Historic Huffman

Our street is one of the busier streets for foot-traffic in the neighborhood–we have a bus stop at the corner, and Circle K and the Fifth Street deli just around the corner. Although I grew up with my Father greeting anyone and everyone who walked down the street (even while HE walked down the street), I do not possess the same friendly nature and most of the time I assume people would rather be left alone. The friendliness of my father resumed it’s genetic course in my son, however. We spend a lot of time in our back yard, and I’ve been trying to spend more time in the front yard as well. I’ll take some time to read the mail on the porch or weed the curb lane, and Jason will be always greeting those passersby who happen to be within earshot. Mind you, earshot means across the street or a block away, but his intentions are good. If one of the many pedestrians begins a conversation with him that goes beyond the cursory greeting, they always get an earful of Jason’s his latest trip to the zoo, what he had for lunch, or where his daddy is working today. He will not only relate the details of his own life, but will ask them about their own—where they’re going, if they like ice cream, etc.

I used to try to keep Jason’s conversations to a few words so as not to annoy those he was speaking with, but then I realized that most of the people he talks with are smiling as they walk away. Jason does what we all should do with those who we encounter throughout the day: he befriends them and engages them. Be it a familiar neighbor or just someone using our street as a thoroughfare to get to the Circle K, Jason sees everyone as a potential friend and reminds everyone of the basic need we have for companionship and conversation. In a world of isolation and suspicion, Jason is a good example of common courtesy and the way we should value all those walking by, not just those we know. So the next time you see someone walking by with a Polar Pop or just a three-year-old standing on a porch on Huffman, make sure to say hello.

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1. Round About Etiquette
2. Will Work for Food