Everyday Canvas

In My Neighborhood...

Prompt: Please, create me something using the following words: Garden, rabbit, aroma, picnic, helicopter and determination. Have fun.


True Story:

If I had a helicopter and enough determination, I’d fly over the neighborhood gardens, to figure out--from the aroma of their barbecue--who is having a picnic, and I would send them a fire extinguisher, just in case. The reason is, most of the houses here, like ours, have closed-in back porches, partially walled in and partially covered with wire mesh, and those who barbecue sometimes put their outdoor barbecues, inside those porches too close to the houses. Not that everyone barbecues all the time, but those too lazy to cook or those who are having pool parties do.

And did I tell you we live in a neighborhood with weird neighbors? Some of them are very old, like us, and thus, they have the age excuse to be odd. I guess the younger set, when they see the older set, think they have to outdo them in acting in a weird fashion.

Case in point, the three women who moved in next door three months ago. Yes, they barbecue, and they are young-ish, and sometimes have children and a few guys visiting them. From what I see, they keep very busy doing stuff on their lot around the house. None of them have ever talked to us or waved or nodded or smiled. If anything, they look away when we are out.

Then yesterday evening while hubby and I were sitting inside our porch, one of them looked through the mesh and said hello. Surprise, surprise! We returned her greeting and asked if she’d like to come sit with us. She declined but asked, “Would you folks like some tomatoes and cucumbers?” Not knowing whether she was selling them or not, I said, “No, thank you. We just shopped today. We have enough.” Then she said, “Oh no, I am not saying for today. I just put in a couple of plants. When they have fruit, I’ll bring them over.”

I can appreciate the thoughtfulness, but we live in a deed-restricted area and the neighborhood association wants us to put in our lots only the plants on their list. Cucumbers and tomatoes or any other veggies are not on that list. Plus, anything bearing fruit outside, in this climate is subject to pests starting with rabbits, raccoons, large birds, disease, etc. And for a person who never greets her neighbors, to offer a future prize felt very odd to me. That is, if that future prize holds up. We’ll see. Who can say I don’t have color in my life!