Front Porches

Front Porch in Laramie.

Intended to go camping last friday, but got there and there was not only a fire ban, but fire works ban and you couldn't even have a charcoal BBQ in a smokey joe. (been really dry here lately)

So, we packed up and drove back to Laramie. Set the smokey joe up on front porch and hung out there from about 7 to 10. The neighbor across the street has a really cool house too. NEver seen it at night (except late late night as we stumbled home after seeing the band)

We're on the porch watching the street life from sunset to complete darkness. It was just fun. Outside life turned to inside life across the street.

There is car traffic, but not too much and not too little. Just right. People riding bikes and walking. Some rednecks in the alley smoking cigs and chasing the cats with super soakers (who came back in like ten minutes to their favorite spots which you could mark down with a dime-not an inch off)

It was almost choreographed with the time. Dogs barking. Neighbors laughing as they leave their house for dinner or to get a drink (and then back later VERY happy) Flash of lightning in the distance. Car hits the manhole cover on the next block. Windchimes with an occasion jingle. There was never more than about 30-40 sec lull before SOMETHING interesting happened. Reminded me of Rear Window, without the murder. (well, mayber there was (one of the cats whom we didn't see after 10PM??)) Better than TV and super nice change of pace.

Our neighborhood in FC seems sterile compared to that.

No one walks, everyone drives (and not down our street but the fast one adjacent) no one spends time on their porch except for us (and they probably think we are the strange ones) All of the garage doors immediately close after someone comes home. All the windows are shuttered with the AC on. It’s weird.

I took a vitamin and now I feel nauseous. time for something new....