Barbara J. Hamby

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Neighborhood

After living here for nearly a year and a half, I think I have the names of our immediate neighbors in our fourplex and the adjacent duplex straight. Friday night the apartment owners put on a dinner for all the tenants and three couples (one, a father and son) who live around us, sat at the table with us. The ladies who live in the two basement apartments were not there. It was a chance to enjoy good food and converse as much as possible in the very poor acoustics of the large clubhouse room. We managed to learn a little about our neighbors.

It’s a shame that we don’t get better acquainted with people around us, but that’s the modern trend. I imagine that, if our block had flooded in the recent storm, we’d know everyone quite well.

At a meeting yesterday, we talked with people who live near Vernonia and rallied to help their neighbors save as much of their livestock as possible from the floodwaters. The good Samaritans were not flooded out, but just discovered their well is full of silt and unusable.

Disaster does bring people together, as we have seen on the news recently. We, and many of our friends and acquaintances, have donated money and supplies to help out the flood victims. It’s little enough to do when we are so much more fortunate.

Last night, I heard that five Oregon counties have been declared Federal disaster areas and will be eligible for F.E.M.A. aid. That’s a start toward resuming normal lives for the many flood victims. The job seems overwhelming and I marvel at the courage of those who just dig in and clean up.

Snow flurries this morning got my attention. I raced to the store to stock up on milk and other necessities, but the disturbance dwindled away, I’m happy to say. Those who are cleaning storm damage don’t need snow on top of everything else.

This afternoon we were entertained by the Way Off Broadway group--senior singers and dancers who obviously love their hobby. I’ve heard and enjoyed them before. They were accompanied by a pianist and a drummer. One performer played a trumpet solo and one played along on his guitar during a song. They sang songs from Broadway shows, performed a few skits, and finished with Christmas music. Wassail (hot cider) and cake were served after the show. The large audience, that we were among, was very enthusiastic and appreciative.

For the first time in many years, I bought a living tree, a very small pine, to decorate for Christmas and later plant in a large pot on the deck. Having a cut tree last year was a drag, with all the dropping needles and the worry about the dry limbs igniting. A fake tree would have to be moved in and out of the attic every year, so this is a good solution for us.

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