Monday, June 18, 2012

Road Closed

Deb: We are all accustomed to seeing the “road closed” sign in the spring and summer! We spend the warmth months adjusting to detours for road construction and repair. It never bothers me because, I figure, what else are they going to do? The roads need to be fixed and in order to do so, they have to be closed. I do know it’s a little easier for me, as I am not a nine-to-fiver dealing with traffic delays and clock punching. I think in the grand scheme of every day complaints, road closures are the most frequently griped about inconvenience, next, of course, to the never-ending human obsession with the weather. Between construction delays and weather—I think we’ve got a better chance controlling the weather.

Today (Saturday) I saw a bevy of “road closed” signs throughout my neighbourhood. As I peered down the street while passing the sign to see what was being constructed or de-constructed, it was to my delight that the closure in question was for a street party. In fact it turns out that today is street party day for many streets in my hood. The road was filled not with burly guys in yellow neon vests, but with basketball nets and plastic pools. Each street seemed to have something different. There were food tables adorned with plastic tablecloths and BBQ’s lining the boulevard. There were happy kids with bony knees shrieking summer shrieks and catching balls. There were neighbours chatting and gossiping while keeping one eye on the shrieking kids. You could tell at a glance these parents were trained to tell a shriek of laughter from a shriek of pain, and ready to pounce if needed. The street was alive with games! Sidewalk chalk, hopscotch, and tag were the order of the day, with nary a video game in sight! Kids being kids and families making memories.

These “road closed” signs made my day! The whole street party thing took me back to a time when this kind of thing took place on a weekly basis in my life. My hood as a kid was alive with the sound of puck hitting stick and the call of “CAR!” as nets were scraped out of harm’s way. Any day in the summer was an excuse for a neighbour gathering or impromptu bbq. All were welcome! These are sweet memories for me. I remember when these instant bbq’s would instantaneously pop up and everyone would scramble to see what meat and salad fixings, beer and wine they had in the fridge and the booty would be shared. The men would start getting the charcoal ready and the ladies would start chopping and mixing. But it was all done as one big party with everyone pooling their resources for a day and night of fun. The kids would set buffet tables with plastic everythings! If someone was really well-stocked we would have classy paper napkins that came wrapped in bunches of 40, or paper towels if the pickings were slim. As the meal wound down, the guitars would come out and the singing would commence. Joined by crickets and bats overhead for the jamboree, the bug spray would come as the night fell. Around this time, the sunburn on your nose and your back would start to heat up. But you didn’t care. It was summer and the living was easy and shared. Good good times. I remember them well.


A few sweet memories of summer impromptu gatherings:








Barbara: Awww, Deb! Thanks sooooo much for the summer reminder (or, reminder of summer).

When I was kid living in a quaint suburban neighbourhood, we would take part in a huge neighbourhood bbq and party on our street. I remember it so vividly. There was always a parade for all the kids and we would dress up and ride our bikes (also dressed up) down the street. I would wind streamers through the spokes of my wheels—not very original, I know, but it made me feel like a million princess bucks. I know there must have been gallons of food and I’m sure it was delicious, but I don’t remember the food the way I remember the warm air and the conviviality and the new friendships that felt like old.

When Phil and I moved into our present-day neighbourhood, I used to fantasize about launching one of these very same “road closed” meets. I could see us bbq-ing and drinking and gossiping and eyeing our rambunctious kids. But … it never happened.

Oh well, memories are nice too. And maybe one day another intrepid neighbour will heed the call of the street and begin a new old tradition. That would be very sweet.

