Trust (Day 9)

  

(On Fridays during this series I'll tell a real life story of community.
Today I'm linking up with Five Minute Friday to do so.)

We sit across the table from each other. It is July and sweltering hot. Our meal is simple. Exactly what you'd expect for a cookout: burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, a few sides, dessert.

But it is here at this table, each of us covered in sweat, that things begin to shift. Some might call it a game changer. Before it is over we've exchanged numbers and taken an apartment tours.

People who have lived in our complex for five or six years can't ever recall an event like this. Neighbors who've lived next door for 20 years have never known people in this building until now.

And so we repeat. We throw community events and bake cookies. We give rides to the store and watch out for other's packages. We chat in the courtyard and share responsibilities of watering the herb garden. We dream of what could be and we relish the current moment.

And to think it all began with a Fourth of July cookout. Around that table we gained validity and trust was formed. Now there's no going back. We're a community. And as long as we can we'll keep coming back to the table.

This post is part of the 31 Days of Neighboring series.