How was your Fourth of July? We hosted a block party on Friday night. Weren't sure how many to expect. When we informed our neighbors a few weeks ahead, they'd make noises of interest but mentally pencil us in as Plan B for their holiday weekend. Plan A would invariably involve somebody's brother in-law's kegger up in Rio Linda, complete with firearms, alcohol, and bottle rockets. There was no way we could compete with such excess of riches, so we would just smile and leave the invitation open.
Some who were invited did not turn up; others who were not exactly block neighbors turned up at the last minute. It all came together somehow. Party alchemy.
Early on, I realized our neighbor the shut-in hadn't yet come over. Now, you'd think knowing she's a shut-in, there'd be no question to ponder. But I walked over anyway to remind her she was welcome. It turned out she hadn't been sure we'd really meant to invite her! She made an appearance, fruit salad in hand (called ambrosia [?]), and was soon commisserating about the real estate market along with the best of 'em. We shall upgrade her status to mostly shut-in.
Only a few people stayed for home fireworks. Small controversy: Neighbor Bill has a new wife who is big into out-of-state fireworks. She had roman candles and such from their recent trip to South Dakota. I didn't mind - I'd never seen such things in action - but N. Bob and my husband were extremely nervous. They kept muttering things like "$750 fine." No matter that we've never seen a patrol car on our block in all the years we've celebrated on this street.
It didn't help neighborly relations when a flying missle bounced off of N. Bob's truck. He proceded to douse his driveway (!) with enough water to fill a swimming pool. I guess this is a subject they'll have to handle diplomatically if we're all going to stay friends.
I went to a Communist Party rally and pro-vegan, anti-meat demonstration. Then we went to a concert by a radical separatist Native American band, who played a GREAT set. All their songs were about how the White Man should quit the US immediately. Afterwards, I gave them all my cash and felt appropriately guilty about the usual DWM issues.
I capped the evening off by logging onto a web site where you can see pics of people improperly folding the Flag. I have never felt less patriotoc in my life!
Posted by: Anthony | July 07, 2008 at 10:40 AM
I had no idea North Carolina was so diverse.
DWM. Divorced White Male?
Posted by: pam | July 07, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I'm intrigued by how a shut-in can "come-out" to a block party. It must be different in the 21st century. But now that I think about it we have neighbors who seldom go out in daylight but are always out at night, I guess they'd be semi(demi? hemi?)-shut-ins maybe. It does make you wonder.
Posted by: Sue | July 07, 2008 at 11:28 AM
I think shut-ins are fascinating. I once saw a greeting card that read, "Happy Birthday to a Shut-In." Would you ever send such a thing to your neighbor?
Posted by: Rhea | July 07, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Yeah, the fact that she socialized with a high degree of success clearly means she's not a real shut-in. Must amend her nickname.
That greeting card sounds a bit mean! But maybe I'm missing the niche marketing genius behind it.
Posted by: pam | July 07, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Ah yes, ambrosia: sliced oranges, coconut, sugar. A standard offering at potlucks of the 1950s and 1960s, nearly extinct nowadays.
I was invited to two parties and dodged both, opting instead for a $16-a-ticket offer at a local small theater. Saw an outstanding production of "The Busy World Is Hushed." The house was surprisingly full.
Posted by: Fritinancy | July 07, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Now I feel just old. When I was a kid in the Southwest, we had fireworks every year. Bottle rockets, roman candles, sparklers, firecrackers, the works. The whole family would spend large amounts of time going through all the possibilities in the store, picking out which package to buy. As long as we had sparklers, I was happy. We would all go into the yard and take turns lighting them. Sometimes I really miss those days.
Posted by: Stephanie | July 07, 2008 at 12:08 PM
au contraire! ambrosia is alive and well in the south. it's an absolute staple of christmas menus.
Posted by: e | July 07, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Non block neighbors showed up? Are these people just following the smell of charcoal who just wandered into your yard?
Did you test them for illegal substances?
Posted by: gj | July 08, 2008 at 12:32 PM