Neighbors

In "The Mending Wall", Robert Frost's neighbor claims "good fences make good neighbors." Fences have a way of separating what's yours from what's mine. Because we had a dog, we always put up a fence. No dog now and no fences allowed. I think the latter is a good thing.

We’ve been in our new house a month, and gradually we’re meeting our neighbors. We met the next door neighbors while the house was being built. Others stop by as they walk their dogs when we're out. They introduce themselves and welcome us to the neighborhood. Very friendly. Yesterday, there was a block party—sort of a “happy fall—good-by summer” party. A truly great way to meet neighbors—especially the ones who live behind us. You would think we would’ve met them before. Big problem. A large pond separates us.

When we first looked at lots, I wanted trees in our backyard. I like privacy. I wanted to be able to sit on our deck and not be seen. This brings to mind my daughter’s theme song for her kids. “You don’t always get what you want.” I didn’t get the trees. What I didn’t realize was the pond makes a good separator.

We had good neighbors at our old house. Friendly, helpful, watching out for each other. Like the people in Prairieville, the fictitious small town in One Red Shoe. Daria’s big complaint, though, is that everybody knows everything about everybody else, including the color of their underwear. But when it counts, the neighbors come to the rescue.

After meeting several of our new neighbors, I’m sure we’re in a great neighborhood.

How do you feel about neighbors?

The giveaway for the $25 Amazon Gift Card is still going on. Remember you can enter as many times as you wish. To enter, use the Rafflecopter below.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/16cf1d6/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be announced on October 31^st.

Today, I’m also over at Kathy Wheeler’s blog where I share a deleted scene from One Red Shoe. I’d love some company. http://kathylwheeler.com/2013/10/14/deleted-scenes-todays-guest-diane-burton-giveaway/

Snowy Evening

After the usual January Thaw where our temps got into the fifties (believe me that’s warm for Michigan in the winter), snow started falling last night. Big, light flakes. Steady. Falling like rain. By the time I saw it, the snow had covered the lawn, sidewalk and street. And the Robert Frost poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” popped into my head.

I don't think I’ve read that poem since freshman year in college. I must have memorized it once since the words are so familiar. I do remember analyzing it to death—as we did all poems in lit class. Maybe that explains why I never liked poetry much. I never understood why we couldn’t just enjoy the words/story. I felt the same way about the books I had to read in college. We couldn’t just enjoy a good story. No. We had to pick it apart, which destroyed any enjoyment.

Today’s eighteen-year-olds are a lot more sophisticated than I was. They are taught analytical skills in high school that I didn’t develop for years. With the benefit of hindsight and years of writing, I understand. Some stories do have hidden meanings. Themes. Whether the writer intended there to be or not. We can read for enjoyment or delve deeper. Does it make the story more enjoyable to examine the goal, motivation and conflict of each of the major characters? Does it help to know the historic background during which a story takes place? Now I would agree. I love books clubs for that very reason. Different people have different takes on stories. Sharing what we read is enjoyable.

Back to Frost’s poem. Was he talking about death or duty when he wrote “miles to go before I sleep”? Frankly, I don’t care. I just like the imagery. He mentions “easy wind and downy flakes.” That’s exactly the way the snow came down last night. Not a blizzard, no wind. Just enough snow to hide the brown grass and ugly mud from the thaw and the flakes glistening from the streetlight. Beautiful.