Today I was doing my usual walk in the neighborhood, and I turned down my adjacent street, as usual. Some years ago, when I had dogs, I would usually stop at the house nearest the river and talk with Margaret, an elderly widow. We’d sit outside and the subjects ranged far and wide.
She’d talk about occasionally seeing the ghost of her husband in the house. Was he checking up on her?
Another thing I learned from her was the surprising number of people who have lived on this street since the homes were new.
Normally with our California suburbs growing like weeds, that wouldn’t be a surprise, but these homes were built in the mid-50s. And another surprising thing – many people up and down this street – about 1/4 mile long, know each other.
In many suburbs, many neighbors know very little of each other. Nor do they want to.
So this morning, I turn the corner and I see this woman, obviously advanced in years, on all 4s pulling weeds in the lawn.