Most high school students still read examples of Great Literature. Some American, some European. Regardless of the current cultural touchpoints that the Tik-Tok Generation understands, we leave a preponderance of 19th and 20th century works in whatever passes for a national English curriculum. That is why the high school equivalent of Great Books selections still bedevils teenagers.
Which brings us to the much-beloved poet Robert Frost. I don't even know if you can graduate high school without analyzing "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening". Or "The Road Not Taken." Or "Nothing Gold Can Stay"-yeah, I'm looking at you, Ponyboy. Which is how I get to the topic of "Mending Wall."
In case you've forgotten this one, it neatly describes and deconstructs the idea of fences and boundaries. The narrator, while helping along with his neighbor to build and maintain a stone wall, finds that it turns into a meeting place of shared purpose and community. Walls can both separate and unite people.
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We moved from Pelham to Katy in 2012. When we moved, we left behind the best of neighbors. No New England stone fence separated our back yards from each other
but a modest chain link. Galvanized, four feet tall, with posts and end caps and top rails and all the rest.Just sturdy enough for the kids to clamber over as they transited from yard to yard. Because with good neighbors, kids don't have to go around and use the front gates--they just climb over.
We lived there next to Brian and Stacia Watson and their 3 kids about 12 years. Well, Brian and 2 of the kids were there from 1999-Stacia came on the scene several years later. Added her daughter to the mix. Stacia quickly became an astounding cornerstone of the community on the street-making friends all up and down the street. Checking on everyone.
When my charcoal smoker burned a hole through the deck and fell through to the level below-Stacia called us with the alarm. When the water pipe from the roadside burst and a plume of water jetted to the sky-Stacia called it in to the city and let us know. If the kids ever misplaced a house key. they knew they could go next door to the Watsons. Nothing special-just everyday neighborliness. Like what Mr. Rogers talked about.
I have heard from Stacia several times since we moved. When a tornado destroyed our old house. Several various catch-ups and check-ins. I check out her feed on Facebook every now and then. They moved from the old neighborhood in Pelham down to Montevallo. Their kids, like ours, are all grown up.
Yesterday I was astounded to see that their youngest, Kyle, has gotten married. Far from the skinny little schoolboy I remember hanging from trees and asking for a slice of bread or an apple, he is a handsome and bearded young man with a beautiful bride. Absolutely lovely pictures of family and friends in the wedding party, all gathered to celebrate young hearts joined together.
But it is Stacia's commentary that is the most breathtaking. She praises her beautiful new daughter-in-law. Introducing pictures of the bridal shower--
"We could not have picked a better person to join our family!"
Some families little realize that a marriage is not just a union of two souls, but a creation of a new family, in which two communities are joined together. Stacia has it exactly right.
My favorite part of her Facebook profile? In her posts and in her family/relationships information, there is no distinction between her 3 children. Step-children? Nope, Stacia has 3 children. Period. Equally proud of all of them. Just like you should be. You think all 3 of those kids know that she loves them? Sure looks like it from here.
I Didn't Give You The Gift Of Life, Life Gave Me The Gift Of You-unknown
Thanks for being such a good neighbor all those years. And thank for giving such a perfect model of family acceptance.
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