>> Aron: HAPPY JULY, EVERYONE.

LIKE ALL OF YOU, I’VE BEEN ENJOYING THE SUMMER WITH MY LOVED ONES.

JUST PALLING AROUND WITH PEOPLE WHO, LIKE ME, NEED AIR CONDITIONING AND SUNSCREEN.

THIS SUMMER, I’VE BEEN VERY CONSCIOUS OF MY COMMUNITY.

MAINLY BECAUSE THEY’VE BEEN ARTIFICIALLY DEFINED FOR ME MY ENTIRE LIFE.

LIKE EVERY TIME I GO TO A COMMUNITY POOL, I’M FORCED TO EXAMINE MY COMMUNITY AND I’M ANNOYED BY IT.- DONOYED BY IT.- DO TYED BY IT.- DO THED BY IT.- DO THE SBY IT.- DO THE SHI IT.- DO THE SHIRTT.- DO THE SHIRTLE- DO THE SHIRTLESS MASSES I SEE AT THE POOL REALLY REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY?

ARE THE OLD MEN DOING LAPS THE ELDERS I SHOULD BE LOOKING TO FOR WISDOM?

ARE THE CHILDREN, WHO ARE INAPPROPRIATELY RUNNING, THE FUTURE LEADERS I SHOULD BE GUIDING?

AND IS THE LIFEGUARD WATCHING IT ALL, THE AUTHORITY FIGURE I SHOULD BE RESPECTING?

IT SEEMS SO ARBITRARY!

ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, THE COMMUNITY POOL SEEMS TO BE FILLED WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF STRANGERS I’VE EVER SEEN.

I’VE NEVER RUN INTO A SINGLE FRIEND, COLLEAGUE, LOVED ONE, YOU NAME IT AT THE COMMUNITY POOL.

I’VE RUN INTO MORE ACQUAINTANCES AT THE AIRPORT THAN AT THE COMMUNITY POOL!

THESE PEOPLE AREN’T MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS!

THEY’RE NOTHING LIKE MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS!

MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY KNOW NOT TO HOG THE LOUNGE CHAIRS.

MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY RESPECT THE NO-DIVING SIGNS POSTED ON THE WALLS.

AND FURTHERMORE, MEMBERS- OFD FURTHERMORE, MEMBERS- OF MFURTHERMORE, MEMBERS- OF MY RTHERMORE, MEMBERS- OF MY COHERMORE, MEMBERS- OF MY COMMRMORE, MEMBERS- OF MY COMMUNORE, MEMBERS- OF MY COMMUNITE, MEMBERS- OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS- OF MY COMMUNITY WOEMBERS- OF MY COMMUNITY WOULBERS- OF MY COMMUNITY WOULDERS- OF MY COMMUNITY WOULDERS- NEVER CHEAT AT MARCO-POLO!

BUT IT DOES MAKE ME WONDER.

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE THE WEIRDOES AT THE POOL A PART OF MY COMMUNITY?

CERTAINLY MORE THAN THE SOLIDARITY FORGED FROM TRYING TO BEAT THE HEAT.

MAYBE CONVERSATIONS.

MAYBE MEALS.

MAYBE EVENTS DEDICATED TO HIGHLIGHTING OUR HUMANITY.

MAYBE EVEN THIS.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE COME UP WITH, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE, NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED COMMUNITY.

I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT BUILDING IT.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, OPENING UP A POOL JUST ISN’T ENOUGH.