One Party Turns into Two

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Four of us sat on neighbor Shawn’s lawn, happy to chat outdoors while keeping our distance. I’ve not written about neighbor Holly before. Normally I wave at her as she drives to work while I’m walking, and that is the only contact we’ve had. During the virus lock-down, she has been working from home. Shawn’s last chicken, Ariel, was wandering near us. This chicken likes to be around people, though perhaps there were too many strangers for her. Holly lured her closer with a piece of bread that Logan brought out for that purpose. I was sure I had a good photo of her, but she veered just as I pressed the button.

Someone saw on Facebook that May 2 was Front Yard Neighborhood Cookout. People were encouraged to bring grills to their driveways to cook and visit at a distance. Shawn took up the cause and asked us if we’d do it. Holly hoped to wheel her mother out to take part, and Joyce said she’d drive down and stay on one side of my drive. We texted Dawn, and husband Jeff’s response was a yes. The party was on! We chatted a while longer until we began to shiver.

The next day we assembled near two driveways. Neighbors included Jeff, Holly, Bob, the “awns” (Shawn and Dawn), Logan, and Joyce. It was wonderful to be together again within hearing distance of each other. Jeff cooked the meat we brought on his gas grill. Dawn shared macaroni and cheese, and both Holly and I brought Brownies. There are never too many Brownies at a party!

Joyce had her neat newspaper grill. She wadded up ten pieces of newspaper and cooked her hamburger in five minutes. If we still had a newspaper delivered, I’d want one of those little grills. There was no muss or fuss,and the meat was ready almost instantly.

After we ate our dogs and burgers, we walked up to Holly’s house to visit with her mother Jean. Jean is on oxygen and needed to stay a good distance from the rest of us. We stood around at a safe distance from each other to chat.

Dawn, Joyce, Holly, and Shawn visit Jean on the porch

Logan loves dogs, and he clung to the railing at Jean’s house to pet the two little dogs. I never got a good photo of the fast-moving animals, but Logan was able to pose for me. I really appreciate his willingness to be photographed. It’s what boosts my readership on the blog.

When dog Mazie settled down a bit, Logan held her quietly for a long time. I loved this shot of them.

Everyone scattered quickly, leaving Joyce and me looking at each other and wanting more visiting time. We sat on my porch until the silvery half-moon and Venus shown down on us. I enjoyed hearing about some of the dogs she owned and the period when she raised Chows.

I hope all of you have had a chance to be with or talk to someone special. It can make a big difference!

Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

Published

58 thoughts on “One Party Turns into Two”

  1. At least you have neighbors…that’s good. I did sneak over to my sons last evening for a quick 4 yr. old’s birthday. This situation we are all in has really messed up birthday party’s. When you have 7 children and 2 parents it doesn’t take many more to go over limit. I guess we just discounted the kids ( 11) and counted their parents and me. but I missed the other family member that are usually there .

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  2. This flashes me back to the neighborhood parties we had on the green back in Stony Brook. How lucky you all are to have this time together. Love the Logan and pup pic. A true treasure.

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  3. Great picture of Logan and the dog. It sounds like all of you have a nice time, despite the shut in. If more people would do things like that, the world would be a better place, and the neighborhoods!

    I love the porches like those the lady was sitting on.

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  6. OK I was sceptical about a party on everyone’s driveways but still maintaining social distancing. I thought you’d need bullhorns. But you did it and took the pictures to prove it. Even Logan managed to keep his distance. I hope his chicken didn’t wander too far..ell done on such a good social occasion, well recorded.
    Huge Hugs

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  7. You are so lucky. We don’t have that kind of neighborhood even though we live closer. I was walking in the hood and saw lawn signs that there are at least 4 seniors who are graduating without celebrations. So sad. Your get-togethers remind me of the ones when I was a kid. Back then the neighbors always sat on the front porch after dinner and chatted. It was wonderful. Right now I am so nostalgic for any memories of human connection.

