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Highlands Today > Raliegh Whiteman Columns

Nothing more enjoyable than visiting with friends

By Raleigh Whiteman | Highlands Today

Published: September 10, 2009

The PW and I were delighted to be invited to get-togethers of friends and neighbors this past week. Our across the street neighbor Jeannie invited all of the folks living on our street to her home for an afternoon gathering and to sample each other's "bring a snack" offerings.

Jeannie and her close friend Arlene go walking every day with their pet and know everyone on the street. Not many of us knew anyone more than a house away. At one moment I counted 26 people as we gathered some of the delicious snacks. As it would happen just a few days earlier, I had begun a high protein chocolate drink diet and had lost five pounds. The diet was set aside immediately as I enjoyed the many delights.

One of the men had made the key lime pie, which was disappearing very quickly. I have never known a man who could make any kind of pie. What bothered me was that he could probably build a better dock than I had, I didn't ask. I went to get another slice of the pie before it disappeared. I decided secretly to find the recipe and see if I could do the same.

Interesting conversations
Much of the talk was about our property values decreasing while the taxes were likely to go up this year. We all seemed to agree that the values are getting back to reasonable and values would begin to pick up soon.

Harold, who also lives next door to Jeannie, has a son who has a large sailboat which they had sailed on Lake Michigan several times in very cold Michigan weather. He knew that I was in the process of restoring my 16-foot sail boat. He was impressed that I had lived on a 34-foot sailboat for many years before marrying the PW.

This was a great way to get to know more than your next door neighbor and I was reminded that I had not made much of an effort to know more than just a few of them because most of them knew me. We need to do this more often. Next time, to improve my memory, I will take a pen and write down their names.

Another get together
Sunday afternoon we were invited to visit with Bob and Joanie along with two other couples who belong to the same organizations that the PW and I do. It had been almost a year since we had all gotten together because of vacations, illness, business obligations, etc.

These three couples are the type people who seem to be able to welcome those who they know to visit almost any time of the day to their homes and visit without pre-planning or doing more than just calling to see if they are home.

We are all of about the same age and old father time is thankfully allowing us to still be up and around although some of us with a few difficulties.

Go visiting again
I have a real good excuse to get over to Jack and Sarah's house to see their new pet dog of mixed breed, a shar-pei up front and Alaskan malamute on the rear end. More skin than is needed on his face and a tail with long flowing hair.

It is a good feeling to have good friends and I am grateful to be able to share time with them.

Raleigh Whiteman, of Lake Placid, is a contributing writer to Highlands Today. You can leave him a message at 699-2487. Or you can reach him on the Internet at rwwhiteman@comcast.net

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