208 Autumn Woods Court

 An Ode to 208 Autumn Woods Court:

Where I labored with my two sons in utero.
On whose side-walks three of my kids learned to balance a two-wheeled bicycle.
Where we knew almost every resident by name.
Where we quarantined.
Where 3 of my babies took their first steps.
Where we became the neighborhood hangout spot.
Where neighbors shared left overs and backyards.
Where we marked out a "safety zone" and trusted our kids outside alone.
Where we walked to school, work, church, library, coffee shop, thrift store.
Whose floors 3 kids potty trained on.
Where we invented "Clooney the Scourge" and family sleep overs.
Where we witnessed a family reunited.
Where we hosted family meals.
Where we bought enough mulch for 3 neighbors.
Where our kids learned to climb a tree.
Where we learned not to judge our neighbors.
Where neighbors brought Trick-Or-Treat candy over in the morning.
Where we decorated our first Christmas trees and hung our first stockings.
Where our custom-made-by-Josh countertop remains.
Where we practiced electrical and drywall projects.
Where our kids zoomed around indoors to pass the winter on scooters, bikes, and roller blades.
Where we didn't have to cut our own grass or shovel our own driveway.
Where we each took turns sleeping in each of the three bedrooms for a few months at a time.
Where our garden was filled with radishes.
Where our neighbors loved on our kids.
Where we learned the importance of not yelling.
Where we could speed clean the entire house in 1 hour.
Where we paid attention to our trash output.

We are grateful for over 6 years of life on this little townhouse-filled, cul-de-sac street.