Halloween in Mayberry

Finally, our last box is unpacked and I have a blissfully peaceful moment (post trick or treating) to sit and blog. It's been ages since I've cracked open the laptop and poured out my soul for the world to lap up in small doses.

I think we've moved to Mayberry, only it's 75% retirees who all hang out drinking together at seemingly every chance they can get. Our first day in the house was met with wonderful well wishers who not only came to welcome us to the neighborhood with plates of homemade bread, but also stayed to talk for 20 minutes and never really left. We discovered that not only are our neighbors nice, but they are sincere and intimate people, who aren't satisfied to just wave as you pass, but instead want to know you and love you.... right from the very start.

Let's begin with out next door neighbors, Joe and Mel Gamboni. Joe is an airline pilot, getting ready to retire. He flies once every two weeks to some far off land, returns a few days later, bleary eyed yet cheerful. His 20 year old son floats in and out of the house, but more often than not (when he's not working or being a part time soldier in the reserves) can be found out in the front yard playing with his half brother and sisters. Mel is Joe's second wife, and is an equally VERY part time flight attendant (maybe gone once a month), also mother to their 7 year old daughter, 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter. Despite the age difference (Lee and I are guessing 15 years) Joe and Mel are an awesome couple. They are vivacious, friendly and on course to be our next set of close friends. They ordered us pizza the day the moving truck arrived, welcoming us to the neighborhood with Papa John's style! We are so happy to report that not only are Joe and Mel really great people, their children are equally pleasant and a joy to be around. Our kids (Cooper mostly) spend their afternoons floating in and out of the neighbor's house, with both sets of kids alternating between whichever house has the best snack for the day. If Joe's older son is home, they are always next door because he is like a big play toy, constantly wrestling with the boys and teaching them great things like street hockey.

We were invited to the Gamboni's Halloween party and dutifully bought costumes and headed next door to hang out with Joe and Mel. Lee and I are not really the costume type, but figured we'd better suit up to nurture the relationship. Really, we were expecting a somewhat socially painful evening of making lots of small talk with people who really weren't interested in us, but just being polite. Boy were we wrong! As is turns out, the Gamboni's closest friends just happen to be all the neighbors on our street! EVERYONE was from the neighborhood and EVERYONE was at least 50 or older. Early in the evening Lee asked me if we were old enough to be there! If you're thinking this was a dull party because the average age in the house was 60, THINK AGAIN!!!! The music was loud, the party was crazy, the beer keg was flowing, jello shots were passed out and the dancing was rocking the house! Of course, Lee and I enjoyed watching all the crazy folks with a buzz and headed out early to get ready for the following Sunday's 8:15 am meetings (we left around 11 pm).

Joe was 'The Green Fairy', complete with green leotard, green tutu, wings, etc.... Hilarious!!!!

What we didn't realize when we bought our house is that the neighbors on our street are more like family than anything else. Craig and Cindy live across the street. They've got grandkids that are over almost everyday. Craig sits in his lawn chair when he's not tinkering in the garage or doing yardwork, and watches his little 2 year old granddaughter toddle all over the place. Cindy talks to my kids like they're her own. She'll spend 20 minutes talking to you every day if you have time. We love them to pieces. At the party last night, Craig and Cindy and about 3 other couples showed up in white t-shirts decorated with music notes, crazy hair do's, wacky sunglasses and music notes painted on their face.... what were they? LOONY TUNES! In case you were wondering, they all live on our street.

Lee and I were Pocahontas and Woody (the theme was cartoon characters).

Tonight was Halloween. Instead of leaving our candy in a bowl on the front porch while we took the kids out, we left it with the retirees two doors down. They had several tables set out to house candy bowls, pizza, and ice chests full of beer and wine. At least 10 of us left our candy with them and they sat out eating pizza and drinking beer, living it up while handing out a street's worth of candy. We got home around 7:30 (trick or treating is 5-7 strictly in our neighborhood) and the party was just getting started at the candy tables. What a neighborhood!

Here's our ghoulish crew. Eve, the crashed and dead airline pilot (Joe was not impressed!)... Ally the vampire and Cooper the 'Army Guy'.

Mayberry with a twist.........