It’s been a hot summer. Since we’ve arrived in Texas, daytime temps have climbed over 100 degrees F every day. As much as I prefer warm to cold, the levels of heat here have made life outdoors difficult. People stay inside their homes and we don’t see our neighbors.
But hope springs eternal and starts to grow when it’s not smothered by layers of sweat. Maybe we will start to make friends.
The house we bought sits at the end of a cul-de-sac, beside the hike and bike trail that weaves through the neighborhood and glides past the park. Large windows in our family living room look out to the cul-de-sac and the path, allowing a good view of foot traffic as neighbors get out to walk. I watched a couple stop to greet my husband as he fiddled with the lawnmower.
Two sets of neighbors have expressed how happy they are that a family (our family) moved into the house. They had been sad to see the previous family leave and their kids missed the kids who used to live here. We rarely see kids outside, though. Between the heat, the humidity, and the beginning of school, the streets are mostly bare of kids playing.
I am thankful for our location in this neighborhood. We long to get to know our neighbors and it seems our neighbors like the idea of gathering to hang out in the evening. We are hopeful as we wait for the weather to cooperate.
Sarah Seefeldt 