The East Side v.s.The West Side

every summer, the 900th block of my street( i live in the 800th) has a BASH of a block party. my husband and I have always wondered why we were never invited. silly us, we thought the whole street, which consists of three blocks, had one big block party which converged in the center (the 900th block). we thought, "well, we might be the weirdo's, the one's without kids. the crazy italian guy and the anti-social wife. the neighbors with the obnoxious dog who barks at anything that passes by".


then, about two months ago, i was frantically digging in my yard, when i was disturbed by a "hi there!" it was a neighbor from down my block inviting me to the block party and getting signatures for the permit. she introduced herself, and her daughter. i found it creepy that she seemed to know quite a few details about us, but i had never met her before. i didn't really care tho', i was just so exited that we were included! i asked Mrs. So and So, if there was anything i could do to help. she said " no, just be present". and walked away with a smile.


the next day i was chatting with the woman who lives across the street from me anne, but on the coveted 900th block. i mentioned that Mrs. So and So, had stopped buy for the block party signatures. she gave me a funny look and said,
" but you're not part of our block party. you're block must be having one on their own this year. as a matter of fact we (meaning the other ladies on her block) were going to invite you to our block party."


i thought this was silly, "aren't we all on the same street?" i asked.


"yes" she replied, " but in the past, the other blocks never wanted to participate, or help coordinate, so we just don't ask your block. Mrs. So and So, who is putting together yours this year, will not cooperate with the girl who plans our block party. and they happen to fall on the same weekend".



fast forward to this past monday:


we received a piece of paper in our mailbox reading:


coming to the 800th block of %#*@#% avenue, the summer block party!


come meet your neighbors!

bring your favorite dish for a pot luck dinner at 4:30

if your family has a favorite game to play, bring it along.



this sounded fun enough... right?


well, my husband took one look at it and said "what is this shit?, what are we going to do, stand around? who is bringing tables? what dish do we bring?"



he marched out to the neighbor anne to show her the weak invitation.

he came back about 10 minutes later saying,



"we aren't going to our own block party! they (900) start planning theirs in february. they all contribute money, and one family goes shopping for brats and burgers, half the block brings desert, and the other half brings side dishes. they have a whole itinerary starting at 12pm, of games for every age. the have a raffle for everything to a one month membership to the local gym to cubs tickets! and they hire a band!"


i said, "look, we'll go to our own party, bring a dish, and then meander over to the east side because we were officially invited."


so, yesterday morning, i set off to the grocery store for items to make a pasta salad. on the way home, i pass through the 900th block and see the men rolling out kegs, setting up water misters, grills, tents, tables. it was amazing! when i made it to my end of the block, and saw...nothing but the home schooled kids running barefoot through the streets.


"keep an open mind deen, you don't know any of these people, they could be really nice"



after the kids woke up from their afternoon nap, we set off to meet the neighbors. as we rolled the kids in wagon down our walkway, we see a fire truck giving families rides on the latter lift thing. i thought this was pretty cool. the babies were exited to see the fire truck, and screamed with excitement.


we approach the 12 people standing in the street, and introduce ourselves. they had a little table in the street with lemon aid and cookies. i started to get flash backs of the men with the kegs, and the tubs of pop, and bottled water i saw just a few hours ago.


the not- so- fine ladies of the 800th block began to bash the 900th block, calling them "block party nazi's", and saying they were too good to join forces with the rest of the avenue. great, this is all i need, freekin' complainers!! soon after we arrived rick took our daughter to the real party down the street, leaving me there with the degenerates whipping water balloons at each other.


i happened to strike up a conversation with a woman i see at the park from to time to time. the lady was very nice, but she literally talked my ear off, because when i finally broke away to find my husband, they were ringing.


so, i roll our son down the street in the little red wagon, yelling promises of my mediterranean pasta to the others, to find my husband and daughter. as i roll up, i see the other kids having their faces painted, grills blazing, and a children's bicycle parade. there had to be about 60 people out there. it was suburban nirvana.

i finally found my hubby sitting by the keg, whooping it up with the other men.


"there's my wife!" he shouts


he proceeds to introduce me to about twelve people, and tells me how i need to join forces with the women who create this day of family fun. he then then shoves a nice, ice cold cup of keg beer in my hand. i smile.


after the men's doughnut eating contest, jamie, the master mind of the summer party approches me and says,

"dina, thank you for coming, your husband tells me we can count on you for some help next year! did you get a beer yet?"

i finally felt like part of the community after almost 7 years. later that evening, after we brought the kids home and put them to bed, i walked back down to join the other wives beside the keg. we listened to to band, and watched the older kids run around with sparklers squeeling with delight. it was almost like watching a movie. it was a good time!

needless to say, the pasta salad ment for the not-so -fine party is still chilling in my fridge. the girl from the west side, found her place with the "party nazi's" on the east side. i look forward to many more summer time block parties with these people. who knows, we may even invite you.