Discovering what 'community' means

As a 15-year resident of Arlington Heights, I've struggled to grasp the concept of "community."

Well, I discovered its meaning on local streets July 6 about 8:25 a.m.

During Frontier Days' 10K event, I hit a low-energy point near Mile Marker Five.

For my aging body, the Stampede had become a death march. I was over-heated and losing my will to finish.

Fortunately, there were numerous homeowners who used sprinklers and hoses to shower participants in cold water.

These anonymous neighbors propelled joggers by simple acts of kindness and encouraging words.

They could have been asleep, sipping a latte on the backyard patio or enjoying a stack of pancakes at a diner.

Instead, these selfless volunteers enlightened me about the definition of community.

Tim Conway

Arlington Heights