Summer Nights in Suburbia

Well, I've had a lovely rest here in St. John Indiana, though not all of it was rest. The couple that I'm staying with was looking forward to my arrival to help out around the house. They are expecting a brand new baby girl in a week and had yet to paint the new addition's room. The project turned from just painting the walls a solid pink to decorative vines and flowers. Then, not to have their son left out, I was asked to paint a small mural of a train across his wall. The projects were right up my alley and a great way to pass the time.

The joy of it is that one of the neighbors had been wanting to do a similar project and she was more than willing to take advantage of my presence in their community. So today, I painted flowers in thier young daughter's room to my hearts content. But the most exciting part of this bit of providence is that these were all paying gigs. I'm almost regretting my departure tomorrow knowing that there are other neighbors who would be more than happy to pay for my services. Though painting decorative roses and choo-choo trains has never been on my list of things to do with my gifting; I may have to reconsider seeing what a market there is.

I have not seen much of the town of St. John, and what I have seen has not been of note. But this community has a very special charm about it that seems ripped from a simpler time. This is a brand new development and all the residents have only been here for several months. Mostly young families with children all around, they take full advantage of the adjacent backyards (and the one home with a swing set). Tonight we sat on the driveway in lawnchairs for what seemed like several hours. Neighbors came by and we talked through the sunset when all the children started chasing fireflies.

I have often lamented the loss of that neighborly connection that promised bunt cakes and brownies for the newcomers and babeques and lemonade all summer long. There is a treasure in a world like this where home is not just our four walls, but our block. And our family is more that just the ones you're required to feed but all those walking thier dogs and sitting on thier porches down the street. There is safety here and a genuine care for one another. What once was such a common sight has been lost to picket fences and brinks home security systems.

What else have we lost in our fear?

Tomorrow I must leave before my feet get soft and the blister phase returns. I am looking forward to heading out again, and trying to change my perspective on the time I have. I am currently over a month ahead of schedule, so there is no need to rush. But my mind is so engrained to set linear goals like 20 miles a day so that I can track my progress and feel okay about myself. Maybe things aren't always achieved in a linear, goal oriented. progress monitoring fasion; whoah, did you feel that paridigm shift?

I love you all, and congrats Ryan on your grad party! I heard it was quite the event!