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    1. We all have porches, but I rarely sit on ours in the late afternoon. The sun shines directly in. With a little breeze, it becomes a convection oven. We began gathering with neighbors to celebrate summer holidays. Most of us didn’t have family nearby, so it worked well.

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      1. When I lived in Delaware and northern Jersey, that’s how neighbors were. Friends were easily made. My neighbors have been next door about 5 years and some years I haven’t seen them to say anything. Mostly it’s a hand wave. I like your way better.

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          1. They are good neighbors in that they don’t make a lot of noise and have wild parties. I’ll settle for that. Way back when I was single and working I had a fabulous neighbor. She was in her 60s and sometimes when I came home I’d find a strawberry pie or some leftovers on my porch. She loved to cook. Wish I could have taken her with me as I moved around. She was a great neighbor not only for that but she was friendly and helpful in many ways.

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  8. You found a good way to socialize even while social distancing. Good for you! I bet more of us will do this now that it’s getting warmer.

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    1. We had some warm days several weeks ago, and then it was cold again. Perhaps the warmth is here to stay now. I hope you will be able to visit with your neighbors as it gets warmer.

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  9. Our neighborhood isn’t social. As we are here at home not venturing anywhere I haven’t seen anyone except Z-D for weeks. Funny how I hadn’t thought of that until I read this. Fortunately we like each other so our socializing is cordial.

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  10. I love the hip look with Logan’s sunglasses. Too fun! I posted a picture of our family just now sitting six feet apart. The weather finally cooperated and the mosquitoes haven’t yet caught on.

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  11. That’s a great picture of Logan and he is perching precariously on that porch. I always like your down-home flavor in the neighborhood – fun get-togethers, cordial and fun conversation, shared dinners or desserts … it it the exact opposite of my neighborhood as you know. I talked to my neighbor when I returned from walking, but other than that and casual conversation at various parks, I’ve not spoken to anyone but my boss since March 16th.

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    1. One morning I talked non-stop while David ate breakfast. It probably rolled off his back, but I’m sure I just had to get some words into the air. I did feel more connected and more at peace.

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      2. Anne,
        Both you and John attract people around you like bees around honey- you both laugh a lot and are very interested in listening while others talk and then add your two cents to the conversation which is sometimes your knowledge from experience and your visits around the country and your big family. We all learn so much from your blogs – about how to love without expecting anything in return, how to visit and how to laugh.
        Loved the Stylish Logan and his hanging in the air on the porch look and also loved the little dog with Logan.
        Glad the lockdown got you a new friend and I think you all made that old mothers’ day when you visited with her.
        Susie

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  14. Sounds like a great time!!. My hairdresser came around today, as she is now allowed to, and cut my hair while we had a great chat. Yes, I am people starved. xo

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    1. I can understand that you want to see people now that your hair is out of your eyes! That’s great that your hair is back to normal. I’m doing to be wearing a visor soon to keep both sun and hair off my face.

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  16. I am so happy that you were able to socialize while “physical distancing”. I find it takes lots of tries to get a good chicken picture. They are not very cooperative. I notice she decided to stay away when it was time for the cookout. LOL!

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  17. How very wonderful- neighbors eating together. You’ve inspired me to try to do something similar. I’ve only met a few of my neighbors- it would be nice to meet more. Sounds like a great evening for you guys. Love how you included the one on oxygen. Very sweet.

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    1. Our last house and this one are on dead end streets. It’s much easier to get to know neighbors when they are grouped like this. I hope you will be able to get to know yours and that they will become waving friends, at the least.

      I’m sorry I was so late answering you. This comment ended in spam, which I hadn’t checked for a while.

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      1. Oh my gosh, that’s fine. I am just now seeing this and it’s September! Ha ha. I haven’t been on WP in months. My planned renewed and I thought I better check in. Ha ha. Love the dead end street thing. We are the last house in the culdesac and have met a few neighbors now!

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