Over the Fence

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Days are turning into weeks and passing by so quickly and at the same time they are moving too slowly. My mind feels numb with details on some days and blank with the "in between living" on others. Maybe you know what I am talking about maybe you think I am nuts. Maybe I am nuts these days. It sure feels like it sometime. For instance, I sent my mom some flowers and put her street number on the form with a street name that she hasn't lived at in a long time. Oh well. Maybe it is the stress of the building/moving or maybe it is menopause or maybe a little bit of both. My yoga mat is calling me in not so subtle of ways and I am not heeding its call. I'll do it tomorrow, I always say and then I say it again the next day. But... this past week I have been witness to some beautiful things over the fence.

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On Saturday our neighbors son and his girlfriend go married in their back yard. The guys got ready across the street and the girls got ready at the neighbors house. Mostly I think the men drank beer and the women primped. I was on our deck when things got underway and thinking it was too intrusive to peek over the fence, I went upstairs and watched discreetly through my bedroom window. The celebrant stood on the lawn, the men stood in a row with black jeans and purple golf shirts. The bride walked up behind her bridesmaids and the couples two toddler sons ran around in Mrs. Busby's newly planted garden. The whole thing lasted 5 minutes tops. There was no music, no "churchy" stuff, no pomp and circumstance. It was one of the nicest weddings ever. Short and sweet and fire up the grill!

That same afternoon a real miracle occurred. Our elderly neighbor across the street FINALLY got rid of the junk car he was meaning to fix which had been sitting for 5 years in half of the driveway. He told me since we were moving away it wasn't going to be quite as fun keeping it without me bugging him about it all the time. What I really think was the reason was Mrs. Olson said "It's that stupid car or me. One of us has to go!" He chose wisely. Athena spent a good part of the afternoon planting peas and beans with them and of course had to have an iced tea break halfway through. They will miss her and she, them.

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On Sunday, perhaps the most beautiful thing of all, on the other side of the fence a few doors down I heard some sawing and hammering going on. As I stood to look over I saw Athena's friend Tyler in the yard with Step Dad and Birth Dad. The boy asked if he could help with the project and Step Dad said to ask Dad. And Birth Dad showed his son how to sand a board. "Speed comes later, after you have learned properly. Go slowly, take your time." And the rest of the afternoon the Two and A Half Men worked side by side. It stood out to me as quite lovely that these broken families can get along so well in ways that benefit the child so much. It was very uncommon and I took note.

And of course Sunday was Mother's Day. We got together with two our three adult daughters for lunch. All the little girls sat at their own table which was not next to ours. They were very good and very thrilled about the whole thing. Truth be told, little Josie, the youngest of the four, was best behaved. My other daughter may have come but she is at home growing us another granddaughter who is due sometime this month. Lots of girls in this family. Lots of girls means lots of laughter and LOTS of talking. Notice the men in their little corner talking about boring man stuff. It was a wonderful weekend in so many ways!