quote:

Originally posted by wtg:
And on a related (fall traditions) note...

Our neighbors had their annual pig roast two weekends ago. Kim grew up on a farm in central Illinois and her family hosted a get-together every year on the third Saturday in September. No invitations, no RSVPs, potluck, just drop in to share some time with neighbors.

The pig roaster is a homemade contraption her dad built from an oil storage tank, bicycle tire and who knows what else.

We've been in our house for over 40 years; I think Kim and Mark have been in theirs for 30 or more. Every year we would see the arrival of the roasting gizmo on a trailer, and then would see clouds of smoke billowing down the street as the pig was being roasted. They put up tents in their yard (a corner lot, so you can see everything that's going on there) and crowds would gather. We didn't really know them and weren't aware that it was basically an open party.

She and I have gotten to know each other over the last couple of years and this year she made sure to let me know what day and time we could come over if we wanted to. She also invited my out-of-town guest to go with us. We weren't up for a crowd, even outside, so we didn't end up going. And I meant to take pics but forgot...

I ran into Kim this weekend as I was sitting on another neighbor's porch chatting. She confirmed that I was going to be there for a while, went home, and came back with a bag of frozen leftover roasted pork, literally with my name on it.

Guess what we're having for dinner in the next day or two.