Hey Neighbor!

Bored to the point of frustration and absolutely refusing to do housework on such a beautiful afternoon, Hubby and I found ourselves sitting on the front steps. Basking in the warm Sunday afternoon sunshine, we watched cottoncandy clouds roll by and commented on the hole in the pinestraw and what sort of critter we might be up against. We discussed the hairline crack in the sidewalk and whether or not the bush, third from the left, would make it through another winter. We watched our neighbors come and go, throwing up our hand in a little wave and making that connection that neighbors do so well. Totally agenda-less, we just sat there and it was nice. I don't think folks 'sit a spell' much anymore. They're just too busy, I guess.

It wasn't so long ago, on a similar Sunday afternoon in October, that I found myself sitting on the front steps at a house down the street. I had spent alot of time going up and down these steps at the Family's house during the past weeks. My life changing adventure with the Family had just begun and in between all those items on my personal must do list, I was just trying to help out.


So there I was, sitting on the steps with this little 8month old baby boy, waiting for the dryer buzzer to signal to me that I could cross one more task off the list. Baby Boy liked outside but the October air was chilly. I would wrap him up from head to toe in his green blankey so that all you could see were his little eyes. We'd cuddle and sing Twinkle Twinkle and point to the twighlight sky. Sometimes he'd laugh and other times he'd just grab my finger and hold it. Either way, it didn't matter to me. It was our time, just he and I.


Sometimes, during the late afternoon, we'd sit on the steps at my house. Hubby and I live on the corner, just beyond the gated entrance and a real front row seat for the coming and going of my neighbors. Baby Boy and I would sit on the top step so he could see the gate as it opened. With one hand on his little shoulder and the other pointing toward the gate, I'd say, "Get ready! Here comes a neighbor!" Taking his que like a pro, Baby Boy would wave and yell "Hey Ney!" assuring each work weary resident received a parade-like welcome. Once he got the hang of it, Baby Boy took charge. "Get ready, Kaka, here comes a neighbor!" We've waved at the lawn care guys and the school bus. We've waved at the lady walking her dog down the sidewalk and a kid on a golfcart. If you're breathing and inside the gates- you must be a neighbor and that warrants a wave.

"Hey Neighbor" began almost four years ago and just shy of a few minor changes it's still a popular favorite at our house. While "Ney" has evolved into "Neighbor" and sitting on the top step is no longer required to see the gate open, we still find time to 'sit a spell' and wave with Baby Boy. Nothing beats a crisp, sunny afternoon enjoying The Gift God has given us.