NEIGHBORS' NIGHT OUT

 

          Tuesday was Neighbor’s Night Out (NNO). This is an event the neighborhood has done for I don’t know how many years. The first one wasn’t held on the actual event night, but at a later date. It was held so we could all say farewell to a family that had been good neighbors for many years. Their children had grown up with mine, they’d played together, shared overnights, etc., and it was the first close family to leave my neighborhood burrow so to speak.

          Various people have been responsible for organizing and holding the event. Initially it was me, then me and another woman, then a couple and finally two couples. The event was originally held at the end of the street in the driveway and yard of two neighbors. For the last few years it’s been at the end of the south cul-de-sac in front of the host family’s home. Next year, if we managed to bully my next-door neighbor into taking on the responsibility, it will be held adjacent my house in his driveway and yard.

          My contribution has always been the Neighborhood Directory. This was started decades ago by a woman who no longer lives here. It was taken up and revised by the child of another neighbor as her senior project. I took it on when NNO became a regular event. I update it each year with any information neighbors want changed and/or add information for new neighbors that have moved here during the year.

          The directory was originally (and still is) prepared in Publisher. Various neighbors have asked for an electronic copy, but none of them have Publisher, so they get a hard copy which I print and collate and provide at NNO or place in their mailbox if they were unable to attend. It contains cell phone numbers, names of children and ages, names and breed of pet as well as an emergency contact. Based on the response to my inquiring emails about revisions, I believe it is a valued document. I’m seriously thinking of moving the information to Word for 2024. That way, I could provide an electronic copy.

          At 5:00 pm, it didn’t look as though there was going to be an event, but by 6:00 pm, tables, canopies, chairs, grills, even flowers in vases on the tables thronged the street. Then, by 8:30 pm, it had all been taken down. NNO was attended by about half the neighbors that live in the cul-de-sacs. I printed out twenty-seven directories and had to place 13 into the various mailboxes.

          Brats and hot dogs went on the grill, salads, side dishes, chips, dips, fruit, plates and utensils lined the tables and the feast began. Every family brought something to share and it was all very tasty. I had the first brat I’ve had in 2023 and I want the recipe for the watermelon salad. I contributed chocolate zucchini bread which disappeared as did the lemon bars another woman made. I came home very full, but not uncomfortable.

          It was so good to see everyone in one place, to be able to have a conversation, as opposed to just waving as we drive past each other in our cars. My neighborhood has a wide variety of ages, now mostly middle-aged, but time is marching on. There is only one woman left from when I moved here. I was seriously hoping she would attend as she always has, but at ninety-nine, it was simply beyond her this year. I did get to see and hold (I felt very special) the newest member, a three-month old baby boy. There’s also another baby due to a different family in September. The families even live next door to each other so they’ll be playmates.

          Since I am now the second-oldest as well as the second-longest neighbor in residence, I’m sure the time will come I’ll end up in first place. Eventually, I, too, will be gone, but it gives me pleasure to think a young family will move in here. It also gives me pleasure to think the Neighbors’ Night Out will, hopefully, continue for many years to come. It is, I believe, a tradition well worth continuing.