36 comments:

  1. Aww yay impromptu gatherings! I'm still learning the way of the ropes of my neighborhood, having been here a little over a month. I have had a few friends stop by to check things out (but mostly just play with the cats). ;]

    Summer for me was always family time. It was always the time when the family went on our annual beach vacation. But for the last 3 years I haven't been able to go (2 summers ago I was taking classes and last summer I was of course, in Scotland :DDD). And this summer is no exception. I'm here now, taking care of my cats and trying to make ends meet. But it will have to do for now :]

    I'm normally never the first commenter, but alas. Places to go, things to do, money to make and bills to soon pay. :D

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    1. That's okay Kelly. Cats need street parties too! When you are finished your education you will have those summers again Kelly. In the meantime-go, do and pay those bills! :-)

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    2. No my cats do NOT need street parties. They have their own street parties in the middle of the night whilst their owners are trying to sleep. :]

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    3. CATS...??? Did someone say cats???? Kelly you have cats ??? THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!!!!! what kind ???

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    4. tWe don't know what they are!!! lol

      If you go on our blog (thehandkchronicles.blogspot.com) they're all over our blog (in our section titled "things that make us happy") :D

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    5. OH....I'M DEFINITELY GONNA CHECK THAT OUT!

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    6. OMG they are cute..!!! and so are you two!! LOVE IT!

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  2. I've never lived in an area that had block parties, but it has always sounded like a wonderfully fun idea. One of my favorite memories of summer, besides jumping on the trampoline, playing in the spinkler, roller skating and bike riding in the neighborhood, was that I lived accross the street from a high school and in August, I could hear the marching band rehearsing in the parking lot of the school. I would run down to the end of the street, look at the high school accross the way and watch the flag corps practice and the band marching in formation. When I got old enough, I was in the band and practicing in the parking lot. Fun times, but super hot!

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    1. Molly I would love to have a marching band practising across the street. What a joyful sound! And the fact that you ended up in the band is such a great story.

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  3. Impromptu gatherings are the best. I have fond memories of street parties, that ended in a huge water fight and then fireworks after dark. That was a wonderful street of people and when we grew out of the houses, we moved north and three families all moved within a block of each other and the impromptu dinners continued. We are all still close friends, and have all watched our children grow up and become adults. We are very blessed. I love the photos Deb, what stage of life was that for you?

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    1. Jo it's true isn't it? Huge watertight and fireworks sound major. That's what I call a put together on the spot party!

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  4. They are aren't they Jo! Wow this is a special group of friends Jo. How nice for all of you. I moved into this townhouse when I was ten and these parties were all through my life until I moved out at 24. Then Colin, myself and toddler Luke moved back in when he was 18 months and lived there again for almost two years. Then we got out own townhouse for two years while saving up for a house of our own. Lovely warm fun filled place it was.

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  5. My street has had a 4th of July Party every 4 years since 1976. The street closes and the parade opens the day. There are old fashion games and arts and craft and square dancing. Everyone brings a dessert for the community table and there are about 800 people that show up. Friends of residents and it is glorious. The fire department sends some trucks as well. We archive all the photos and post them on someone's garage. A great day for all. Now our kids have kids so it is even more exciting to see all the generations as they grow up.

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  6. Madge that sounds wonderful! I love the posting of the pictures! (no surprise there!) We just had the 60th annual Victoria Day fireworks on our street this year. It was wonderful. The adult kids who used to be the babies. We even had some "babies" there who now own homes in the hood.

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  7. Growing up in a small town we didn't really do block parties, when only half the plots were built on they would have been a little sparse. There were many whole town gatherings at the community centre though. The neighborhood we live in now does the occasional block parties so my kids will get that experience as well as the community centre get togethers. For me it wasn't the community ones I really treasured it was the MD Society picnics and get togethers I recall the fondest. They were the days that my brother and I weren't the odd ones out and he wasn't the only kid in a wheelchair. These were kids who didn't think twice about riding on the tip bars of their siblings chairs, who had similiar experiences and lives and it was just so very comfortable.

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    1. Erin I'm glad they still have the occasional block party. It doesn't need to be frequent for them to make memories does it? The parties at the MD society sound wonderful, and memorable.

