Moss Bay Neighborhood Association Report, April, 2001
by Laura Lee Pritt
In the March issue of the Kirkland Courier, Karen Maher, writer for the Bridal Trails Neighborhood, shared with us her feelings of being moved by a story her friend wrote. The story was about neighbors, and it inspired Karen to want to get to know more of hers. So she did. One afternoon she and her husband walked up the street, knocked on a neighbor’s door, and had a very nice visit with a friendly couple. From the sound of the encounter, it will be a long time friendship.
It was funny for me, the timing of reading her article. I had just come in from doing some gardening in the front yard where I was thinking about my neighbors and how I would like to get to know some of them better. Some of them I already know very well, others are just friendly acquaintances, but none of them are just ‘waivers’. They all stop to talk if they have the time. It was sunny out and I was thinking about was how the warm weather has prompted the early return of the ‘front yard chit-chat’ and how I miss that over the winter. The nice weather also means the outdoor grill will be coming out of hibernation and I was thinking it would be nice to say to a neighbor “hey, we are firing up the BBQ, would you like to come over for a visit and a burger?” But as the mind wanders during most mundane tasks, the thought had fled by the time I was back inside.
Reading Karen’s article though, made me stop and ponder my thoughts about my neighbors a little more seriously. It made me think that my wandering gardening thoughts were more just fleeting ideas and that I really would like to take some social initiative with my neighbors. After all, we do share a street and a neighborhood.
Neighbors play a much larger part in our lives than we realize and can be greatly responsible for making where we live an enjoyable place to be. Anyone who has had a difficult neighbor knows how true this can be. Remember your old college neighbor who didn’t have quite the same sleeping habits as you, or do you know anyone who just loves to fire up the leaf blower early on a relaxing Sunday morning
A good neighbor is more than just a quiet one though. A good one can give you a sense of comfort and well being by keeping an eye on your house like you do theirs, or by picking up the mail and paper when you are out of town. Or just by knowing your cat has another friendly yard to roam. You can call on a good neighbor and they would be right there in an emergency or just to lend a hand (need just a little more sugar for that recipe?). We often, without realizing it tend to rely on a good neighbor much like we do a family member. They are someone we can count on and they are always right there. I know I do.
I am very close with one of my neighbors. She is about the same age as my mother and I think of her as my Aunt. When I first moved in she was right there and helped me get my yard cleaned up because she said she didn’t want me to be too overwhelmed. When I need someone to take care of my ‘kitties’, as she calls them, she says, “Auntie loves the kitties, she will take good care of the kitties.” And my kitties love their Auntie. When I have a tough cooking question I can call on her, as she is an expert. If I’m in the middle of making cookies and find I am out of vanilla, I know she won’t mind if I run over and knock on her door and ask for some. She even taught me how to make fudge! I feel very fortunate to have the neighbors that I do. I don’t know all of them as well as I do her but they are all very kind and sincere people. They really do make the street a more wonderful place to live.
It has been said that ‘good fences make good neighbors’ but that doesn’t help with the leaf blower guy. I think that open doors make better ones. After all, Kirkland is about neighbors and neighbors are about people. Open doors helps the people connect and that is the only way we can touch each other’s lives. I think that the BBQ is going to see a lot of burgers this summer. Thanks, Karen, for sharing you inspiration, it has inspired me too.
I know it seems like this is all I ever write about but I feel the need to keep everyone informed on the process and where it is at. Well, it has been decided, because of comments from neighbors and cost concerns, that instead of installing the mock-up traffic circles at 1st and 3rd Street South that another meeting would be held to determine where to go from here. Many of the neighbors feel that the one traffic circle at 2nd Street South is sufficient and that we should just vote on it and not take the time to set up the other two. The meeting will also address the needs for traffic control on the East side of 7th Avenue as well (East side of State Street). The results from the meeting, March 21st, will be explained in the May article as this months article is due before the meeting takes place. If you have any comments or concerns please contact Tracy Burrows or Ellen McMahon, Traffic Control Coordinators at the City of Kirkland at 828-2238.
Out next Moss Bay Neighborhood meeting (second Wednesdays of even months) is April 11th at the Houghton Fire Station #22. Agenda items include, guest speaker from the Kirkland Youth Council taking about ‘Asset Building’, Michael Magee, Project Manager in the Public Works Department talking about a possible turn lane at 68th and State Street, traffic circles (of course) and our neighborhood grant money. Homemade cookies will be served along with milk and coffee. Comments or concerns? Contact Laura Lee Pritt at 827-0790 or visit our web site at www.mossbay.org