Episode 23 - Neighborhood Watch

I have seen many Neighborhood Watch signs posted along the streets of various towns and cities, but admittedly do not know much about the program. I would guess the signs are a warning to would be vandals and thieves, that the area they are encroaching upon is not the habitat for sitting ducks. Those living there are interdependent upon one another, for the well being of their homes and property. I imagine the residents of these Watch zones are trained somehow in what things to observe, as well as oddities to look for. They likely know what vehicles are parked regularly at the homes in their precinct and have one another’s phones on speed dial. It actually sounds pretty comforting to think that whether you are home or away, your place is under a watchful eye.

Our street has no Neighborhood Watch signs. In fact, I wouldn’t know many of the folks who live on my street, if I were to run into them at the grocery store. We may wave or say hello while out working in our yards, but nothing more. I might chat with the people who live on either side of our house, but no further.

And then came Grandma….

Since moving to our house, she has made it her business to know about other people’s business. Her chair sits right in front of a living room window, giving her full access to the happenings on our street. She keeps track of traffic, cars, dogs and sidewalks that are in need of repair. She enjoys the antics of the little boys next door as they play in their yard... reporting to us their fun or frustration. Some of her observations can make me cringe: “That fat lady over there sure has a cute little dog.” (I pray if they ever meet face to face Grandma forgets the NutriSystems commercial). Oh, and she simply marvels at the large dogs on the other side of us, who never venture from their yard.

G: My, those dogs are well trained. They don’t have a fence or anything. They bark, but they never leave the yard.
Me: They have an invisible fence.
G: A what?
Me: An invisible fence. It’s buried around their property and the dogs are trained by wearing special collars. If they cross the invisible line, they get a shock or something. They’re eventually trained not to cross the line, whether they have on the collar or not.
G: I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Me: Well, now you have… and you’d better not force us to get one….
G: … You mean for me?
Me: Just kidding Mom.

When Grandma lived in D1 – she was within hollering distance of dozens of people. The mailboxes (for everyone in the complex) were ten steps from her front door…. and the laundry room (for half the tenants) was right next to her apartment. People were coming and going, past her door throughout the day. Most everyone knew what was going on with everyone else. It was sort of a little campus. Grandma had her tan plastic lawn chairs sitting in a neat row outside D1. She would occupy one and the others provided a place for rest and conversation to anyone who wanted sit for a spell.

The tan chairs are on our front porch now. They are familiar fixtures on the face of a new springtime. The longer daylight and warmer weather offer us more opportunities to be outside and maybe even to get to know more of our neighbors. I'm sure they will all get to recognize Grandma... a One Woman Neighborhood Watch!

So ends Episode 23