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  8. Awwww Deb this is amazing...(you look GREAT IN THE PICTURE BTW <3 xo) I cant relate with this.....except the BBQ... Ahhhh.... I remember when we all went down to Bangalore at my cousin's place......and just had FUN...stayed up late, watched movies, talked, and ohh the BBQ.. HEAVENLY.... If you have EVER tasted Chicken Tikka or Chicken Tandoori.....you'll know how divine it must have been!!! Marinated the chicken overnight to get the spicy hot flavours to sink in the meat...onion rings and chopped onions drizzled with Lemon juice...Wow... I'm droooooling!!!!!
    And also we have a tradition. when anyone in the family is getting married. We get together at a cousins place....our wedding go on for days...there are many traditions before the actually wedding ceremony...so we would get together... the women would be in the kitchen cooking, the kids playing, and cousins would play charades or put on songs and dance like chimps...!!!! I LOOOOVED those days...Thanks for reminding me of a wonderful memory....:) xo

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    1. I now have chicken tandoori sitting in the fridge for dinner tomorrow! Thanks for the delish idea!

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    2. Thanks Shalaka, Oh to eat Tikka or Chicken Tandoori at a picnic!!!! Wow the weddings that go on for days. I have heard of them. I think they are fantastic but I wouldn't last...zzzzzzzzzz Such fun though!

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    3. I know !!!!...Ohhh.... Deb you would have to if it were my Wedding! :D

      HA! Erin...no problem!!!! another tip. Once its ready to serve drizzle some lemon juice on it....it tastes HEAVENLY!

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  9. Street party sounds like fun. I have never taken part in one. Well while in Pensacola I did take part in the uni bbq things. Not sure if that counts. Oh and in Grenada a marching band did go by on another street but we saw it as we lived up on a hill. As I am writing this with my phone I am not going to edit. I forgot about mardiqra (how ever you spell it)! I saw that parade in Pensacola as well. But at "home" I haven't taken part in street parties. Now I gotta go, plane waits. Well there are still passengers coming out, but soon I will get in.

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    1. uni BBQ thing sounds great! Never need to edit here baby!

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  10. That sounds awesome, but I've never experienced something like this.
    Here live a lot of people, but we hardly say 'hello' to each other.
    We always keep to ourselves.

    When I was younger, my parents invited some of her friends, and their kids for a bbq.
    What I did in the summer? I don't know...my friends and I had some sort of club, where we would meet. But since school always lasts until the end of July, we spent most of the hot days in the classrooms. ;)

    And we always went to the sea in the holidays. I love the sea so much.

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    1. Oh and I went riding. ^_^' We had little contests and trail riding, where we would sleep in tents.

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    2. Nothing lovelier than the sea Becki!

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  11. Amazing all the memories that this post brings to the surface. My dad and I both belong to the fire department and my brother and I grew up there. Not to mention my parents met through the fire house. So all of our gatherings usually happen there. We do st. patricks day and memorial day and 4th of july parades in the spring/summer with the guys from the fire house. Always such fun!!
    You guys make the block parties with the whole neighborhoods sound like so much fun too!!

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    1. Kelly Firehouse parties must be a blast Kelly!

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  12. Wonderful memories! In my town, we have these sort of large get-togethers on the 4th of July and such. It's more of the entire town rather than just one street. I am not the type of person that really enjoys the summer. I like the celebrations and events, but I like winter better. Let it snow!

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    1. The entire town Steph! Sounds like The Music Man!!! Love it.

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    2. Yep. One of the perks of living in a smallish town.

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  13. Aww Deb, it sounds like this street party is great. It sounds like this party has made memory. i love it.

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  14. I love this! A lot of Berea students live in our apartment complex and we've entertained the idea of a Brooklyn Boulevard Berea block party! haha! My mom's idea, actually! :D

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  15. Holly do it! And then tell us about it!

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  16. I'm sitting at the airport right now -- I love that airports all have internet now! -- and reading through all the comments I missed while I was gone. This post was so sweet. Memories, old and new, of community celebrations are so wonderfully evocative.

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