Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?

Sing it with me, won't you?

Back when Sesame Street was new (and I was too), I remember vividly the people in that song-inspiring neighborhood...Bob, Gordon, Susan, even Mr. Hooper (may he rest in peace.) But in my "real" childhood neighborhood -- living in an apartment in the DC area -- we didn't have relationships with grocery store proprietors or fix-it shop owners; no friendly rapport with the local veterinarian and certainly no playdates with a gargantuan yellow bird. That sensational street was as imaginary to me as was Fred and Wilma's prehistoric 'hood or George and Jane's futuristic galaxy dwelling.

Not so for Darren and Sarah. Since their births, I've been keenly aware of the socially beneficial and long-lived relationships we've made with the people in our neighborhood...people who know them by name, and who lavish them with praise and affection. So starting today, in acknowledgment, appreciation, and a desire to document these positively life-impacting folks, we're going to introduce you to the people in our neighborhood.

Meet "Ma" and Mrs. Neely, of the ICater Cafe.

When the kids were stroller-sized (around age 3 or so), we had a car repair to make. The day was pretty, so I dropped the car with our favorite mechanics (there's a future post...), extracted Darren and Sarah, loaded up the DuoGlider, and strollin' we went for a few hours while our car was being serviced. Happening upon a cute little restaurant, right around lunch time, in we went. After some server doting upon our darlings, our lunch order was requested...that's when I noticed it. The missing Visa/MC sticker on the front window. Sure enough, when I asked if they took credit cards (my only means of possible payment that day), they confirmed (with palpable apology) that they did not. Now here's where the story gets good:

Mrs. Neely: "But don't worry about it, Honey. You just order what you all want for lunch and come back and pay us later."

I have no reservations putting that in quotes because that is exactly what she said. Verbatim. In the 21st century. Since I couldn't bring myself to actually do that, I ordered a lemonade for us to split and a fruit cup (I had a whopping $4 in my pocket). Since that day, we've been regulars. We sit at the "special" table with a white cloth. We play the "guessing game" while waiting for our food. Darren now reads from the little blackboard the soups of the day, and always orders one. Sarah's "bun-free" preference for her hot dog is known and there's no need to voice the special request. The ZooPals plates are always used. Our first swim lessons were conducted by Mrs. Neely's granddaughter, "Coach Laura." The ICater prepared all the food for our Papa's 90th birthday celebration. We mourned with Ma upon her husband's passing. When "Poppy" (Mrs. Neely's husband) comes in when we're there, there are grins and tickles and "Look, who's here!-s." Sarah and Darren's picture is hanging by the register...alongside images of family members and health department certifications.

As the song says, "they're the people that you meet, when you're walking down the street," but I daresay these are not "the people that you meet each day."

They're much more; and I thank them.