Weekly Writing Challenge: Life Around The Suburban Block
“In the end, it all comes to choices to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.” Amber Frey
Weekly Writing Challenge: LIfe Around The Suburban Block. Emma came round to say hello!
Weekly Writing Challenge: Life Around The Suburban Block. Farm life thrives amid verdant meadows
I live in the suburbs. We’ve all heard the jabs and jokes about the sterility and paranoia of suburban life. Some of it is probably true, but all of suburban life isn’t picket fences, mowed lawns and lives of quiet desperation.
Weekly Writing Challenge: Life Around The Suburban Block – Local folk enjoy the quiet
I live in the suburbs. We do find ways to connect with each other, albeit briefly. You see, once the kids fly the coop and PTSA volunteer jobs fall to the wayside, unless you choose to stay connected with moms from the school years, life can become deadly quiet… But we do connect on the aqueduct, in town, at the train station, by the Hudson River, when a neighbor’s dog wanders into our yard or when word spreads that someone desperately needs help…
One day, Emma wandered into my yard and I left my home to find her owner. I was concerned. I called the cops. I walked to the end of the cul de sac. I found her owner and we connected; neighbor to neighbor. In my determination to find her owner, I crossed a thresh-hold of dead solitude and found a smiling face. Life around the suburban block has barriers, but we lift them when we have to.
Come back for more photos and words.
More below
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” Buddha
Weekly Writing Challenge: Life Around The Suburban Block – The windows hide our curious gaze
Weekly Writing Challenge: Life Around The Suburban Block – Water calls us at the train station…
I live in the suburbs. We take for granted what city dwellers crave; lush, verdant nature, quietude, wildlife, bodies of expansive water, and privacy or the illusion of privacy. When I walk on the aqueduct, most of the faces are familiar. We walk frequently and, in an odd way, we’ve found a way to bond in our silence. Occasionally, a smile or a word is exchanged. If you step out on an auspicious day, you might even connect with a man/woman walking a dog, and a heartfelt conversation takes place.
Weekly Writing Challenge: Life Around The Suburban Block – The aqueduct beckons
I live in the suburbs. I quite like it. If I could choose another block, I’d move to Seattle or some distant village where life is idyllic and, instead of wailing sirens, birds or other lifeforms wake me up at dawn. It’s not perfect, and it’s clearly not everyone’s cup of tea. Heck, there is even something charming about the feigned indifference on faces on the Southbound train to NYC. Why? Because I know there is a scared, concerned, or grateful heart ticking beneath the facade. We all know… somehow.
My cul de sac is quiet and uneventful. When, on the rare occasion, an ambulance shows up, you can sense invisible eyes scanning the block and busy minds imagining all sorts of things. It would be better to open the door, step outside, cross the street and ask: Is everything okay? But no one wants to pry because it is easier to pretend that your neighbors business is not yours to share.
What is your neighborhood like? Do you like it? If you could move blocks, where would you be?
This post was inspired by Daily Prompt. Weekly Writing Challenge: Blog Your Block… For this week’s challenge, take a hike. More specifically, take a short walk around your own block: head out your front door, then circle the streets immediately contiguous to where you live.
Positive Motivation Tip: Wherever we are, it helps to take time to observe things around us and inhale the air with gratitude.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos : via my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
What a lovely insight. I, too, live in a suburban neighborhood and feel the same way 🙂 looking forward to more posts!
In our little neighborhood, when something happens we are all together and find out what is wrong. I like it because its likes a neighborhood watch and i feel very safe with my kids on the block.
I live in the Boston suburbs, and we have an aqueduct here, too. It’s where all the dog-walkers and joggers go: a green ribbon of trees with a dirt path wending through it.
We are in an apartment complex. Everybody knows a little about everybody else, and asking for or offering help is easy. It’s just enough privacy and just enough connection to feel right.
My neighborhood is pretty low key and quiet. It’s on two dead end streets. No trick or treaters though :<
It’s good to be living in the suburbs. It seems like there’s not much noise and you can just be tranquil with nature.
I live in the central part of my city and I feel like I don’t know anybody anymore. I think it’s great to connect with our neighbors and find a smiling face- suburban or urban! Love this post. Really thought-provoking
I live in the city so it is nice to see these pictures.
I love the water view from the train. Must look nice at sunset.
You gave me great information thanks for sharing
I think living in the suburbs is really refreshing.
I live in a little tiny town where we all know each other or have heard of most people. It is a must to have a friendly face instead of being alone. Thanks for sharing.
You have really beautiful photos here. I can totally relate to the suburban life you speak of. Thanks for posting.
I so agree with you about gratitude for all things at all moments. We have so much and we, at times, take it for granted. I love your gorgeous pictures!
It sounds like a really nice place to live and most importantly you make connections and that’s what makes the difference to everyone’s lives 🙂
I suddenly remember my old neighbors in the province. We know almost everyone in the the neighborhood and my neighbors are willing to lend a hand whenever you need one.
I suddenly remembered my old neighbors in the province. Everybody almost know everyone in the neighborhood and they are all willing to give a helping hand whenever you need one.
I can never make up my mind which side of the coin I like better!!.Great job Eiz. Have missed reading your insightful posts. Hope all is well with you 🙂
Oops…’Eliz’
There is a challenge to living in the suburbs which many of us understand: the need to share a community versus the battle for personal space. As you point out so well, nothing brings two people together to easily as a shared love for animals and reconnecting them with their owner
This is such a great perception on things in daily life. I should notice my neighborhood more.
Beautiful scenery! I lived in the suburbs for all of my childhood and I have great memories of neighbors and friends and just the feeling of being safe.
I live in the suburbs as well. Great place to raise a family.
So nice to see where you live. It looks quite a bit less suburb(y) than where I live. I like the quiet country, but you can’t beat being near places to shop and eat when you want to get out. 🙂
That lake view is simply amazing.. all of these pictures are awesome
I live in a small neighborhood and honestly, if I could live in a bigger one, I’d love it. I really enjoy the sound of children playing, lawnmowers moving and just the sounds of summer.
That’s a really, interesting post thank you for sharing.
That was a lovely insight around your block. The bit about what happens on your street when an ambulance turns up was funny – but true I think, in many neighbourhoods!
Nice to see how people live in the suburbs. I know in the city here in Southern California, neighbors don’t even talk to each other. Very sad.
Inhaling with gratitude, no matter where you are, is great advice. Thank you.
The cul de sac sounds bliss! Lovely photos.
That’s a pretty suburban block. It looks relaxing to me.
I love your blog! I will be learning a lot form you – thanks in advance!
Beautiful post. I think sometimes animals help us more than we know. By wandering into your corner of the world, she helped you and her owner connect. How wonderful!
In my country, Singapore, it’s more bricks and cement, though we have some parks and greenery. Will love to share with your readers the places in Singapore soon!
I’m sure the community is much more closely knit in the suburbs.
What a fresh ambiance. It’s good to be with nature.
Inhale air with gratitude. – I love this. I’m thinking of doing this challenge too, to see what else there is to my neighborhood
iprefer living in suburbs too. less stressful and is very peaceful.
Your suburban life is so bucolic, so picturesque!
Thank you! It has it’s down side too but we won’t go there today. Haha!
Suburban blocks are very curious places to me. it definitely has some unique vibe everywhere. Nice photos as well, I can feel this vibe through them
Glad you approve