the neighborhood update

I have been reminded recently of how much I love writing this blog. Sure, my readership is down from six months ago, and sure, nobody but the Exceptionally Cool Kids Club is still on myspace, but whatever. You're here. I'm here. Let's not sweat it.
So, a few things that are crucial for you to know (and nobody not in the ECKC will ever know this):

1. There is a custom in my neighborhood of hanging clothes on your street fence for others to take as they walk by. Often you'll see kids' clothes, ugly clothes or particularly trashy clothes, but someone down the block from me periodically gets rid of really good stuff -- like Betsy Johnson dresses and Brooks Brothers sweaters. And she's just about my size.

Over the weekend, I was on my way home when I passed her house and sure enough, there was a very smart gray blazer hanging on the fence. I walked past it, thinking I Was Waaaaay Too Good for A Blazer From the Street, and then I woke up from that fantasy and backed up. I snatched the blazer and flung it over a chair in my kitchen, thinking that since it was a size two it wouldn't fit and there was no point in trying it on.

Well, the regular morning drama (starring I-Have-No-Clothes and Why-Is-All-My-Stuff-So-Frumpy) played out this morning as I got dressed.

"Wait!" I said, to no one in particular, flinging yet another black sweater onto the chair in my office, "The new blazer!"

I bolted to the kitchen, retrieved the jacket, slid myself into it (almlost as if it were made for me) and pranced off to work, looking smart and happy.

2. Remember my door slamming neighbors? Well, I have a confession to make. I don't hate them as much as I pretend to. I kind of only do that for dramatic effect. (Although when they first moved in and were, in fact, door-slamming, they provided plenty of their own dramatic effect.) In fact, I don't really hate them at all. (But, shhhh, don't tell!)

Anyway, last night there was a small tap on my door and when I opened it, I discovered my neighbor, looking gorgeous. She was wearing a long black, fitted dress, her hair was perfect, a gorgeous necklace graced her chest, and there was a light in her eyes, a peace I had never seen in her before. Now, maybe I was just all blissed out from a long, emotional conference all weekend, but something about her looked different.

She was holding a bouquet of flowers, which she extended to me.

"I know this is a weird question, but do you want these?"

"Oh my god," I said, "Are you sure you don't just want to borrow a vase?"

"No, no, no," she said, "I have like six or eight bouquets in my apartment. I'm just kind of drowning in them."

"Wow, um, sure, I'll take them."

(small pause)

"It's my one year anniversary of not having a drink. Oh my god, I wasn't going to tell you that, but I just did. I was totally going to make something up."

"Holy crap! Congratulations!" I said, thrilled for her. (I'm still smiling, just thinking of it.)

Beyond the obvious amazingness of her not having a drink for a whole year was the plainview reminder that people can and do change. And after working my guts out at a conference about learning to live fearlessly, she was exactly what I needed to see.

(It also doesn't hurt that a bouquet of flowers is just about one of my favorite things in the whole world.)

3. In other news, my dishes are disgusting. I hate doing dishes. Have I mentioned this a thousand times yet? Don't worry, I will. Just not today.