Any Chair Is Welcome In The Hood

There are about a gazillion reasons why I love summertime. One of them is the ease with which neighbors connect. A simple trip to the mailbox can mean the opportunity to engage with the little boys next door as they show off their fine-tuned scooter skills or fill me in on how their new baby brother is doing.

Infusing a bit of connection into the ordinary is what neighbors do best. The other early evening, just as the last of the dinner dishes were loaded into the dishwasher and I officially declared the kitchen closed for the day, my cell phone indicated a text notification. It was an invitation from my neighbor next door to join him and his wife in the cul-de-sac for a summer evening soiree (flip flop style). The invitation was unpretentious and open to all in the vicinity. Bring a chair, bring a beverage of choice and come take a seat in the middle of the cul-de-sac. Simple as that. I texted back an enthusiastic yes and re-opened my kitchen so that I could retrieve my beverage of choice.

I put on my flip flops and made my way to where the small group gathered. It didn’t matter that I had no idea where our collapsible soccer sideline chairs were. I realized as I did a quick peruse of our garage that my only simple option for “bring a chair” was to roll out the stroller I use to take my grandkids for walks. I know the visual of me trying to sit in a stroller is not very attractive, but I made do (shall we say), alternating “cheeks.” Perhaps it wasn’t the most comfortable option for a spontaneous evening in the hood, but it didn’t stop the easy flow of conversation and laughter unique to being neighborly with neighbors.

We’ve lived in our home for over 30 years. That’s a long time to cultivate relationships with those who share lives in such close proximity. Early evenings have evolved over the years. When my kids were really small, an early evening walk pushing a stroller likely meant I would run into a neighbor and have the opportunity for some much needed adult conversation. Then, my kids grew to the point when they’d run out the door after dinner to meet up with other neighbor kids so they could catch fireflies. Halloween is still my favorite early evening as pint sized trick or treaters run from house to house with flying capes and sparkly crowns.

No one else shows up in a pinch when you need a couple of eggs or find you are out of dried oregano as the spaghetti sauce simmers on the stove. I remember calling my neighbor Patty when I realized I didn’t have enough pie pans to make my pumpkin pies the day before Thanksgiving. I mean, who else but a neighbor wouldn’t judge the fact that I was clearly unprepared. Instead, Patty brought her signature smile along with the pie pan and we stood in my kitchen chatting about kids and grandkids and travels and life. In my experience, neighbors just want to help.

I left our impromptu and small neighborhood gathering feeling grateful for those who live nearby. It was good to catch up. Tomorrow will bring more opportunities to run into each other as we all move through our daily paths. My only issue, moving forward, is next time I’m requested to “bring a chair,” I’ll have something other than a stroller to sit in.