I came home tonight to a freshly mowed lawn. I could smell the grass from down the street but of course never realized it would be my backyard that smelled so good. Okay, so I had to wait three days for hot water, but the fact that someone came by my house and mowed my lawn today, well, that's just dandy.
I still don’t know anybody here. I’m not quite out of my shell about talking to strangers. I don’t yet have the guts to hang out at the local. People are nice. The check out girl at Key Food told me to have a good one. My neighbor three doors down, the one with the sign on his front door that says“NO SOLICITORS or other nut jobs,” said hello to me today. He feeds all of the stray cats on my street, so he can’t be all that bad. Yesterday I was very surprised to see my neighbor two doors down playing dice for money from off of his front stoop with his friends. Luck be a lady.
I still don’t know anybody here. I’m not quite out of my shell about talking to strangers. I don’t yet have the guts to hang out at the local. People are nice. The check out girl at Key Food told me to have a good one. My neighbor three doors down, the one with the sign on his front door that says“NO SOLICITORS or other nut jobs,” said hello to me today. He feeds all of the stray cats on my street, so he can’t be all that bad. Yesterday I was very surprised to see my neighbor two doors down playing dice for money from off of his front stoop with his friends. Luck be a lady.
I noticed the store signs. Why are they always the same? I wonder how it comes to be that when I google “Ye Olde Towne Shoppe” there are hundreds of entries for almost every city—San Diego being the apparent leader in “olde thyme” signage. Some of my favorites here: The Barkery (several flavors of fresh-baked dog treats), Pizza & Stuff, Hair Haven, Rick’s R-s-a-rant (vacant,with an equally decrepit “Chinese Take-Out Coming Soon” stuck in the dirty window). My very favorite is Roxy’s Beauty Parlor in elegant neon cursive. Some signs are hand-painted and so worn down that I can’t tell what’s inside.
It seems most small town hardware stores follow the same layout. Following years as a loyal customer of Crest Hardware, I knew exactly which aisle to go today to find curtain rods. In a new place, that relaxed sense of familiarity is especially comforting. Knowing the navigation might go even further back, to Sundays after church at Crowley’s. I really love hardware stores and pharmacies.
Sitting at home now, with the windows open, I can hear the sound of the holiday weekend approaching. Kids are out late. I think someone’s having a birthday party. The moon is full, lighting a path to my back door.
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