Confession: I am a front porch sitter. When I was a kid I loved sitting on the front porch at my parents' house and sometimes on the swing in the front yard. I also loved sitting on the front porch in my Uncle Jay's neighborhood in the old Flint Groves mill village. Mill villages are a great place to see a lot of people walking and driving through. Rural country roads see a lot of interesting people too. The suburbs.....not so much.....you may see some fitness or pet walkers but not much of what I'd consider "interesting". But the porch sitting is still pretty fantastic.
The Droid likes sitting out on the porch too. If the weather is fair, it is usually where we will sit and wait for any guests. When they arrive, they're always surprised......are we late? No, we just like to sit out here and look for you. The Droid is always disappointed when the weather makes us wait inside. He is my one man greeting committee.
Many folks cynically surmise today that we've lost our way.....lost our values......don't know where we're going or what we're doing. Sometimes I feel that way too. And I hate to sound all Andy Rooney over here but sitting outside really does clear my head. And I've realized over the years that I get all my good thinking done in one of three spaces: in my car while I'm driving, in the shower, and yes, on my front porch. Sitting out there makes me feel peaceful and free from all the ickiness in the world. Because let's face it, there's not a lot of ick outside on the lawn. That's just nature.....that's not ick. And I know not everyone has houses and porches. And I feel grateful for mine. Our house and porch are humble symbols to me and my husband, and we don't take them for granted. Is this the American Dream we've always heard of? Not to everyone, but it is to us.
But I'm not gonna try to make you feel guilty because you don't porch more often or try to persuade you to do so. If you like the porch, you're already out there when you can be. Or if not your porch, your yard or deck or stoop. They all provide the same relaxing joy. You're remembering the old times.....your childhood.....snapping beans or shucking corn......waiting for the ice cream truck.....waving at neighbors. You know. You don't need me to tell you.
This time of year in the South, it's super hot and humid so the only time front porch enjoyment is possible is in the early morning. That's okay because we're early risers around here. Every weekend morning I sweep and tidy the front porch and adjacent sidewalk and carport. To me, it's as important as tidying the house.....who knows who might show up? Spring and fall are obviously the best porch seasons, and we use those seasons to their fullest. There are few treasures greater in life than to sit out on the porch on a misty morning in October with a book and a cup of coffee. I feel dreamy here in July just thinking about it......sigh.
