You have arrived in Steeler Country where men cry over a fumble and give praise to haughty rants about mankind being better and wiser than Mother Nature so much so that anything we engineer is absolute. We shall see who has the last laugh on that one. It has me reflecting…hmm we should change our approach? What has allotted us this moment of time in human evolution…is it really engineering in the lab of any sorts?

While some consider sports teams far from a modern contrivance nor intended as we may think, I do see a positive aspect to the comradery of a community, albeit a distraction no less of the tinkering and tampering behind the scenes as we load up on carbs and continue to cloud our brains. But I do see the potential that the gathering can bring about. It does teach us how to create love, how to create unity and more space for one another. As a species connection is everything, and if initially what brings community is nestling in rooms or outdoor spaces while watching others huddling and strategizing their next move, well it’s a start. How to maintain that connection and find others to build upon a sounder and deeper existence for one another and for the planet we call home though? How to be spontaneous and learn the part to play in this existence?

And just like that this song was created as a one take party, kind of like what it’s like being in the stadium or even in a gathering cheering on a family we take in every Sunday. They don’t mess around in these parts, any negative talk on their beloved black and yellow adorned team will get you a crossed eye. You would be disconnected forever.

“We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing

Everyone can see we’re together
As we walk on by
(Fly) and we fly just like birds of a feather
I won’t tell no lie
(All) all of the people around us they say
Can they be that close
Just let me state for the record
We’re giving love in a family dose

We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing

Living life is fun and we’ve just begun
To get our share of this world’s delights
(High) high hopes we have for the future
And our goal’s in sight
(We) no, we don’t get depressed
Here’s what we call our golden rule
Have faith in you and the things you do
You won’t go wrong, oh-no
This is our family jewel” -Sister Sledge

There’s magic in the air alright not only when this song hits the radio waves, but it resides in the air, in our thoughts and in our hearts. I once drove into a parking garage in Canada some time ago and at such time my plates were from the state of Pennsylvania. The attendant asked where I was visiting from and when I told him the city, he started belting out this song by Sister Sledge. In that moment, I learned that this song not only became a radio and club hit but turns out it was adopted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as their theme song en route to their 1979 World Series Victory. “We’re giving love in a family dose,” alright. Nile Rodgers wrote songs so we can be in them, so if you don’t have family or feel like you don’t, create the love and find the others.