Determined not to make my first post of the New Year a negative or critical one, I’ve been waiting for something positive to inspire me. Inspiration came yesterday.
Yesterday was the first day I felt well enough to get out of the house, having been brought low by a cold last Saturday. I bundled up and walked down to Adams Village where I went to the local Rite Aid to buy more facial tissue and cough drops. I resisted the temptation to go into Greenhill’s Irish Bakery for a cupcake or cookie and headed home. I passed Blaisi’s Café where I have eaten and Sonny’s Pub & Restaurant , where I haven’t although I noted that they serve breakfast all day. I glanced into Lynn’s Spa – where there were a number of women getting mani-pedis as usual though not as bustling as it was on New Year’s Eve when I’d last stopped there. I looked at the plants and flowers displayed in Lopez The Florist . I then made my way up the hill to the Adams Library where I ordered some books and just savored the warm environment that was bustling with activity in all sections. My final stop was at the Ashmont Market & Liquor Store where I bought some orange juice. I crossed the street, dropped two envelopes in the mail box and headed home.
That’s when the thought for this first post of 2011 hit me: I dig my neighborhood. I mean I really dig it. I like living in an actual neighborhood with small businesses, services and friendly neighbors.
I can walk in any direction from my house and pass restaurants, corner stores, and playgrounds. I can walk to a supermarket in 10 minutes (with two others quickly accessible by car and bus – or a longer walk). Three T stations are near my home – Ashmont, Shawmut and Field’s Corner (10, 12 and 25 minute walks away). There’s the Leahy Halloron Community Center with a pool within close walking distance. There’s a YMCA not too far away. There are a number of churches. There are spots for coffee and tea nearby (Flat Black , The Mud House and Dot2Dot Cafe and the ubiquitous Dunkin’ Donuts).
I can and often do walk to see bodies of water in 15-40 minutes (the Neponset River, Tenean Beach, and the waterfall by the Baker Chocolate Factory condos in Lower Mills).
It’s a neighborhood! And:
Some of the neighbors are friendly, some are Boston-reserved, and others are loud.
Some of the clerks are models of customer service some act like they’ve never seen me before even though they have regularly.
Some places I only visit when I have money to spend (like The Beauty Bar , Cedar Grove Gardens or the small jewelry and purse boutique next to Hair Solutions whose name escapes me now).
I’m so grateful to live in a real neighborhood that works. And that’s a positive way to start the year 2011.*
*(‘cause believe me, I’ve got some not-so-good stuff I’m getting ready to write about soon.)
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You might also like these posts about my love for my ‘hood:
Adore-chester
I Love Walking in Dorchester