Friday, June 05, 2009

They Didn't Pave Paradise

But they still put up a parking lot. Our neighbors' family had a big party over this past weekend (it was a three-day holiday weekend). They come from miles around, mostly from Blois, some from Paris, and some from places like Lille and Geneva.

This is a common sight from our deck during the summer months.

They had put up a big tent with tables under it for the meals, did a lot of bbq'ing and eating and dancing and playing. Our neighbors' kids are all in their forties and fifties, with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren ranging in age from newborn to their twenties.

We were invited over for drinks on Sunday afternoon, and it was fun to get reacquainted with those of the kids we don't see very often. They're a very nice and generous family, and have been warm and welcoming toward us for the past six years.

The parties last long into the night (we know, we've been to a few), but we hardly ever hear them!

7 comments:

  1. Sorry, I should have thought of this yesterday when it would have been more topical. Here's another version of a tick puller.

    http://www.tickedoff.com/


    Here in New England, deer ticks are spreading something called Lyme Disease to both dogs and people...nasty.

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  2. Lyme Disease is what you are warned about most often in Europe too. I had not heard of dogs getting it, although I do have an ecologist acquaintance who got it.

    My reading suggests that in Europe, babesiosis, a sort of malaria like blood disease, is actually far more common, and far more dangerous for dogs (but humans hardly ever get it).

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  3. Isn't it a great luxury to have the room to throw a big party like that? I'm glad they do it. Those of us in little houses on postage stamp-sized lots are glad someone is doing it!

    We've been planning our 2nd annual 4th of July block party. So that's how we do it in downtown Sunnyvale: block off the street, bring out the shade canopies and BBQs, then eat, drink, and be merry!

    (No parking, of course!)

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  4. We used to do block parties when I lived in San Francisco, but there was no need for shade canopies. Space heaters would have been more appropriate. Until I moved to San Francisco (the Sunset, no less), I never thought I'd need a ski jacket in July.

    ...Susie

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  5. One of my favorite tunes...the Pave song. And there's nothing like a good party that lasts into the night!

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  6. That's what I call "one big happy family!" I like how they have welcomed you into their reunions.

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  7. bill, interesting. Very similar to ours, but with a "telltale snap." Ick.

    susan, we've been told that lyme disease does occur in Europe, too, but it's not as common as in other parts of the world.

    ginny, good luck with the block party! I hope you, or someone, posts photos!

    susan, really, the heat lamp business must be booming in SF!

    alewis, even better, a party that lasts into the night with Joni Mitchell!

    evelyn, they sure do get together a lot!

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