Before all of us dispersed at the end of the evening, the leg broke loose from the fire pit bowl, toppling hot embers into the street. It had been repaired once before using a zip tie.
Our melting pot of a block was gathered together for no reason other than a stay-at-home order was in place for midnight.
Lawn chairs were haphazardly set in a circular pattern at the dead end of the block in front of the No Parking Fire Lane sign.
Jody and I had been encouraging these get-togethers for over twenty years. Many had been held in our back yard. Now others on the block often sounded the alarm for a get-together.
Single, married, remarried, divorced, widowed, Indonesian, Hispanic, African American, white, young, old, Republican, Democrat, gay and straight mixed around the fire that I poked with my 6-foot distancing stick.
There were those who believed in conspiracy theories, those who loved our President and blame the Chinese, and those attracted to herd immunity. There were also those who were frustrated with the President’s response and reassured by the state’s plans.
Our entire block of eight houses was represented, in its diversity and imperfection, a potpourri of all there is in the world.
Throughout the evening, I moved from lawn chair to lawn chair, appreciating all our differences.
I took pride that we could come together time after time finding commonality and enjoyment in each other.
Before he left, the oldest guy on the block would say with satisfaction, “None of us on the block have it,” meaning the COVID–19.
I was happy to be a part of his ‘us.’ He was too. Though in all respects, he and I, are polar opposites in our religious and political views. I take delight in who he is. He’s gifted me fish he’s caught and venison from deer he has killed.
I believe, that despite our differences, if my family did get COVID-19, he and all the others on our block would look after us. We are all part of the ‘us.’
His wife stayed back helping me with the now broken fire pit. We doused the embers together. Before she walked down the street, she said, “We need a get-together at our house. We’ve never had people over.”
Our imperfect block will continue to rendezvous. The broken fire pit will once again get mended. Social distance will be respected in varying degrees.
Comments
5 responses to “Cocktail Hour”
It’s great you could all come together and enjoy one another’s company despite your political differences. That would be hard for me.
Wow! After overdosing on all the fighting and “them and us” mentality that has surrounded this virus, your post was a breath of fresh air. Yes, we can come together (safely from six feet) with those who disagree with us, because we realize that even though we think differently, we all want this world to be a good place, for everyone. And when we’re tolerant and open-minded with those who are different, it can be. Even in the midst of an pandemic.
Thank you, Ann.
This is great. Stay close while staying apart. I love your open-heartedness. Love to you and yours from our stay at home. XoxxoX
Thank you, Ann.