By Don Tassone
One morning, Zack was cutting his grass when his lawnmower broke, so he went next door to borrow his neighbor’s. He rang the bell and could see movement inside, but nobody answered.
Zack looked down his street. No one was out, and all the garage doors were closed.
He remembered how he and his friends played outside all summer as kids. Often they would share breakfast on their porches. The other moms even knew Zack liked Cheerios with sugar.
Zack went home, poured himself a bowl of Cheerios, and sat eating them alone as he scrolled through messages on his phone.
A good example of how time, caution and new technology have had an impact on day to day things. Nice one 🙂
Amen. Thanks, Kelly.
Separation is a way of life these days. Friendships suffer. What is truly important fades into the past. Good reminder, Don.
Yes. Thanks, Peppermint.
Liked this scene! We think we’re so connected because of phones and other technology. But….are we?!?
Yes. But of course connections are not necessarily relationships. Thanks, Janet.
Sometimes it seems the more income, the more secluded and separate we are, even from neighbors of the same ilk. If we were still living in the old neighborhood with our childhood friends and families, maybe those relationships would still be alive.
Good point. Thanks, Kathy.
I’m a real estate agent when I’m not writing. This week I showed two out of a dozen homes with front porches. I pointed out, “Porches are rare these days, how lovely to see one.” The young couple had no response and bypassed me to see if their grossly oversized sofa would fit in the living room. Standing there alone, looking out on the quiet inactive neighborhood, I felt sadness for an earlier time. Thank you, Don for helping us remember.
L. Belle, I wonder when the day will come that young people won’t even know what a porch was for. Probably sooner than we think.
Thank you, Libby.
So sad that youngsters no longer experience real life. Well done, Don.
Thanks, Tom.
Ain’t that the truth? A great example of how shut in the world has become. On my little cul-de-sac, I rarely see anyone outside.
Our new normal, I suppose. Thanks, Lisa.
what a way to evoke the distance of unneighborly neighbors
Thank you.