Not so long ago…
Bang! The screen door slammed shut. Bang! Bang! Again and again. Loud drunken voices on the porch next door late at night. Vroom, vroom. The big scary guy on his motorcycle, not moving anywhere just revving the engine for effect. Boom, boom… boom. Boom, boom. The deep bass, determined not to be contained in the basement party escaped up the stairs and out the side door, ten feet south and up into our bedroom window. Through cracked eyelids, 3:00am. Evil thoughts enter the minds of tired Tredways but no scheme seems like decent revenge. Argh. Don’t know how on earth this might happen, but please, God, let them move!!!
Just moments ago…
Charity. Renae. Joie. Brook. Gratitude, joy, friendship, community. Bang! The screen door slams and a voice is heard, pleasantly chatting on the phone with a friend. Bang! Bang! A porch party, glasses of wine, great conversation, lots of laughter. Vroom, vroom. Charity yanks ferociously on the lawn mower, willing the darn thing to start up. Days spent outdoors tending to the gardens, deciding how to maintain Pastor Brad’s rapidly growing perennials, making plans for summer barbecues. Light, spilling out into the dark night, telling me Renae is getting ready for bed. The beams from her room cast into mine, reminding me of a college dorm, but so much better. Comfort. Knowing that sisters live next door, always ready to love us.
And we love them back.
4 Comments
charity May 5, 2004 10:47 PM
our screen door really is loud isn’t it. :)
i fear i’m now spoiled, because i can’t imagine not living next door to you for the rest of our lives!
kerri May 6, 2004 12:08 PM
a question for Jeremy: does the high level of estrogen over there ever get to you? Do you have to escape the “girls dorm” every once in awhile and have some guy talk with Adam, Tobey, and Stu? Or do you relish being the only male around a bevy of women?
just wondering….
Jeremy May 6, 2004 2:22 PM
If I was single, I would probably enjoy the “bevy of women” (especially if one of them was still Rebecca). As it is though, sometimes I do tend to look for an escape — but, that may have more to do with my INTP personality and less to do with their estrogen.
rebecca May 6, 2004 2:53 PM
out of the six neighbors, i’m the only extrovert in the bunch (meaning, every one else knows how to leave each other alone when necessary!).