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David Rainey's avatar

Memphis is my home base location and I know it like the back of my hand, therefore I'm local in general. Specifically knowing instinctively how to get somewhere without thinking, knowing why someone won't look you in the eye for varied reasons, knowing that music is the life blood and common denominator in a place where racial strife still exists, knowing that 'bless your heart' isn't a concern for another's well being but a subtle statement of disagreement, knowing the heartbeat of the Bluff city is the Mighty Mississippi that flows below. These are learned over time by intuition, observation, and experience. Individuals become part of the whole in the ways listed and expressed in your story, but at their own pace irregardless of duration of stay or approval of others.

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Jack Everly's avatar

We're traveling, with no plans of achieving the hallowed "local" badge anytime soon, but i believe a local is someone the other residents of a town can recognize as someone who is reliable, who makes a good member of the community. Some need a little longer, some don't. The important thing is to try, even if you're just "passing by" like us, or like The Crusher in the Bugs Bunny cartoon...(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o842Aco7kj8 – at about 3:01 8^))

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