For thirteen years I lived at 203 West Avenue A in Kingsville, Texas. I was born at Kleberg Hospital on Cesar Street and my first home was closer to my home church on Richard Street, but as an infant moved to the house on Avenue A. I remember it was a house on concrete blocks, the coolest part of the house was actually under the house. But our house had a porch. A front porch. It was where my folks, when they had time, sat there and waved and visited with all the neighbors who would take evening walks or come over to visit. We had two metal chairs painted in white. We had other things on the porch but exactly what they were I do not recall but I do remember that one of my uncles, my mom’s brother, and my dad had a running joke. If we went over to Avenue B, on the other “side of the tracks” to see him and if he were not home my dad would get us boys out of our car and we would all pile my uncle’s metal chairs, flower pots and vases, and an assortment of other decorations and we would pile them against his front door. I think my dad started this ritual, and my uncle loved it. I think he purposely called on a church night knowing that we would not be in, and he returned the favor.
Those were different days. Moms ordered us out of the house and if I was not under the house, I was at “the creek.” It would be years later that the state revealed the name of my creek, Tranquitas Creek. We felt safe and we played un-chaperoned.
I’m reading a book that makes the point about the change in home design reflects a change in our attitudes towards one another. Seldom do new homes come with front porches. The trend is for nice backyard decks. What does that say? Have we all moved away from neighborly-ness towards a more protective, isolated stance? Our homes used to have screen doors, usually unlocked, and the real door open. Now our doors have deadbolts and peepholes. I’m not putting those down, sadly, they’re safer for our families; we’ve responded to needs.
The book also makes the point that we’ve moved away from connecting with people on the streets on which we live, to other places most notably coffee shops and other establishments. The writer says we used to have what are called the “three places.” Our “first place” is our home. We connect there with family. Our “second place” is our work place. We connect there with workers and customers. Our “third place” used to be our places of worship, now it’s Starbucks or Mochas and Javas, or it could be here at Rotary.
We’re social creatures. We were created to interact with others and there is no better place than right here. Take time to get to know one another. Appreciate one another. Let’s be front porch people here at Rotary!
Rotary Shares,
President Eddie
Those were different days. Moms ordered us out of the house and if I was not under the house, I was at “the creek.” It would be years later that the state revealed the name of my creek, Tranquitas Creek. We felt safe and we played un-chaperoned.
I’m reading a book that makes the point about the change in home design reflects a change in our attitudes towards one another. Seldom do new homes come with front porches. The trend is for nice backyard decks. What does that say? Have we all moved away from neighborly-ness towards a more protective, isolated stance? Our homes used to have screen doors, usually unlocked, and the real door open. Now our doors have deadbolts and peepholes. I’m not putting those down, sadly, they’re safer for our families; we’ve responded to needs.
The book also makes the point that we’ve moved away from connecting with people on the streets on which we live, to other places most notably coffee shops and other establishments. The writer says we used to have what are called the “three places.” Our “first place” is our home. We connect there with family. Our “second place” is our work place. We connect there with workers and customers. Our “third place” used to be our places of worship, now it’s Starbucks or Mochas and Javas, or it could be here at Rotary.
We’re social creatures. We were created to interact with others and there is no better place than right here. Take time to get to know one another. Appreciate one another. Let’s be front porch people here at Rotary!
Rotary Shares,
President Eddie
