Neighbors

Today is Wednesday, three days since the last blog.  It's garbage day on Wednesdays.  The rule where we live is that the garbage needs to be out by 7 AM.  So I got up a few minutes early to put out the garbage.  Not much really... one garbage can and one blue box.

Fascinating stuff really.

Around ten'ish I needed a break so went outside to enjoy the sun and get the empty garbage containers.  I noticed the neighbor next door.

"Hi neighbor!" I said.  I had forgotten his name, so I used the best greeting I knew in the circumstance.

"Oh hi, Len."

I felt awkward, because he knew my name while I had forgotten his.  I leaned on the fence between our front yards.  He had put fresh dirt on his lawn and was smoothing it out.  I think he didn't mind the break.  And we talked.  About how different life was and how we're coping.  I talked about the both of us working from home.  He offered back what his life was like. We talked about gardens because we said everyone needed a hobby when they're retired and we both loved to garden.  And I asked if he knew about the concept of constructing one's yard into rooms, and he totally got it and did the same.

Did I tell you that when we first moved in I thought he didn't like us?  One day I was peaking through the fence to see his nice back yard, and I thought he saw me, and I thought I was his sworn enemy from then on.  One Spring day I offered to take his old Christmas tree to the recycling.  I was going there anyway.  We talked.  And I realized he was actually very nice... just kinda quiet.

You know, this COVID thing really puts a cramp on community.  Not being able to have community with family and friends.  But maybe it'll help to bring neighbors together.