The Driveway

When I was a kid, there was a neighbor who used to sit, every evening in the summer, on his driveway watching the world go by and smoking his cigarettes. They were menthol cigarettes. He did this every night. He sat there in a white metal chair at a white metal table – quiet by himself - smoking his cigarettes and perhaps pondering life. I think he drank coffee out there too. Maybe it was a beer but I don’t think so – I think it was mugs of coffee. As a kid I am sure that I thought this was all a bit strange because my parents seemed to think this behavior was a bit out of place – not creepy weird but kind of trailer park. If it was trailer park then trailer park definitely got it right but I didn't realize that yet. You really didn’t see anyone else sitting on their driveway smoking cigarettes at the time. It was in the day before decks were everywhere. Maybe there were patios here and there. There were tiny front porches – not made for chairs or lounging. The top end of the driveway was all the man had. At the time I couldn’t understand it but now I do.

That’s because I find myself regularly sitting at the top of my own driveway watching the world go by - and maybe sometimes pondering life. I have taken a certain pleasure in this summer evening activity for the last few summers. I must say that sitting at the top of the driveway listening to the last birdsong for the day, the humming of the insects, and the small activities of the neighborhood is one of the best things I do in the summer to wind down in the evening. I think my parents would be slightly appalled. Somehow I find that much more amusing than a grown up woman should.

So far tonight, the neighborhood has been hopping - two dog-walkers have passed by, one neighbor has been out grilling, the family next door has been doing a massive cleaning out of all their cars, a soccer match has taken place between dad and son across the street, and some bike riding has occurred. All around the birds are chirping and soaring across the sky, a train whistle sounds in the dusk, the insect noises are starting to ramp up, there’s a nice breeze, all the crepe myrtles are in bloom, and although I am not smoking a cigarette and drinking coffee, I am burning a big candle to drive away pesky bugs and swigging down a big iced tea. The grill is cooling down beside me. I feel relaxed and in this moment I realize very clearly that we don’t have to be fancy to be happy.

I like sitting on the driveway just like that neighbor of old did. I don’t care what people think just like he probably didn't. It’s just convenient, kind of peaceful, and appeals to my longing for simplicity. Of course, I’m saying this as I listen to my new At The Beach playlist I just put together on iTunes while I sit in front of my handy-dandy laptop composing this post. Maybe this is the new simple life – a laptop, a little music, a grill, a bug candle, a nice cold drink, and a table and chair at the top of the driveway.

I don't know for sure but it works for me.

Comments

[art]

hay, it works for me too!!! when i was a kid, all the grownups use to sit on the steppes of the brownstone we lived in and done grown up things and talked in hushed tones, as us kids were nearby playing stickball, or piling cans and such and watching cars drive over them. and i get the same feeling of bliss remembering that , as i did reading this what you wrote tonight.

[Margaret]

We have too many loud, annoying kids in our neighborhood, so I try to hide on the back deck with a cold drink and a book.

[Spritopias]

Chaos Bean and I used to live in a house that looked just like that before we moved to Germany, so this was nearly twenty years ago. This was in Alabama so in all weather we would be in that car port eating, doing craft projects with our parents, playing games and sometimes if Mr. ADHD here could handle it, homework. Methinks your parents a little odd for not enjoying the pleasures of Fishbowl Suburbia - but like Art we were Urban Transplants and EVERYONE lived in their car ports as if it were some sort of latter day Port Au Prince. I remember making smores one night, watching the bug light zap-zap-zap, and knowing (instinctually) that when Dad dumped the cooler's ice onto the grass that it was time to go to brush your teeth for bed.

great post, great post

[Yvonne]

A near perfect summer evening!

[l'empress]

Two or three generations ago, everyone sat outside. Most houses had porches (with overhangs in case of weather); some people sat in the front yard. (Fewer people had driveways.) We all connected with the neighbors then, knowing who was home and who wasn't, where they were going...even who was coming home three sheets to the wind. Air conditioning is a good thing, but it did destroy something good as well.

[Janet]

what an absolutely beautiful post, so filled with nostalgia! Thank you :-)

[Nicole]

That was such a beautiful entry. I love it. So true, as well. It's the simple pleasures that are the true treasures in this life. I loved your thoughts on teenagers too. I think their flair for melodrama that truly amazes me. The smallest problem is devastation, the smallest insult cause for war. Somewhere along the road of life we lose that. (Which is probably a GOOD thing, but still... sometimes when I get slapped by injustice I just feel too damned world-weary to work up a good, boiling rage.) Anyway, just wanted to let you know I always enjoy your words. I'm still reading - I've just been unforgivably slack about leaving notes. *sheepish grin*

[Nicole]

That was such a beautiful entry. I love it. So true, as well. It's the simple pleasures that are the true treasures in this life. I loved your thoughts on teenagers too. I think their flair for melodrama that truly amazes me. The smallest problem is devastation, the smallest insult cause for war. Somewhere along the road of life we lose that. (Which is probably a GOOD thing, but still... sometimes when I get slapped by injustice I just feel too damned world-weary to work up a good, boiling rage.) Anyway, just wanted to let you know I always enjoy your words. I'm still reading - I've just been unforgivably slack about leaving notes. *sheepish grin*

[kenju]

I do my flower arranging in my garage, which opens onto the driveway on the front of the house. I love being out there in the late afternoon and evening, watching the world go by (well, as much as can on a cul-de-sac...LOL)