Do You Know your Neighbors?

The ladies in my neighborhood try to get together for a luncheon once a month at one of the local restaurants. It's just a way to get to know each other a little better. Different ones show up at different times. Usually there are four to eight ladies. Not everyone can make it due to circumstances like jobs, health issues or other commitments. Husbands, single men and significant others are invited, too, but seldom come. I don't know if that's because men don't eat lunch or just don't like to eat lunch with women. It doesn't matter. The ladies have a good time.

Last month we did it a little differently. Rather than going to a restaurant, I invited everyone to my house. We thought maybe more would come if they didn't have far to go. And it's easier to visit in a home atmosphere rather than a noisy restaurant. Apparently it worked. There were 16 ladies and one very bright, delightful 6-year old-granddaughter. I provided sandwiches and drinks. The others brought salads and desserts.

We gave updates on our lives and shared stories about our families. Health issues were explained about some who couldn't be there. We relived some unusual or exciting times of years gone by. We talked a lot and laughed even more. It was a great day.

It made me think back to when I was a kid. Back then everyone knew everyone else in the neighborhood. If I did something wrong when I was playing anywhere else, by the time I got home Mother already knew and was waiting for an explanation. But that wasn't a bad thing. To me it provided an environment that felt familiar and safe.

I remember my mother hanging laundry out on the clothes line. Usually Monday was wash day and other neighbors would be out hanging up clothes too. When they finished it was common for one neighbor or another to walk over to our house and visit with Mother. They'd sit in the shade of one of our plum trees and enjoy each other's company for a few minutes.

It wasn't all honey and roses but mostly people got along. They were friendly and looked out for one another. That's what a neighborhood was. A group of people, who lived close together, were friendly and cared about each other.

I think that may be what our ladies are about, trying to keep an old custom alive in a modern day world. I know I had a wonderful time. And another reason to invite the ladies over? That's as clean as my house has been since Christmas.