may find yourself (and your world) upside down and floating topside as a near goner.

It's just that in the fishbowl everyone is pretty quick to want to flush you down the toilet before you have the chance to catch your breath, clear your lungs and be back to swimming strong again.