How do we look to those passing by? Observations…questions…hopes…concerns
by Marjorie Klise
Summer in the ‘hood….our ‘hood… our very own neighborhood…can you believe it?
We begin in May with a meal shared by neighbors, friends, pastors and politicians. The food is contributed by all….and our palettes are pleased. We relax and relate. We review the past year and look ahead.
Then it is June and on one Friday evening we see some tents being erected and trucks slowly passing and pausing. There are ‘no parking’ signs in place and the yellow numbered squares appear up and down Moss Avenue. By 5am on Saturday the place is awash with antiques, pottery, gee-gaws and thing-a-ma-jigs. Then the crowd arrives with shopping bags and dogs and strollers and bikes. Tantalizing smells are in the air, too strong to be ignored. Who says you can’t eat onion rings at 9am! The day is filled with friends greeting friends, old neighbors passing by and strangers becoming new friends. By dusk we are thoroughly tired and pleased by the experience.
As the sun gets hotter and our lawns are thirstier, it is time for music and food and relaxation on a blanket listening to music on the Moron House lawn. It is the Fourth of July and everyone comes together to celebrate the holiday and watch the kids parade around on ponies.. We relish a slice of watermelon and several choruses of America the Beautiful.
August keeps us in our air-conditioned homes or on the front porch with a pitcher of lemonade. School supply lists are out. Our vacation jaunts to the lake are just memories. And we need to check on a few home repairs before fall arrives. We eat Mexican ice cream and browse thru funky shops on Main Street.
Then it is September and October and Fall is here!
It is an amazing place to live. We are blessed to have each other in our lives. As the years pass and newcomers become friends, and generous neighbors continue to plan and execute these festive occasions, we are all too ready to acknowledge how lucky we are to live where we do.