Sunday, September 26, 2010

Kicking and Screaming

It's not my fault I've been raised to be a hermit. Growing up at the end of a 5 mile dirt road in the shadow of a mountain does not lend itself to being all that neighborly. When we'd see more than one puff of car dust come of the road per day, the same routine would inevitably ensue. Someone would go the drawer and get the binoculars. That someone would then attempt to identify the vehicle. If the car wasn't familiar, there'd be more squinting through binoculars accompanied by disgusted comments about the over abundance of traffic that day. Like I said, my nature is not my fault.

So today when we got home from church and our neighbors of two months poked their faces over the wall asked us over for some pinata beating, I sort of squeezed my butt muscles and looked at Nic like a creepy man just offered me a fuzzy lollipop. Nic, the consummate Mr. Friendly warmly accepted.

We walked exactly ten steps from our front door to theirs. Franklin was from Dominican Republic and his wife, from Mexico. We were given Capri Suns and plates piled with fresh crab salad, halves of avocados and a salsa so hot I had to secretly keep wiping my water hose nose on my sleeve. It was food from heaven.

They explained to us that though the party was to start at 6:00, Latin people are late so we might be hanging out for a while. In the back yard I sat next to a young girl who escaped from Cuba with her family and who was glad to be rid of government issued food rations of 5lbs of rice and six eggs per person per month. More people trickled in bringing more food: chilies stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon (I'm so biting my knuckle right now), BBQ ed chicken thighs, pans of rice and more salsas....oh the salsas.

A tiny and perfectly manicured man came in with a plaid cap, pink polo, and shiny brown boots. He turned on the irresistible beat of salsa and mirenge music. People got up from their chairs and danced with glasses of wine still in hand. I'm pretty sure I've mastered salsa dancing. It goes a little somthin' like this: Chicken wings out, fists to chest, hips all Shakira style and use your toes to squash, squash, squash the bug MINI KICK! Repeat.

At one point Nic looked over and said, "So do you feel like a total dork shunning our neighbors this whole time?" I said, "Yes." Then I ate another bacon wrapped chili.

Eventually I had to be the wet blanket and tell the kids that 19 Tootsie rolls was the limit and it was an hour past bedtime. I did my best to get them home, scrub the layers of sucker slime from their faces and get them to bed. Then I went in my room and put on the purple muu-muu Nic hates and spied out my window into the neighbor's back yard (sans binoculars). They were still dancing and I was oh so glad Nic made me be friendly.

8 comments:

Hi I'm Apryl said...

Love it! Sounds so fun!! I don't blame you though, I also suffer a hermit-like nature and often rue Sean's super talk-to-everyone-ness that so often ends up great but makes me cringe nonetheless. Next time bring us :)

kiki comin said...

how fun. I heard them having fun last night! it's a good thing for husbands, huh!:)

Kara said...

Great job being neighborly! I'm very hermity too so I understand your hesitation :).
Btw, thanks for letting Nic join in my hubby's quartet for their meeting on Thursday. I got to hear them practicing yesterday and it sounds pretty darn fabulous! Almost makes me want to attend their meeting, but of course not really :). I'm so glad you've always mentioned Nic's talent so I could tell Chris to use him.

Stacie said...

Bacon-wrapped chilies?!?!

So does this mean I should be disappointed when all my neighbor has to offer me is marijuana and monthly policemen visits?

C.C. said...

OMgoodness you are TOO funny! Looking forward to reading your posts all the time. And thank you for stopping by my blog.

CatinaMarie said...

Oh, that is so inspiring and funny! Also makes me very grateful that we have access to grocery stores and food selections beyond what most of the world can imagine. I hope you got some recipes!

Mary said...

Sounds like great neighbors! You are lucky!

"M" Clan said...

How fantastic is that, you really do live in a great neighborhood, and those neighbors are so totally happy to have your sexy booty to come shake at their party! xo