If you had walked into Pull Up & Play on July 13, you would've immediately understood why we say community feels different here.
The room was full.
More than 25 people gathered around tables filled with cards, darts, laughter, conversations, and enough friendly competition to keep everyone on their toes. It felt like every corner of the room had its own story unfolding.
I started my evening at the dart board with Queenin.
We weren't keeping score—just enjoying ourselves—until a wonderful couple joined us and introduced us to the official points system. Let's just say... this week was all about practice. Next week, I'll be ready to put those new skills to the test.
From there, I found myself at a spades table.
Whew.
The cards weren't exactly in my favor. Thankfully, Ms. Nelson was the definition of a team player. She stayed patient with me, and somehow we managed to keep the laughs coming despite my less-than-stellar performance.
Meanwhile, another table was deep into a game of Spades while UNO had taken over another corner of the room. Everywhere I looked, people were connecting, laughing, and making memories. It wasn't just game night anymore—it felt like a house full of friends.
Eventually, I wandered over to spend some time catching up with what I affectionately call the "Three T's."
As we talked, I learned something that genuinely stayed with me.
I learned some things about these wonderful ladies, but the thing that stayed with me most was learning they travel all the way from Clayton and Knightdale just to spend their Monday evenings with us. As I sat there listening, I couldn't help but think about what that really meant.
Out of all the ways they could spend their time, they choose to make the drive, week after week, to be part of this community. That isn't just dedication—it speaks to the kind of space we're creating together. It reminded me that community isn't measured by miles. It's measured by the willingness to show up for one another.
Overall great vibes met so many new faces and I can't wait until the next get-together. 