Ep. 13: It’s a good thing were not in Connecticut

It’s a good thing were not in Connecticut

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Last Sunday I had a chance to speak with “Jim,” a large quiet man who lives across the street from our house with his wife and dog. They’ve lived on "Reek-wah" for some thirty years now. 

Much like new residents of Manhattan mispronounce “Houston” Street, as if it were the biggest town in Texas, I too was the new kid in town pronouncing Requa—"Reh-qwah"—much like one of the Kitchawanks, the natives  that inhabited this land before the Dutchman Jan Peek “discovered” it, might have called it.  

Now, I know better and I’m one step closer to being a true local.

After curtly introducing ourselves, the first thing he said was, "You have a beautiful home." And as I've been replying for a few weeks now, I smiled and said, "Thank you."

A couple of weeks ago, I was sweeping the porch and the walkway of our little garden, when a woman and her young daughter who were taking an early Saturday morning stroll stopped at our little wrought iron gate to chat. "It's a beautiful home," she said to initiate our conversation. 

Likewise, that same weekend, some random guy sporting a tattoo and a cigarette was passing by in his worn down Chevy while I was dragging big Hefty bags to the curb and he stopped to ask, "Is that your home?" 

"Yes, we just moved in," I replied smiling, sticking out my hand to introduce myself. 

After shaking, he said, "It's a beautiful house,” taking a drag on his Marlboro. “I was going to buy it at one time."

I couldn't help but arrogantly think to myself, "Sure you were," and played along, "Oh, yeah?" 

As pleasing as this universal compliment may be, I can't help but feel that were being watched. 

It is almost-eerie how everyone says the exact same thing in a Stepford sort of way. 

I guess it’s a good thing were not in Connecticut.

"You have a beautiful house," they all say...