I usually make the trek in slippers, though occasionally my footwear is a little more stylish--say at Christmas time or on the Fourth of July.
I could navigate the path with a blindfold, but do it more frequently at night when the inclination to run to the store is lacking. Down my driveway, past the basketball hoop, across the cul-de-sac, up the driveway, around the cars, sometimes over a shovel, or a basketball or a lacrosse stick and up to the door.
I rarely leave without what I need--a stick of butter, an egg, milk, peanut butter, yellow onions, honey, spaghetti noodles, tablecloths, candles, a backyard heater, lawn chairs and even, a couple of times, a roll of toilet paper.
It doesn't matter who opens the door, because I know where everything is. Sometimes nobody answers the door and I just go in and get what I need because I have the key.
And because I know this home.
It is where my children played and slept over, where they swam, bounced on the trampoline and ate otter pops. It is where I have lounged and laughed and heeded the maxim to eat, drink and be merry,
It is where I can always count on getting what I need--be it a baking supply, a party supply or an empathetic ear.
As our kids grow up and move on and we celebrate another rite-of-passage (they come one right after the other these days), I am compelled to commemorate the best neighbors a suburban family could ever ask for. Our politics might be polar opposites, but on the important things in life we agree completely.
May we spend the next few years raising many a glass to many a milestone!
How nice to have a long time neighbor like that.
Posted by: Brightside-Susan | June 06, 2012 at 12:00 AM
How blessed you are to have such wonderful neighbors and friends. Wonderful post.
Posted by: Slow Panic | June 06, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Good neighbors are the best.
Posted by: magpie | June 06, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Isn't that lovely? We were so sad when our previous neighbors moved - both our families moved into our homes the same month back in 1997. They left about four years ago, but the good news is that the family that lives there now are just as wonderful. They're not our age, so we don't socialize with them as much as we did the previous family, but they are still great neighbors.
Posted by: Aunt Snow | June 06, 2012 at 02:23 PM
You are so lucky! What is an otter pop, by the way? Are you feeling sad about these milestones at all?
Posted by: Jenrantsraves | June 06, 2012 at 02:26 PM
Jen, an otter pop is like a frozen popcicle/icee in a long, clear plastic tube. They are awesome and the blue ones are the best. I think they are just sugar, fake flavor and food coloring.
Posted by: mrs. g. | June 06, 2012 at 03:00 PM
This is so sweet....a touching tribute. YOU are the best kind of neighbor as well.
Posted by: Busy Bee Suz | June 06, 2012 at 03:53 PM
What an ode to great neighbors. I hope you print this out and give it to them. It's so sweet and resonates here, too.
Posted by: Green Girl in Wisconsin | June 07, 2012 at 10:10 AM
My neighbors are fine. But I really wish I had neighbors like yours!!
Posted by: CC | June 07, 2012 at 06:39 PM
Except for my Mom, I don't even have FAMILY like that. We are all just guests in each others homes.
Posted by: Little Miss Sunshine State | June 08, 2012 at 01:12 AM
Neighbors are like family - we don't usually get to pick them and boy are we grateful when we get some good ones. I do have to share something on the funny side of neighbors borrowing ingredients. Had one of the neighbor kids knock on my door, "We want to make a pie. Do you have a can of cherry pie filling? And do you have one of those frozen pie shells we can borrow?"
Posted by: shrink on the couch | June 10, 2012 at 06:54 PM
Damn. Now I've got a craving for cherry pie.
Posted by: shrink on the couch | June 10, 2012 at 06:55 PM
Lovely.
Posted by: JCK (Motherscribe) | June 11, 2012 at 09:52 PM
I've had neighbor-friends like that in the past. They are awesome, aren't they?
And now I'm really missing them.
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