THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Our McLean neighborhood had a group of neighbors with varied backgrounds. Because our street was a closed-end street, we were able to know all of the families in a more personal way. On our nightly walks we usually met one or more of them for a short chat. Two of the neighbors were connected with foreign embassies and one was a highly-placed individual, in our government, so high that he commanded a chauffeur-driven car for transportation!!

The neighbors behind us were a middle-aged couple. He was a retired army colonel - a friendly and helpful guy. His wife was just the opposite. One never knew whether our friendly "hello" would elicit a response or be ignored.

The neighbors to our north were a young British couple with young children. We saw very little of them. Our southern neighbors were an elderly couple. F___ and I___ who were very southern and outgoing. He was an avid gardener while she spent her time as a leader in the Southern Baptist Women's Association.

The neighbors with whom we interacted the most were a Chinese family with three children. He was a physician (GP) and she was a homemaker. They had an outdoor pool which I was invited to use at any time, and which I did frequently, especially when my grandchildren came for a visit.

More, later.