The Interloper

Neighborhood Kids
Originally uploaded by kristinafh

In our neighborhood - everyone - and I do mean EVERYONE - knew each other. It wasn't just a one neighbor radius either (meaning - you probably expected us to know the people who live to the right of us, to the left of us, across the street, and directly behind us). Oh no, this neighborhood I grew up in - everybody knew everybody. In some ways, knowledge equaled a sense of safety and security. We were a young neighborhood, but already, we were pretty set in our ways.

And then, there were these "rules" that almost every kid abided by (or tried to). Most of these weren't rules that were written down or given to us as instructions. They were rules (and boundaries) that we all sort of picked up as we experienced life in the neighborhood.

For example - there were some neighbors who were really grouchy about people crossing through their yards. In fact, over a one year period, Sears must have been licking their lips at the windfall they experienced by the number of chain-link fences installed in our neighborhood.

More examples - kickball games usually took place on Cedar Crest Circle; the bike "route" was Cedar Crest Circle - Pinecrest - back to Cedar Crest. Kyle Road was too dangerous for bike riding. Skateboarding happened on Pinecrest. Tree climbing was usually reserved for the big ole cherry tree on Scott's Court. If you had to use the (ahem) facilities and you were playing with the Beckstedt kids - too bad. You had to go somewhere else cause their momma never let you in.

One summer, while playing with Tricia Manter in her big ole backyard (we were doing our typical Barbie things), we heard a voice from the other side of the wood fence. I looked at Tricia, she looked up and then looked back down, getting back to the business at hand (putting together Barbie's swimming pool).

The voice called out again. Tricia just ignored him. Not me though. I wanted to know who it was. I went to the back of the yard and I saw a boy, up in a neighbor's tree. I didn't recognize him. "Who are you?" He answered, "Wouldn't you like to know?" Of course I did. He was an interloper in our neighborhood. He was climbing trees of neighbors I knew - clearly - he was not a "neighbor". Then I heard a voice. "Tom. Come down here. Lunch is ready." To which he answered, "Okay grandma."

Weird. I went back to playing Barbies with Tricia. We didn't even acknowledge the voice in the back. By this time, the pool was up and it was time for Barbie, Ken, and Skipper to bask in all of their tanning glory.

Growing Up On Cedar Crest Circle - The Kids

Like my map?

This is my childhood neighborhood. I randomly went through and put the names of the families and approximated where they lived. I know I missed some. I asked my buddy Carl ahem to validate things but he must be too busy - off being the neighborhood association President or something ;).

I showed this to my sister. She was pretty amazed that I remembered all of these people. We argued over the spelling of the "Manter's". She thought it was "Manners". I was right. She was wrong. Insert smart aleck remark here: I am so much smarter than my sister - nah nah nah nah nah nah.

Is it obvious yet that I had a great love for the neighborhood that I grew up in? I was only here for seven years of my life yet those seven years were extremely important. It's where I learned a lot about human behavior.

I learned how to play with others.

I learned that taking risks sometimes meant reward and sometimes equaled negative consequences.

I learned how to negotiate, how to stand up for myself, and what it meant to stand behind friends (and my sister too).

I learned that death happens. And more frequently than it should. This includes people, pets, and plants.

I learned that hard work = some positive payoff...whether that was an allowance (25 cents - thank you very much), a good grade, or an extra privilege.

I learned where the boundaries were with friends, their parents, and my own parents. I came to understand what was socially acceptable and what was better left unsaid.

I learned that a good imagination was better than a million barbie dolls (and associated accessories).

I learned that boys were cute, smelly, annoying, and a must-have at certain times of your life.

I learned that sometimes, no matter what you look like, people will always make fun of you.

I learned that adults were just as vulnerable as kids - they were older, a bit wiser, but really didn't have stuff all figured out.

Other stuff too I learned - but for now, that's a good enough list.

So back to the kids of my neighborhood....

It's amazing that thirty-some years later, I can still remember almost all of the families in my neighborhood but ask me what happened five years ago, or even two days ago, and that takes a lot of effort...

Here's who they are - I swear - if any of them are reading this and I have butchered their names or called them 'suzie' when they were really 'tommie', I will feel mortified (so apologies ahead of time - and please correct me).

Manter - David, Tricia, Holly, Lisa

Davis - Debbie, Denita, Shawn

Asher - Steven, Dennis

Boice - Carl Jr., Kathy, Jackie, Kurt, Steve

Beckstedt - Philip, Mark, Joe

Kump - Lorrianne, Cindy

Brouse - Delores

VanPelt - Brad

Stech - Errol, Kenny

Crane - Floyd, Robbie

Grimes - Kevin, Mark, Michelle

Debit - Monica, Michelle

Wooden - Brian, Colleen

Couch - Erika, Aaron

Bobilya - Shonee, Stacy

Rice - Brian, Greg

Vachon - Dave

Swanigan - Rhonda, Rene, Faron

Smith - Janice

Marshall - Tom