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By Wendy Bolduc, Resident Reading the title of this article some of you may have thought 'What? Monday doesn't have a color, or 'I don't know about Monday but Thursday is blue.' Maybe you just haven't noticed if you have senses that crossover. Or maybe it's so normal for you, you assumed we all have the same associations. The condition is called synesthesia, from Greek roots meaning to 'perceive together.' It occurs when you experience one of your senses through another. My daughter, an OR Nurse, and I discovered we both have the condition several years ago when we were working on schedules and calendars. I made the comment that "Monday is red" and she responded with a quizzical look and said, "No, it isn't, it's yellow." We were surprised and amused and immediately began exploring which colors we associated with days of the week, numbers etc. While our associated colors are different they are consistent for each of us. Not all of our days or numbers had colors associated but the ones that do are very clear (to us at least). And of course we began looking in to the phenomenon. We learned that synesthesia usually begins in childhood and doesn't change over time. If your number three is green when you are a child it will always be green. While crossovers with numbers, sounds or colors are most common, synesthetes may also hear sounds or shapes or experience taste. The association is automatic and involuntary and according to WebMD synesthesia is thought to effect 1 - 4 percent of people. It is not a disease or disorder and some studies suggest people with the condition do better on memory and intelligence tests. Doctors don't know what causes it but they think people with the condition are just wired differently. It also is genetic as it runs in families. So, if you are a synesthete HURRAY! You're not crazy! Enjoy exploring with your family and friends the different ways your senses crossover. If you do not have the condition, don't worry, you are in the majority. There are a lot of resources on the Internet including videos for further understanding and exploration. References: WebMD -Synesthesia by Angela Nelson; Psychology Today What Color Is… Monday? SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2022 5 By Keith Davis, Chair Hello friends, neighbors, and fellow islanders! My name is Keith Davis and, for those of you who may not know, I have recently assumed the position of Chairperson for the Neighborhood Watch. I am replacing Mr. Steve Day, who is moving to Arizona. I would like to express my gratitude for the outstanding job that Steve did during his tenure as the Chair. Steve will be sorely missed and leaves us with some very large shoes to fill. I am not a retired police officer like Steve, but I will try to maintain the relationship he has built with the Hemet Police Department. The Neighborhood Watch is not a law enforcement group. We are a group of residents who are merely trying to be good neighbors. We are concerned with the safety and security of all of the SDV residents. The focus of the program lies at the Block Captain/Co-Captain level. An effective Neighborhood Watch program is one where information flows freely between residents and the Block Captains. The more information you give to your Block Captain, the better he or she can help you. I hope you all know your Block Captains, and work with them on a regular basis. As the Chair, my role is to facilitate communication. I hope to continue to keep all of you informed about issues dealing with the safety and security of our neighborhood. Although we have had a slight increase in incidents recently, Solera Diamond Valley is still a great place to live. I hope you all feel the same way and will work with us to keep it that way. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, or your Block Captains, for assistance. Update from the Neighborhood Watch

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