Front Porch Chats
With summer approaching, my mind drifts back to sweet memories of childhood. .
I enjoyed playing with the neighborhood kids. Games of hide and seek that stretched throughout the entire block and didn’t end until it was too dark to see anything, skateboarding smack dab in the middle of the street, jumping on our “trampoline” in the backyard (which was really just an old mattress and box springs that dad threw out there), and so much more. I was a weird child, though, because some of my favorite memories were my front porch chats.
My Elderly Friends
We lived on a big corner lot. Tiny house, huge lot. My friend Darren and his family lived in the second house across the street, and his grandparents lived on the corner..directly across from us. Mr. and Mrs. Kottwitz sat out on their front porch for hours at a time. Many times, there was a little girl named Christy (me) sitting right there with them.
You know how some kids get excited and watch outside to see if their friends come out to play? I did that, except I was watching for my elderly friends to go outside to their front porch. As soon as I saw them I would run over to sit on their porch and visit with them.
My parents told me to stop bugging the Kottwitzes..but I didn’t. In my mind, they loved my company and wanted me over there. We talked about everything, and sometimes we talked about nothing. Mr. Kottwitz was always super friendly, but Mrs. could get a bit grumpy. She was probably thinking “oh, no..here comes that damn kid again”!
They never told me to go home, and I felt welcomed and comfortable sitting on that porch. Actually, I’ve always enjoyed visiting with older people and hearing their stories. I prefer the company of older people, always have. So much experience, so much wisdom.
Front Porch Chats
Patios and decks are great, but there’s really nothing quite as relaxing as sitting on a front porch on a warm night or early morning. Drinking a cup of morning coffee or a big glass of iced tea (unsweetened of course, sweet tea is nasty) while listening to the birds chirp or the locusts buzz..ahhh.
In my adult life, I’ve had a few nice big porches. One of the crappiest houses I’ve lived in had an amazing front porch. We had a porch swing that I sat on with friends and neighbors daily. The very best way to get to know a neighbor is to share stories (and possibly a beer) while sitting on a front porch. I actually remember once attempting to make mint juleps because my friend had always wanted to “sit on the porch swing, drinking a mint julep” ! They were not nearly as good as I had imagined. Ha!
It shocks me when I see a home with a huge EMPTY front porch! Those people don’t know what they’re missing. Too many people today would rather close all the curtains and doors and stay holed up inside of their houses. It is a proven fact that fresh air and sunshine are good for the body and soul.
At this time, my front porch is small. Even though it’s small, there is enough room for two chairs. Two chairs to sit in and see the world around us. Two chairs to watch the grandkids play in the front yard. Two chairs to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. Two chairs to yell at cars to slow down as they barrel down the street. My parents put those two chairs on the front porch when they lived here. Sometimes I sit on the front porch and think of them.
If you’re lucky enough to have a front porch, USE IT!! Believe me when I tell ya..front porch chats are the best!
