(Yes I said I was going to take a break.........but what can I say, perhaps I have a touch of obsessive compulsive disorder!!!)
Did I tell you how much I love warm, deliciously scented summer nights, and although I am a huge fan of fall and it’s enormous burst of colour, I do get ever so slightly melancholy when summer is over. You see myself and two of my other neighbours have stoop parties as soon as the warm weather starts and the parties continue thru the summer until blankets and coats no longer keep us warm. We span three decades, all told. “J” is in her early 30's, I myself am in my early 40's and “L” is in her early 50's. Each of us is in a different phase of our lives.
We aren’t your every day group of girls. We couldn’t be more different from each other. J is bubbly and effervescent and cherubic, and every time she spits out a dirty joke, well all I can say is that it is so shocking to see that come from here sweet little face that I nearly choke up a fur ball. L is this give-you-the-shirt-off-her-own-back kind of person. She would buy you the moon if she could and never expect a single thing in return. My better half and I often dream of tying her down and feeding her food! She is just this little stick person and her whole body weighs less than one of my butt cheeks, correction, she weighs less than my big toe! And then there is me, whacked to say the very least, and I won’t bore you with the details, so I encourage you to make your own assumptions on who I am.
Although I personally play a minor role in our stoop parties (because most of the time you can find me upstairs blogging!), the time we do have together is just so much fun on our little front steps. We talk about every thing and pretty much any thing is up for grabs. It can be about work, food or family, decor, gardening, people or life. Rantings about the injustices of the world, followed by the things that inspire us or ignite a fire within us. Last night it was about sex and colourful objects found at the local adult accessory store which caused such a raucous of laughter from the three of us, that it rung throughout the whole neighbourhood. Nothing is off limits and quite often our stoop parties start with our partners in tow, but eventually, the men are either bored or embarrassed and disappear into their respective homes (chickens I say!). The exception, of course, is L’s twenty something son who sticks around and says he is gathering the information for future blackmailing purposes!
Whatever we talk about, you can be sure that the bond between us as women is undeniable and impenetrable. Strong, meaningful, caring, nurturing, encouraging, empathetic and sympathetic, we have an understanding that crosses all time and barriers and unites us as one. Age makes no difference. I don’t see J as a 30 something year old with two small children and I don’t see L as a 50 something year old with a granddaughter. What I see are women like me with the same wishes and dreams, problems and issues with idealistic visions on anything from romance to happiness and every thing in between. We are undeniably the same, and yet different enough to make us each unique in our own right.
These are the moments I treasure, the bonds of friendship which I hold dear to my heart and I am reminded of something Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.” They are my wonderful, all year, never put in a box ornaments and I thank them profusely for their very kind and memorable friendships.
Did I tell you how much I love warm, deliciously scented summer nights, and although I am a huge fan of fall and it’s enormous burst of colour, I do get ever so slightly melancholy when summer is over. You see myself and two of my other neighbours have stoop parties as soon as the warm weather starts and the parties continue thru the summer until blankets and coats no longer keep us warm. We span three decades, all told. “J” is in her early 30's, I myself am in my early 40's and “L” is in her early 50's. Each of us is in a different phase of our lives.
We aren’t your every day group of girls. We couldn’t be more different from each other. J is bubbly and effervescent and cherubic, and every time she spits out a dirty joke, well all I can say is that it is so shocking to see that come from here sweet little face that I nearly choke up a fur ball. L is this give-you-the-shirt-off-her-own-back kind of person. She would buy you the moon if she could and never expect a single thing in return. My better half and I often dream of tying her down and feeding her food! She is just this little stick person and her whole body weighs less than one of my butt cheeks, correction, she weighs less than my big toe! And then there is me, whacked to say the very least, and I won’t bore you with the details, so I encourage you to make your own assumptions on who I am.
Although I personally play a minor role in our stoop parties (because most of the time you can find me upstairs blogging!), the time we do have together is just so much fun on our little front steps. We talk about every thing and pretty much any thing is up for grabs. It can be about work, food or family, decor, gardening, people or life. Rantings about the injustices of the world, followed by the things that inspire us or ignite a fire within us. Last night it was about sex and colourful objects found at the local adult accessory store which caused such a raucous of laughter from the three of us, that it rung throughout the whole neighbourhood. Nothing is off limits and quite often our stoop parties start with our partners in tow, but eventually, the men are either bored or embarrassed and disappear into their respective homes (chickens I say!). The exception, of course, is L’s twenty something son who sticks around and says he is gathering the information for future blackmailing purposes!
Whatever we talk about, you can be sure that the bond between us as women is undeniable and impenetrable. Strong, meaningful, caring, nurturing, encouraging, empathetic and sympathetic, we have an understanding that crosses all time and barriers and unites us as one. Age makes no difference. I don’t see J as a 30 something year old with two small children and I don’t see L as a 50 something year old with a granddaughter. What I see are women like me with the same wishes and dreams, problems and issues with idealistic visions on anything from romance to happiness and every thing in between. We are undeniably the same, and yet different enough to make us each unique in our own right.
These are the moments I treasure, the bonds of friendship which I hold dear to my heart and I am reminded of something Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.” They are my wonderful, all year, never put in a box ornaments and I thank them profusely for their very kind and memorable friendships.
Until Next Time.
Smooches Pooches
