I am so grateful for something that’s started among my neighbors, and I thought I would give it a spotlight here. It’s simple, really, but I also realize that something like this is a rarity.
It’s quite easy these days not to really know our neighbors. Sure, we might know the names of the people living directly next of us, but that’s about it. Life gets busy, and we don’t want to be an intrusion. Still, we’re missing out on something, and I confess that’s how it’s been for most of the time I’ve lived in my house.
But recently, things have changed. Last month, in honor of a neighbor who died, we had a block party. I had no role in organizing this, and I’m very glad that people on my street had this idea. We got to know each other a bit more at that party, and now, ten of us (and maybe this will grow also) have a group text. From time to time, one of us will say, “I’d love to host us tonight,” and then whoever is available just bops over to that driveway, and we sit together in yard chairs and have a beverage.
This has been lovely. And my neighbors are great people. Fun people. Smart people. Caring people.
They were there the whole time! So glad we’re doing this.
–Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 