Monday, January 25, 2010

Dear Hearts & Gentle People

I lived in Sacramento for five years and didn't know one single neighbor.  I knew the name of the family across the street only because of misdelivered mail.  As we were looking at property up here, it amused us that everyone we drove past stopped their activity to turn, look, and wave.  It didn't take us long after we moved to Fair Play to discover that "neighbor" meant more than just the people next door.  Now, I do want to say that we had wonderful friends in West Sacramento, with many shared activities, and happily we still get together.  Hill people (as opposed to flatlanders) form a network that goes beyond friendship.  There's an unofficial phone chain...a mountain lion has been sighted, rattlesnakes are coming out, there's smoke rising from the next hill, there's a deer in your vineyard, someone's dog (or cow) has gone missing.  Pretty soon we're all on alert.  I just spent a joyous evening at my neighbors', celebrating her eight years cancer free.  I've heard an engine running close by, and looked out to see my neighbor on a tractor, disking the big south pasture, unasked, unannounced, but so appreciated.  A gathering filled the Grange Hall recently (yes, the Grange is active here) to give support to a family that had just lost their wife and mother.  I know from experience how comforting those hugs and murmured words are.  Condolence means shared sorrow, and it really is significant to my neighbors.  The mailboxes are down at the big road (that just means it's paved), and that's where we take the trash barrels for pick up once a week.  That's the meet-and-greet place, where we catch up on the local news.  Gray Rock Road is a bumpy, deeply rutted dirt road, and there's no traffic to speak of.  I find myself turning to look and wave when a car goes by...there goes Dennis down to get the mail; hmmm, Farrell is late for work today; somebody up the road must be having company.  Guess I'm not a flatlander anymore.

4 comments:

Kathryn said...

I used to wait until the evenings to enjoy your musings - now I can't wait, and you are part of my morning computer routine - thanks SO much for sharing. Who knew...my aunt, on Tyler Road in Fiddletown, lives on a BIG road - it's paved and their mailbox is at the road...unlike the cluster of Bee Boxes that used to be at Lawrence Road! Enjoy your day, Bo!!

Bo said...

You sure know how to make a gal feel good! Wow...paved roads...that's really uptown! It's a little soggy around the edges here today...hope you get sunshine with your coffee.

alexandra said...

whatever was life like before THE VIEW FROM FARVIEW FARM? certainly not as uplifting. each read is special - allowing one to envision the written word. am now thinking there should be a yearly get-together for all readers and the writer...having said that - we just need the: when and where - having already figured out the who and why hmmm, then there is HOW...so how about it?

Bo said...

The "where" is a no-brainer..why, Farview Farm, of course!! Sounds like a plan to me!