The neighborhood

[brightrosefox]

Yesterday I took the bus from the Shady Grove metro to the new townhouse, and I discovered something interesting and disturbing, something I should have known about: There is no crosswalk, no traffic light, no stopsign, no speedbump. Between the bus stop right in front of our townhouse community to the stop across the street, there is nothing to keep cars from slowing for pedestrians. Of course, this is Muncaster Mill Road. I just would have figured that at Laytonia Drive, where people live -- and take buses -- they would have thought to make a crosswalk and a light. Just a thought.
So I put my survival skills to the test by making a careful mad dash across a wide road of speeding traffic as soon as no cars were coming. Reminds me of Noyac Road, back in Sag Harbor. The stretch of road at the end of our drive was deadly like that, but I used to run it all the time. Except it was a shorter sprint than Muncaster and Laytonia. Mmm, yes, run for your life, little rabbit. I will write a letter to the Gaithersburg council, play up the handicap card, claim I was nearly hit twice, see if anyone listens. For the time being, though, I think I will just ride the bus all the way to the Lakeforest transit center, which is only a few more minutes straight on, then get the next bus back toward Shady Grove, so it drops me off directly in front of the Laytonia complex. Safer, yes. Chickenshit, but safe. And it doesn't take long.
After I went to the communal mailboxes to open our box and get our mail, I passed a group of teens on my way back who immediately started cat-calling, whistling, etc. Once I got inside the house, I shut the door tight. When Adam came home, I mentioned it to him, and he suggested that we take a walk back to the mailboxes. He'd walk a few feet behind me, so that if anyone called out to me again, he could snap back, "Hey, deek, that's my wife; show some respect!" No one did, though. Back home, he suggested that we get two lawn chairs and sit out back, since the basketball court and playground nearby was full of the kids. Adam took some beer with him, and strapped his sword to his belt. Basically, so the kids would understand that pretty new neighbor is married to a crazy guy with a bloody knuckle and a sword. But we did introduce ourselves and make friends. They seem harmless.
Tonight we start moving. Tonight will be full of back and forth, all weekend back and forth. No longer will it be just a bed and a television (although soon enough we may miss that). Tuesday and Ralph will be getting accustomed to their new surroundings. And then we can start really paying bills.

Comments

[thedalikiss.livejournal.com]

well you are a pretty lady... i'd catcall at ya in the street.
-giggles- did adam really belt on his sword? lucky girl.. a real knight to protect ya.

-huggles-

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd answer to you. ;)
*grin* Yes, he really did. Sat out there drinkin' his beer and occasionally casting a slow smile toward the kids on the playground. Then we got up and went over and said hi. With the sword.

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

i think you're doing the smart thing with the bus. jaysus, i learned to drive on muncaster mill, i know how people race down that road. and nobody wants to see you squooshed. can you transfer one stop up, at that shopping center? fern hill or flower hill or whatever?

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

I think I can. It'll be a bitch to walk back from, especially in winter (from the Laytonia stop to my house it's a seven minute walk alone, and lately people have been scolding me for pushing myself too much with the walking, but fuck it walking is good for you), but that's a good option. I can weigh that against getting off at Lakeforest and looping back if I have to.

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

i meant, getting off and then getting on the bus that goes back the other way, not walking all the way from the shopping center (that's FAR--my best friend used to live behind your complex so i know how far that walk is!)

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Ohh. Okay. Duh. I should have realized that. *shakes head and smiles*

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

shmeh. you're allowed to be frazzled, lovey!

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Even my hair is frazzled. No, really. Frizzled.