BROOKINGS I bet youd all be flabbergasted to learn that Im not much of a social butterfly.
But Mondell, youre always at Brookings City Council meetings! or Youre a fixture at the Brookings County Commission! or I saw you taking pictures and chatting up the owners at a local business!
Indeed, all of that is quite true. Theres a common thread, though: Its all related to my chosen profession, journalism.
Outside of the Brookings Register, Im something of a boring homebody. Ive always been that way, too, and not just because Im slightly past the half-century mark now. A twentysomething Mondell would instantly recognize the habits of a fiftysomething Mondell.
A social butterfly I am not, but I do possess a craving for knowledge along with a vivid imagination and both are powered by the books, magazines, news stories and online content that I devour while enjoying downtime at home. Combine those bookworm tendencies of mine with a decades-long love of video gaming and, hey, Ive never felt the need to go out and mingle a whole lot socially.
Now, while my whole world is literally in my living room, I admit to stealing away now and then to catch a movie or two. I mean, a person does have to get out once in a blue moon, right? Plus, the concessions Mm, popcorn! Mm, soft pretzels! at Brookings Cinema 8 cant be replicated via Netflix.
My one other social caveat is dining out. Then again, maybe thats just a single guys kind of thing, too, regardless of age. Anyway. Dining out is my other social outlet, and a lot of it takes place at Pizza Ranch here in Brookings. I like to immerse myself not only in the food pizza, chicken, salad, breadsticks and more but the atmosphere as well: Families chatting, children running around, a stellar and friendly staff and, hey, even the Fun Zone arcade.
So, there you have it. Im mostly a harmless homebody whose reading and gaming habits keep me quite occupied outside of work. No social butterfly experience required for that, right? Hmm. Well, maybe Im more sociable than I realized.
How so? My reading habits expose me to entire worlds of knowledge and experiences I wouldnt have otherwise known about, written by people not only locally, but regionally, nationally and globally as well. And my affinity for gaming, especially online? That truly exposes me to people from all over the world from all sorts of backgrounds, age groups and various levels of maturity (thats a nice way of saying Ive met adults who act like children, and teenagers who act like sages).
No, its not the same as heading out to a local watering hole, or going to church or, well, even dining out or going to a movie. But its what Im comfortable with and have been for decades. Its my own way of being a sociable entity without being overly social, if that makes a lick of sense.
Theres one thing that Im certain wont surprise you, dear reader, though: Im the outlier in my family when it comes to social engagement. My grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles have always been social butterflies. Especially Mom. Word of advice: Dont let her corner you at the grocery store; shes awesome, I love her to bits, but shell talk your head off, too.
All that said, maybe I was the lucky one whose genetics were more apt to say, Naw, lets just chill out at home on a Friday night, bro. Or, more likely, a combination of that and my not-so-adventurous personality.
Still, I am quite social when the need calls for it, and thats primarily when Im representing the Brookings Register. Im more than happy to engage in friendly and lively conversations with not only officials and sources, but folks in general. And, hey, Im not even shy about a hearty handshake, too, in those situations.
Oh, one more thing: If youre ever at a City Council or County Commission meeting that turns contentious and leaves you frazzled, I might just invite you to join me at the movies or a local restaurant. Its a great way to unwind, especially for a fellow whose tendencies are more toward making a beeline for home, and the wonders within his living room.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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