My neighbor, Renee, knocked on my door in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. She decided to host a Winter Solstice party that evening, and invited my husband and I to join with her community of friends. At 3pm, there would be a Circle for Men, another for Women. At 5pm, we could enjoy a pot luck dinner, always my favorite to indulge and savor homemade meals. At 6pm, the drumming begins around a backyard fire and we would all dance beneath the glorious full moon above.
My neighbor on the other side, Carol, knocked on my door a Sunday or two ago, while my husband and I were enjoying our breakfast of yummy pancakes. That didn’t stop Carol telling us about her decision to host a dinner party next Sunday evening with the 4 families next to and in front of her home. Although we wave at each other in our comings and goings, we’ve never taken the time to really connect. Carol’s idea offered us a whole new opportunity of friendship for our daily living.
Last weekend, we sold cookies at our Home Tour event in our historic neighborhood. Every year, a street of homes is chosen to open their doors, welcoming hundreds of people to take a look/see into their personal and usually private worlds. Homemade cookies, hot apple cider, and instant friendships emerge.
I love knowing my neighbors. I love the effort and intention of Community. It flashes me back to when life was simple, when life included the niceties of neighbors and friendships. I invite you to step out of your own bee-hive, and take a look around. Grab a bottle of wine, and knock on some door, any door, and reconnect. Make new friends, renew old ones. Life is sweeter when you do…
