I am living in the house where I grew up and still have some of the same neighbors. Becky, who grew up across the street from me, lives in her own house next door to her parents' home. Both her parents have passed, but her daughter's family now lives in the family home. Down the street, Leah still lives in her original home and she is now a great-grandmother. Her kids, my sibs and I, and Becky were all friends from elementary school on up. At the bottom of the street are Monty and Ruth, whose children also ran with our pack. Their son lives next door to them. Kitty-corner from me on both sides are the homes of two sisters. They make me think how wonderful it would be to that close to family. Newcomers are on either side of me. They have blended in seamlessly and it is almost like I have known them for a long time. Every one of them are wonderful, welcoming and very interesting people. But it is also intriguing to see how some families stay close together.
In today's world people tend to live fairly insular lives. Many mothers become car moms--busy taking kids to music, dance, soccer, swimming...you name it. Even though this is the same in my neighborhood, there is a fairly solid group of nine neighbors that you can count on if you need help. In the last year and a half these families have come together for ice cream socials, meet-the-neighbors potlucks, and tonight Stephanie and David hosted yet another potluck for this group.
I'm here to tell you how much fun it was. 17 adults and 11 kids showed up. The food was incredible, conversation was lively and the group was great fun. The kids swirled in, out and around. It was happy, loud and boisterous with a bit of mayhem.
There are seventeen kids connected with these families and they spend a lot of time running up and down the street between houses. It is fun to watch how well they all get along together.
There is a girls' posse-- here are five of the seven that were part of the group tonight.
The boys rarely stand still long enough for photos. And the entire group--boys and girls--run like crazy in odd games I've never heard of. It is exhausting to watch, but reminds me of how all the kids ran together when I was young. Our yards had no fences, and we used them all. We played endless games of kick soccer, sardines at dusk, and continuing episodes of Robin Hood, where Gordie, the oldest, always got to be the Sheriff of Nottingham. We would wrap small stones in tin foil, our silver, to hide from the Sheriff.
My neighborhood kids don't play Robin Hood. They play Quidditch with hula hoops set up for the balls, and they run around on broomsticks. Different generation, different heroes. Where we had the original skateboards that used metal roller skate wheels, these kids have motorized scooters. Oh yeah, I'm jealous!
I am enjoying being part of all of this. In the summer when the windows are open I get to hear most of kids practicing an instrument and they are good enough that is worth stopping to listen.
In addition, quite a few of girls in the posse like to bake. I am the recipient of cookies, big pieces of cake, beautifully decorated cupcakes--all on a hit and run basis. My doorbell rings. I answer to find no one there, but on the doormat is a plate of goodies. Sometimes I hear giggles from a hiding place. It is kind of a reverse trick-or-treat, except home made treats beat store candy any day!
I have wonderful neighbors and I'm grateful to be part of this wildly varied group.
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