Where Everybody Knows Your Name

by Karen Shughart

Some of us remember the TV show Cheers, a situational comedystarring Ted Danson back in the 1980s and ‘90s. The setting was a cozy Boston neighborhood pub with a cast of quirky characters. One of the verses in the title song goes like this:

“Sometimes you wanna 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.”

I remember that show not only for its offbeat humor and eccentric patrons but also because I loved the interplay among them and that everyone who frequented the pub knew, despite their imperfections and oddities, they would always be warmly welcomed and accepted.

I thought about that show several days ago when my husband and I were taking our morning walk.  As we headed out towards the lake, a neighbor sitting on his front porch drinking coffee waved and said,  “good morning.” We continued our route and encountered another neighbor walking his Scottie who wouldn’t take a step without us petting her.  A few doors down a friendly acquaintance was painting his house. When his Goldendoodle noticed us, she did several Zoomies in the yard before coming to rest against my leg to be nuzzled and kissed while we chatted with her owner.

Construction workers said good morning and we asked them about the project they were working on. We exchanged greetings and pleasantries with two young women who walk around the village the same time as we do. We spoke for awhile with another couple about our crazy weather while a friend rode by on his bike, waved and shouted greetings. We had a pleasant chat with another friend about summer activities on the bay.  As we rounded the corner heading for home we had a nice conversation with our next-door neighbor.

Later that morning I drove to our local pharmacy to buy some toiletries and birthday cards. In one aisle a young man walked over to me and said ,“ I know you, you’re the author. It’s nice to see a celebrity out and about.” As some of you may know I do write cozy mysteries, but I scarcely consider myself a celebrity. I was pleased but also puzzled about how he knew me. Then I remembered that when I’d given a talk and book signing at our local library last fall this young man had attended to purchase my most recent for his grandmother, who I learned was a fan.

There are many small communities in the Finger Lakes, and when you live in one like we do, you can often leave your doors unlocked during the day, and if you’re sitting on your porch it’s not uncommon for friends passing by to stop for a drink. There’s less to fear about invasion of privacy and more to celebrate about and enjoy social interactions with neighbors or a group of close-knit friends who support each other in good and bad times. And when we venture to a local restaurant and pub, not only do the owners and servers, but also many of the patrons, know our names.

Karen Shughart is the author of the award-winning Edmund DeCleryk cozy mystery series and a short story, all set in the northern Finger Lakes region of New York. She has also co-authored two mysteries and written two non-fiction books. She lives with her husband, Lyle, in Sodus Point, NY. Her books are available at local gift shops, bookstores and in multiple formats at amazon.com.