Walk and Talk in my Neighbourhood

This morning I went for a walk, early, due to the heat wave that has me now in the hammock, enjoying the breeze under the trees. But this morning, I walked from home to the beach, just to be able to say that I did, just for the exercise, just for the time to myself.  On the way back, I accepted a call from a friend halfway across the continent. We talked all the way home, about 3 km. For a while, it was our usual chat. But interspersed with dialogue, I showed her some of the landscape. 

I showed her the hill I had dreamed of climbing, to borrow a little red sports car. I showed her the graveyard  where relatives and neighbours are laid to rest. And then I came up the last half mile, into our family neighbourhood. This is my brother‘s house, I said. This is another brother‘s house. And today is my other brother’s first wedding anniversary. I had the privilege of officiating that wedding. Today the family message group is full of congratulations back and forth, and teasing about the time passing quickly, whether it’s one year or 46. 

And here is the shop, my brother’s shop, with maple syrup and other maple products, and vegetables. What do I need today? Oh, and here’s a neighbour — second time I’ve seen her this morning. I’m happy to show my friend what my neighbourhood looks like. When I leave the shop, who appears but a great nephew.  “Hello great nephew!  This is my friend!” I walk a few steps further and, “Oh,  here comes my nephew! Nephew, this is my friend!”   Here’s the house where I was born. And here’s where my nephew lives, and here’s the orchard. Oh, and now we’re home.

I tend not to recognize the joy of being able to walk along the road and see my neighbours, and my nephews and great nephews. I forget how privileged I am to purchase green beans and romaine, grown right here on the farm. I live a magical mystical life, so fortunate I am.  

So fortunate to be in this kind of life, where siblings text one another congratulations, where nephews and great nephews come out to the road to say hello, and to ask questions like what did you buy today? Or do you still need to know if you can use the church to marry us? Yes, another family wedding is coming this fall. It’s a joy and privilege that I forget I enjoy. But right now, I remember. Right now, I am filled with gratitude, as I  swing under the trees, in my hammock on this heat wave day, bare feet to the sky.