Neighborhood @ MindSay

By Popular Demand  ~  Chapter 2 of From my Childhood

 

 

 

The four of us, Ruthie, Connie, Karen and me, had lots of adventures in our quiant suburban neighborhood.  We had a cabin at the far end of my backyard - in addition to the forsythia bush.  In the winter, Karen's dad flooded their backyard and made an ice-skating rink for all the kids.  Another family erected what descriptively came to be called the "Big Swings", one of my personal favorites. 

 

The Big Swings were constructed with 3 telephone poles.  Two of them were pounded soundely into the ground while the third crossed at the top.  From this immense structure, two old-fashioned wooden swings hung.  Another great detail about these swings was that they were located in the center of a wooded area.  Enough room had been cleared so there was no danger of hitting anything, but we were well concealed in the woods as we enjoyed the Big Swings.  Still, these swings were in the backyard of a neighbor, yet there was a feeling that they were really owned by the neighborhood kids.  I don't think I recall ever seeing an adult there, but I heard numerous parents calling their child from the street.  It was a place where the neighborhood kids all met and played together.  Surprisingly, I recall no fights.  There was the occasional push or shove, "my turn!" but never a real fight.

 

One of the best things to do with these Big Swings was to twist them.  Many times, I was the only one on the swings and I would do this for hours; twist the swing then let it untwist as fast as it could go. 

 

There was also a nicely situated treehouse within shouting distance of the Big Swings, so on the rare occasions when the boys were hording the Big Swings, we girls would off to the treehouse for "tea".   This, of course, enraged the boys who would then quit the Big Swings to salvage their "fort".

 

By a strange twist of "fate", some point before I entered high school, a huge highway was cut through, and though it didn't "take" the Big Swings, it took their feeling of seclusion.  The Big Swings could be seen from the highway, and that was significant, especially since we were getting older, too.  The Big Swings slowly faded into a memory, but a beautiful one.

 

~ B

 

With only a week left in my stay in Jordan, I found myself leaving for the last time the villa where my classes have taken place this fall. At this villa, there is a very cool view of the eastern part of Amman and its buildings.  Gazing at this view for the last time, I reflected on how differently I perceive this view as compared to the first I saw back in the last week of August.

 

Looking at it for the first time, the view just seemed so foreign.  All of the buildings were the same boxed shaped while minarets popped up hear and there throughout the skyline.  This was simply architecture I was not used [to].  Additionally, I had no idea what the streets and people below these buildings were like.  How did they interact with each other the streets?  Were the streets dirty or clean? How did Arab families interact with each other inside the apartment buildings that I could see?  Because I had arrived in Amman the night before, I simply did not know what the feel of an Arab street or neighborhood was.

 

Now having lived in an Arab city for three and a half months, I feel as though I am looking at a different picture when gazing from my school’s villa even though the view has not changed.  When I first looked at the view, all I saw were buildings, but now I see more than the buildings as I know what is going on below and in them.

For example, I know that I would likely see a minor fender bender if one of the streets were visible.  I would also know that even if the street were visible, I would still probably not be able to see people on the side walks as they would most likely be covered with the overgrown olive trees that dominate the side walks.  If I were to go into one of those apartments, I know I would be offered tea the second that I walk in.  These facts are what makes studying abroad so great as it allows you to look at a picture from a country you traveled in and be able to see more than is in it.

Fitness kick week 1 is down.

After a little convincing and A LOT of griping, I got Johnny to go on a walk with me today.  We've gotten into this really bad routine of sitting in bed ALL FREAKING DAY on our laptops, eating junk food, and generally not taking care of our bodies.  We've thrown out a healthy amount of clothing due to the lacking of the fit, and frankly, I'm tired of it.

We had a nice little "discussion" about it this afternoon on the way to lunch.  Things were said, apologies were made, and to make a long story short, he agreed that this really is better for both of us.  I know he's working on his movie and working hard to get it done, but I also feel that I've been more than understanding in that whole thing and that it's not too much to ask to take an hour a day and walk around our neighborhood.

It wasn't quite an hour today because he had to pee, but in the 40 minutes we were walking look at the wonderful things we discovered:

There is an art gallery right around the corner that we knew about but we feared that they also did custom framing, and they would be competition.  We went inside, and it turns out they do NOT do custom framing, but they host the artwork of many local artists, as well as gallery openings and lots of cool stuff to buy!

We also found out that there is a public library and rec center about 3 blocks from us.  WHO KNEW?

Okay so that was it, but compared to what we WERE doing (i.e. sitting in bed doing NOTHING but watching movies and playing on the computers) I feel that that was a worthy accomplishment.  I hope we can keep it going.

Along with the fitness kick comes eating right, and we are going to definitely make an effort to only eat out once a week unless it's a salad.  This will be easier for me than for him, because he's got work lunches and things, but he told me he'd at least make an effort to make better choices.

Kitties have feelings too.

And meow, I have too much to do.  I want to nap, eat, sleep, walk around the neighborhood even though it's brrbrr cold.  And I also like to watch the tv when there's a movie on. but I have to wait until my owners feel like it.

Hello. Just moved in. I don't say much, but I like to comment since you ask. Let me rearranged, fix a few things that are broken, polish and clean, shower well and I'll be set.

 

But always come by for coffee, please read your paper before coming over. It is rude to sit here and read mine. If I offer something, then feel free to help yourself and let's relax while we've both got a minute to spare. Work? Yes, I was born good looking, so I have to work. But I'm good at what I do.

 

I'd rather browse though, sip coffee and see what it was that wasn't on my mind today.

 

Welcome. Drop by, say hello.

 

G.

 

P.S. Sometimes you might not think I'm here when I don't write. Don't let that stop you.

P.P.S. No, I'm not. But yes, I was. And hope to just once more.

 

G

 

P.P.P.S. I'm not cryptic, it's just that it's not something I can explain or talk about.

 

G.