Two Salads and a Nut Tray

Evening! At least that is what my computer clock is telling us. Shoot, a whole day has gone by and we never got past reading journals and responding to emails. This is about the best and most relaxing kind of day we know! AND ... I feel a little better caught up though it seems like people are pretty otherwise busy today. I think this is a good sign. :)

Nothing much to "report" from this end. Nothing exciting has happened ... hmm, well we ate a couple of salads over the last 24 hour period. Guess that’s new! Hehe - I know, I know ... we hear the little Floralilia-eyed clock ticking in our brain. She’s STILL looking for succinct! I’m not sure which map she’s using, but its likely we don’t have an outfit in that size or color! Lordy, lordy ... she must be a married woman with children asking to be fed, entertained, and burped! There’s no clear line of thinking in that direction. No spare time to flutter away in aynie whimical manner possible! Shudder the thought! Say, that’s it Floralilia must be jealous of us!

LOL - I don’t want to hear now that ugly comment, "She must have a life!" We’ve done our share of all that. There’s a time in a woman’s life it is more logical to disband. Sort of like throwing out all of those stretched out bras! See that’s the truth Floralilia ... I’d done my time picking up the umpteenth dirty sock from the living room. It’s now up to the new generation of love struck owls. Gone are those wonder woman years where one took out the garbage while four perfectly healthy males shouted exclamations in their preference to playing Nintendo games. *Shudder* Oh, let’s not even go there!

Let’s see with that thought ... and clearly hmm, 3 ½ hours to do absolutely anything imaginable ... we should do something to bother the hell out of Floralilia! Let’s see ... what would get her goat? We could perhaps write the novel of our life? Sure, there’s some spare time here! Perhaps just a chapter ...

Chapter 1

It was a clear blue sky day when the moving van entered the tree-lined street which would now label our home address. There were children on the street playing and riding bikes. It was still mid-morning. I noted the falling leaves and acorns falling on clean swept lawns as if mounting a collection in the Sunday plate. I stood alone on the porch, but not short of spirit or joy. The relator had stated that this was a happy, friendly town. It went by the name of Jayland.

I had slept that first night on the floor in the living room. I was ok without a bed, and felt very young at heart. My comforter, washcloth, bucket, broom, coffee pot, mug and my laptop computer were the only items that personally escorted me by small car to journey’s end. The only concern was if the cable company had made their magical connection which would have reassured that all luxury be maintained. I didn’t necessarily get around to unpacking the items of washcloth and bucket, but the broom took a stance next to me on the porch.

I was excited to see the headlights of the moving truck glance down our driveway as it smoothly edged over the graceful dip. I loved the thought that I could live in an imperfect world. The lead mover greeted me confidently with a packing slip in hand.  He was a strapping young man.  He told me that all I had to do was sign, then step away as they completed the task of unpacking the truck. The boxes were each marked and the rooms all clearly labeled.

I was appreciative that the first few items out of the truck were my outside wicker table and set of four natural straw wicker chairs. I motioned for them to be set down in the corner behind me. I dodged a mover to recapture my mug. I was very happy in that the cable company had followed instructions splaying one cord to the living room and one cord out to the area my table now sat. A few twists of the wrist and I was reconnected to my known world.

I heard the familiar whirring of the small machine as it booted and twinkled before me. The relator, whose name was John had given us a special Internet address along with a few handy suggestions. He said the people round town had gotten together to form a small presence on the web. I hadn’t had a chance to look in on this, but now the moment no longer withstood me.

The welcoming page was warm and colorful in colors of leaf green, earth brown and sky blue. But, before I could clearly focus on the tabs and links, I caught motion from the corner of my eye. At first I thought it one ofthe friendly gray squirrels. But the movement was followed by a beautiful melodic voice. I looked up to see a woman crossing the grass. She was holding what looked like bakery andthat which turned out to be cherry cobbler! I was pleased as punch with the sudden awareness that I was being greeted by my first friendly new neighbor. She was a beautiful woman with wise eyes. She was older than me, by perhaps six or seven years. She was on the plump side like me, but flowed freely in a silky sexy hot red kimono.

She introduced herself as Vivian and she didn’t stop talking once she had begun. She appeared very excited about a celebration that she was confident that would be more fun than anything I had ever imagined. She went on about floats and parades and games and entertainment and in so doing noted more names than I could identify to events. She seemed very, very smart! By now of course, she had set down her pastry gift and had begun to cutting pieces for both myself and her. She was quite sure that I would be hungry while all the while, affording no rest in her speech. She told me that the recipe had come from a wonderful lady named Pam. Apparently this Pam woman had woven together a directory the folks round town. Vivian noted quickly that Pam would be over before lunch to go over some of the local customs. Apparently, these two women had lived in the town before the age of civilization.

