I didn’t expect the day to come when I didn’t know all of my neighbors but it has. Old friends have moved away or died. I’m not outdoors much like Ken who does the yard work and talks with new people taking care of outside chores.
Each weekday morning and afternoon, there’s a traffic jam of parents driving their students to classes and home again. Few boys and girls walk by or ride bikes. The village has changed and so have I.
When we moved into Durand in 1966, I knew nearly everyone who lived in the little town that has never had more than 1500 residents. Our three children walked to school and played outside with the other kids who lived in the area. Our two daughters joined Girl Scouts and our son became a Cub Scout. I volunteered with those organizations, was a room mother and an active member of our church. I warned our offspring, “Your dad is a county deputy and your mom’s a newspaper reporter; everyone knows the Ditzler kids, sees what you’re doing, and can’t wait to tell your mother.” It wasn’t an idle threat. People picked up their phone book, found our number and gave me a ring whenever they saw our kids doing something they shouldn’t. The tattling was usually accompanied by the phrase, “I knew you’d want to know.”
After our children graduated, I continued watching school sporting and musical events that included our two grandchildren. When they both went off to college, I quit attending those local activities. I’m not a jointer so I don’t meet strangers in adult organizations. I am a member of the group on Facebook, “What’s Going On In Durand,” but most of the others are unfamiliar names.
Are you acquainted with your neighbors?
No I don’t know all the neighbors in our circle. I would like to, but there are several reasons why I don’t. First, I’m like you Lolita, in that I am not puttering around outside in my flower gardens like I used to do. I can’t stand for long periods of time. Secondly, I would like to have a party, but just do not have the get-up-and-go to do it.
There is good news too. Sid and I often play euchre four times/week & since we have been doing it for quite a few years, these people have become a community for us. I look out over the white heads, and I smile fondly to my self. Sure, there are stinkers in each group, but for the most part they are good old souls just trying to live another day, as Sid and I are doing.