This morning, I pushed open my drapes to take stock of the sky and the neighborhood before me. The Santa Cruz mountains are to my left. On clear nights, we can see lights heading up Highway 9.
The neighborhood is filled with established trees, and a mix of renovated and aging homes. We have lived here close to twenty years, and yet have met so few families. Most people who live here work in high tech. They drive expensive cars. Their kids go to school, and have multiple after school activities. Most hire gardening companies to take care of their yards.
This morning and all during the week, too many cars have been parked outside. Usually their owners have taken them to their place of work, or somewhere. But they have been clogging up the street. This morning is no different.
There was a father with his two elementary aged daughters jogging down the street. As I turned to look in the other direction, I saw two neighbors who live side by side, engaged in conversation with their gardens between them.
Some time later, my husband and I decided to see if the Farmer’s Market was open. I stopped at my car to retrieve a bag when I saw another neighbor who lives two houses away, but whom I’ve never spoken to, approach the side walk. We made eye contact and exchanged “Hello,” and then some. He walked around the curve and then came back to tell me the market was indeed open, that he in fact was going to get some bags too.
While at the market, a woman exited her car, turned her head toward me and smiled. The few people there were at the market didn’t ignore the other living, breathing humans walking past them. Rather, they smiled.
I waited outside while my husband purchased his mocha at the Heartbeat Cafe. A man and his dog sat at a bench across the court yard. A couple with multiple dogs strolled through. They seemed deeply engaged with one another. The man and I sat looking across from one another. A few minutes later, he introduced his dog to me, and wished me a lovely day.
Is something changing?
Melanie begins to sing at 1:10.
Lyrics
This is an Open Thread.