It was about this time that another new neighbor happened by. Vivian held up an outstretch hand and waved a man toward us she called, Vince. She stated in a low whisper that Vince often took long walks about the neighborhood and that he spread much warmth. Vince appeared to be a man of few words and chose the ones he used carefully. He didn’t wait for an invitation to sit down as Vivian was already handing him a small paper plate with a piece of the cherry cobbler. Vivian asked quitedirectly, if I could make a fresh pot of coffee. I said, "sure wait just one moment."

I looked around the living room to discover the sectional couch I’d just bought was creatively placed by the moving men. I hadn’t figure that all out yet. The young one, who wore his cap backward was just putting together the last of the six new bookcases. I moved out of their way and into the kitchen. "Damn," I thought, I should have scrubbed the stains off the coffee pot before having placed it in the car. No time for regrets now, I thought. Time often slipped past me without much adieu. We hoped that our new friends wouldn’t mind that we didn’t have a ready supply of cream nor sugar.

I walked back onto the porch to discover that a few more people had joined the group who went by the names of Steven and Jeanne. Steven had slung around his neck a camera with a large lense. Jeanne apparently been gardening because she still was wearing her worn dirty gardening gloves. She was speaking to the group. She stated that she’d started her Victory garden and was discussing with Steven how to keep out the red wasps. Steven appeared to be a calm, relaxed young man, who apologized for not having the answer to that one. He backed off the porch nearly missing a mover and appeared to fixate his concentration on something moving near the porch trellis. He snapped a half a dozen pictures, then looked up as if pleased. "No time now ... sun’s just about right!" He disappeared around a corner without a second glance. Jeanne too looked uncomfortable in settling down. She said, "I have to clean up now, there’s kids coming over for lessons in a few moments" She whisked herself down the block.

Vivian was looking preoccupied. I hesitated, but then said, "I’m afraid I don’t have any cream or sugar to share." Vivian laughed and chuckled saying, "Of course not dear. You are moving!" She leaned forward and fumbled around her loose fitting clothing saying, "Now wear did I put that phone?" I looked toward Vince, but he just leaned back in his chair and said, "Uh-huh." I wondered what he was up to because I could see clipped on his waist a cell phone. Why haddened he offered it to his friend?  It took Vivian a few moments, but she located the phone and was already pushing its tiny buttons. She was soon talking to a lady she named Sam. Vivian was saying, "Sam, Sam ... well, of course dear, how are you? Oh yes, I certainly do know how busy you are. Yes, ok I have time to answer one quick question, what is it dear?" Vivian held the phone close to her ear and stated several times, "uhuh, uhuh." She gave a few directives and then hung up. Apparently Sam was in the middle of the a committee meeting to get faster lawn care service in picking up the leaves.

Just then Vivian’s phone rang. I lost track of the conversation, because I’d noticed the strangest green car rolling slowly down the street. My gosh, I thought that man certainly does need a new muffler! I had also noticed that there were a couple of other people who were moving this same weekend. I asked Vince and he let me know that there was a new family named, Slo-something ... it was a pretty name ... And, yet another young family. He wasn’t sure of the family’s name but the woman who had opened the door for him was named Shana. Apparently, one was coming in from Texas while the other one appeared from Georgia. Vince let us know ... that each had young children who might attend the same play group. I thought my oh my ... this Vince fella has a lot of good information!

The next event nearly crashed all my clearer senses of what had been previously thought of as fairly normal. I hadn’t seen the woman at first, but there she was as plain as day. But, the really amazing thing about this woman was that she was hanging upside down in my new Elm tree. I thought, "What the hell is all that?!" Vince may or may not have realized that I was staring quite strongly, but he said nothing about what I thought must be my overactive imagination! Then I heard the woman yodel out a sound that was quite remarkably like the mating call of a lost goose! I was construct with the thought that she was saying, "Welcome, neighbor!" I sunk in my chair. "Oh Lordy, Lordy! What had I gotten myself into!??"

Viv looked up for a moment and seemed to recognize my dumbfoundedness. She followed my eyes over toward where the blond haired daredevil was stripping leaves off a close branch. I asked out loud, "What the hell is she doing?" Vince looked at Viv and Viv looked and Vince, then Vince stated very matter of fact ... She’s just letting you know she likes both you AND your tree. I was feeling a little squeamish by this time and I thought to ask if this woman they were now referring to as Floralilia did this kind of thing often. Vince chuckled as he reached for another sip of coffee. "Oh no ... no, not very often" said he. "Usually she prefers oak trees!"  I thought, "Yep, yep, its done happened. I’ve moved next to a nut!!"

End Chapter 1