Yesterday my mother told me about an obituary she read in the Syracuse newspaper. It was about a woman who lived in the neighborhood where I grew up, on the city's north side (Turtle Street, Annie). She died at eighty-eight years old. Her husband died a few years ago; they enjoyed a forty-six year marriage. They never had children, and I have to think that it is because she was forty-two and he was thirty-four when they married. He was a plumber, she was a nurse, and together they traveled throughout the United States and the world, visiting China and Japan Somehow, they amassed 4.3 million dollars, which they left to four different Catholic churches in Syracuse. I was astounded by this. You would be, too, if you were familiar with the struggling working class neighborhood in which I grew up. No one had anything, least of all a bank account. Everyone who knew this couple was surprised when the news about their will came out.
What would your neighbors be surprised to learn about you?
The other day I read about a local man who writes fantasy books. He has sold 17 million copies. None of his neighbors were aware that he is a bestselling author. It makes me wonder about my own neighbors. I bet that they have wonderful hobbies and interests and fascinating lives--and secrets.
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I've been watching the squirrels in my yard for a couple of years now. I thought that they lived in the trees behind my fence, and spent their days scampering around my lawn and raiding my bird feeders. But, the other day I saw Half-tail three blocks away! What was he doing so far from home? Now, I'm wondering: how wide is a squirrel's territory? Does he live in my yard, or someplace else?
Most of the animals in our neighborhoods live secret lives. We are lucky when we catch a glimpse of them.
Most of the animals in our neighborhoods live secret lives. We are lucky when we catch a glimpse of them.
What would your neighbors be surprised to learn about you?
My neighbours would probably be surprised ... or more likely completely disinterested ... to know that I even exist. We live in a heavily populated area, but it's mainly working families. If your child doesn't go to the local school, you just manage to slip between the cracks of the community. It was so different in my day. Everyone knew everyone. Not here, now, though.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's the same everywhere now? I think that part of the reason for the lack of community is that society is much more mobile today. When I was growing up families tended to put down deeper roots. (In fact, the couple in this post lived in the husband's childhood home.) My family has lived in this neighborhood for thirteen years, and we have seen several families come and go. It does seem that people are more reluctant to get to know one another now. Everyone lives such busy, closed lives. I will confess that there are some families on my street whose last names I don't even know.
DeleteSince my family learns without school, I can identify with feeling excluded from the larger community, which often gathers around school activities such as sporting events, plays, concerts, etc. Some people are suspicious about homeschooling, too, which makes it even more difficult to find acceptance. My family is fortunate, because there is another homeschooled family right down the street. (They have chickens, too :-)
A friend of mine once advised me to create the kind of life I want right where I am. (I wanted to be a farmer :-) I've thought about what she said a lot, and I think her advice is sound. We don't need to wait for the perfect location, house, neighbors, etc. to make our dreams a reality. If we want a garden, and all we have is a sunny window, well that's at least a place to begin. If we want to live in a friendlier neighborhood, a friendlier world, we can begin by smiling and saying hello to the people we encounter each day.
This is interesting. I have to say that after my co-workers (and relatives) found out I had a blog, and some of them keep up with it, I feel that they have a more complete idea of who I am and, more importantly, where I'm coming from, than before. Which I find an interesting thing.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! I'm so glad that you have come to my new blog.
DeleteYou know, I think that my brother and I have become closer since he started reading my blog, too. My blog does not present a complete picture of myself, but it reveals another facet of who I am, a facet that might not be as easily seen through face-to-face ordinary communication. Which makes me think about letter writing (blogs are a bit like letters, I think), and how deep relationships can develop rather quickly through the exchange of written thoughts and ideas.
There was a book a friend gave to me called Six Dinner Sid about a cat who ate six dinners, each with people who thought he was their cat.
ReplyDeleteMy neighborhood is very small. I'm not sure what would surprise my neighbors, since I do such weird things all the time, like putting my laundry out on the sidewalk to dry and having a baby at home. They thought we would be loud when we moved in, since we are young, and we have surprised them by being quiet.
That book sounds really interesting--did you like it? I think I might look for it (although my booklist is g r o w i n g very long these days!)
ReplyDeleteI bet your neighbors would be surprised by your thoughtful and beautiful blog (Young in the Mountains @ Live Journal). I wonder: do they know how much you love your blue mountains and the natural world, Ranger Brandy?
It was a fun book--your library might have it. The cat brought all the neighbors together once they figured out his antics and then, I think, he went on to another neighborhood to do the same thing. ;-) Thank you for your kind words.
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