February 16th: I am grateful for good neighbors and good food. My neighborhood is close knit, bound together by the love we have for our unique mid-century Eichler homes. Once a month anywhere from 5 to 20 of us gather at a local informal Thai restaurant. It’s an open invitation to all, an opportunity to get to know the neighbors. Tonight was February Thai night.
My husband and I waited 15 years before attending one of these events, claiming we were too busy working to pay the bills. Children are what usually bring neighbors together anyway and we didn’t have any. But it is the characteristic of the Eichler owner to be social; pink flamingos in the front yard signaling a happy hour invitation, twice yearly progressive dinners, monthly Thai nights, and a 4th of July Pancake breakfast. Children not required. We kick ourselves now for waiting so long to be social. I never realized until attending some of these events how important it was to me to feel part of a community.
The Thai food is an extra bonus. A neighbor who spent his Peace Corp years in Thailand and once owned a Thai restaurant orders for us — Tom Ka-Gai soup, Larb Salad, Stuffed Omelet, Nam Sod Khao Tod and Crispy Roti for desert — all dishes I’d never heard of before Thai night. It’s ruined me for most other Thai restaurants because many of them don’t offer these yummy authentic dishes.
Tonight I’m grateful for the company of my neighbors, the local Thai restaurant, and my introduction to new Thai dishes.
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