Now, let me tell ya’ll something about the neighborhood that you just don’t see everywhere. Around here, we have what I like to call the Sidewalk Huggers and Wall Huggers.
They’ve got their lawn chairs pulled up, the grill is fired up, somebody has a drink in their hand, and somebody else is yelling across the street like they’re communicating with the entire neighborhood. And nobody thinks anything of it. Because this is the neighborhood. And these folks don’t just come outside for an hour or two.
You know exactly who I’m talking about.
Oh no, baby.
They are OUTSIDE!
We’re talking morning, afternoon, evening and some of them will still be sitting out there when the streetlights come on!
There is always someone watching everyone watching them and apparently the Wall Huggers and Sidewalk Huggers have decided that the sidewalk and wall is their permanent address.
And let me tell you something about these Sidewalk Huggers and Wall Huggers: they take their positions seriously. They have their favorite chairs. They have their favorite walls. They know who belongs where. And once that chair comes outside, don’t expect it to move until the sun goes down!
You ride through some neighborhoods and see people sitting quietly on their porches maybe enjoying their backyard.
But around here?
The sidewalk is the backyard!
The Wall Is the front porch!
And that lawn chair?
That’s the living room!
And the funniest part is, these folks seem to have a full time schedule.
Morning shift: sitting on the wall.
Afternoon shift: sitting on the sidewaalk.
Evening shift: fire up the grill and continue sitting on the wall.
I’m looking at them thinking, “Baby, is this your job? Because you have excellent attendence!”
You don’t see this everywhere.
You can ride through different neighborhoods and wonder where everybody is. But come through this neigghborhood and you don’t have to wonder.
We’re right here!
And that’s what makes it funny, but it’s also what makes the neighborhood feel alive.
People are outside.
They’re talking to their neighbors.
They’re watching what’s happening.
They’re sharing food.
They’re laughing.
They’re arguing.
They’re catching up.
Somebody’s grill is smoking.
Somebody’s music is playing.
And somebody is sitting in that same chair they’ve been sitting in since breakfast. That’s neighborhood culture. That’s the kind of thing that makes you say, “Yep, I’m home.”
So the next time you’re riding through the neighborhood and you see chairs lined up, the grill smoking, and folks posted up against the wall or sitting along the sidewalk, just know:
The Sidewalk Huggers and Wall Huggers are on duty!
They don’t need an office. They don’t need a desk. They don’t need a time clock. Their office is the sidewalk. Their conference room is the wall. And their lunchroom is wherever that grill happens to be!
And honestly, as much as I joke about it, there’s something special about seeing people outside and connected to their neighborhood.
Because sometimes community doesn’t look fancy. Sometimes community looks like an old chair, a grill, a wall, a sidewalk, and a whole lot of conversation.
And around here, that’s just how we do it.
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