A few weeks ago a red pick up truck loaded with mattresses and boxes pulled into the driveway next door. He-man and I were like Mrs. Gravitz on Bewitched, pulling the drapes aside to see what was happening in the neighborhood. The next day more trucks and more boxes were loaded into the house. The next day came the refrigerator and piano. It was official. We had new neighbors and the lonely dark house now had light.
We waited a day or two and then made ourselves known to our neighbors. Two adorable, browned eyed girls quickly accepted us as their new best friends and made their way to our house to play with Bluebird and Sci-guy. They spied yaya's candy canisters and could not believe it when I told them to help themselves.
They quickly learned where puzzles and barbie dolls were stored and easily made themselves at home.
I loved having them so comfortable with us, but their mother was a bit more cautious. And why not, she didn't know us and her first responsibility was to keep her children safe. Sounds like a good mom to me.
The other day I was in the kitchen stirring batter for Clone's birthday cake when I heard the door bell. I went to the front door and opened it to find the lovely brown-eyed girl next door holding a plate of fresh carrot-raisin muffins.
She told me that her mother did not have to work that day and that she and her mom had spent the day together cleaning, baking and talking. She told me that her family called her, "Little Miss Homemaker." She told me all kinds of things that I think would be best kept between us. Kids give you all the juice, even when you don't ask for it. And Brown-eyed-girl was eager to share all she knew.
She walked around our house and read the titles of our books, fluffed up pillows and studied the many pictures resting on shelves and hanging on walls.
While we were in Wyoming she was given charge over our sprinkler system and making sure that the azaleas were adequately watered. She took her job quite seriously. When we returned home she came to the house and asked me if I was watering the gardens because she had noticed that some of my plants were drooping.
When she pops in for a visit I make sure I have a few plants that are in need of a drink.
She not only likes to visit she likes to help wherever I might need it. The day she brought the muffins, I was not only baking Clone's cake, I was making dinner as well. She watched me for a while and then she said, "You don't like to "real" cook, do you," I said, "Oh but I do. I like to cook, especially when I have the time." She responded with, "Well! Meat in the crock pot and baked potatoes in the microwave? I was just thinkin'..." It was then that I told her he-man and I were going to eat and that it was time she went on home.
Seriously she is a delightful child and I am happy every morning that I stand at my sink, filling my coffee pot and look out the window to see a light shining in the window of the house next door. No more empty darkness.
I hope this day someone brings you an unexpected gift. I hope there is someone next to you who is not afraid to give you all the juice without hesitation. I hope that when you look up from a task you will be blessed with light.
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