Close to Home — Donna Hopkins

“There's always a fresh perspective to be found, even in the most familiar places.” —Jennifer Carr

I need to walk after most every meal as a way to help regulate my blood glucose (it’s a whole thing to live with a genetic predisposition to diabetes and try your very best to prevent the development of this disease). As a result, my husband and I spend a lot of time walking around our neighborhood. We wave to regular walkers in our neighborhood and know the names of all of their dogs (hello, Webster, sweet labradoodle). We watch as parents teach their kiddos to ride bikes. We notice when folks make home improvements or move away. We see the same Sugar Maple Tree on DeVonne Drive turn vibrant red and orange every fall, and every fall we stop in wonder beneath this glistening canopy. Sometimes we need a dose of novelty and take to the road, but most days we are comforted by this simple routine of a walk around the block.

The pride and care our corner neighbors take in painting their little shed like a country cottage, wheelbarrow propped to the side, door left unlocked. Evidence of thoughtful gardeners. They way our next door neighbor carved an old tree stump to form a pedestal for a pot of flowers. Faithfully filled with annuals to match the season. This marker, a tiny art installation, we have passed each and every day for 4o years. The homeowners on the next street over who have a glorious pear tree in their front yard. We have not met these neighbors, but we always stop to marvel over their tree. The fruit drops to the ground, a feast for the insects and birds and squirrels. I don’t know if the deer who roam our neighborhood like to eat pears. If they had been home when I took these pictures, I would have asked if I could pick a few pears. Maybe next time around.