Drug Bust and Block Parties

At 7:00 a.m. Friday the 11th, my usually tranquil neighborhood erupted in flashing lights from the bars atop Public Safety patrol cars. Officers swarmed the domicile catty-cornered across from me. I watched, thinking someone had become ill or injured, thinking surely an ambulance was not far behind. No ambulance arrived leaving me to wonder just what was transpiring until I saw the dog; NADPS’s drug sniffing dog. Soon and to my surprise, I saw someone being led to a patrol car handcuffed behind the back. I am aware of the prevalence of drugs, but I was so disappointed that we had that in our neighborhood. Good riddance I say.
After Friday’s drug busts nostalgic thoughts began creeping into my head. Whether it was the realization of not being isolated from crime that caused the old time cravings I don‘t know, no matter the cause I began to wonder. Whatever happened to block parties, ice cream socials, cookie clubs and the like? Whatever happened to that neighborhood camaraderie that drew people together on Saturday afternoons for cookouts, sweet tea or mint juleps and good old fashioned gossip? Sure our lives are busier and more hectic but wouldn’t it be nice to sit down with your neighbors, share a few stories, break a little bread and just relax?
A block party would be a wonderful way to meet all those people you see buzzing down the street each day. Take a little time out to learn a bit more about them and they you. Not only would it be fun but the added advantage would be safety for your area. Think about it; you get to know your neighbors, they get to know you and somehow you begin to feel responsible for each other and each other’s property. Soon you’ll notice that everyone is keeping an eye out for everyone else; neighborhood watch at it’s best.
Ice cream socials were before my time however, I think they still have them in Charleston and I think they would be welcomed here. Think of these 100 degree days, then think of sitting on the veranda with a few friends and an ice cold bowl of old fashioned vanilla ice cream topped with your favorite toppings. Frilly diaphanous dresses, sunbonnets, parasols, and hand-held fans may be things of the past but the premise is the same; neighbors being neighborly.
In the 50’s and 60’s, when I was really, really young, my folks and our neighbors used to have these dinner party gatherings. Each invited guest brought a portion of a meal. The host and hostess either provided the entrée or the drinks or both and the neighbors brought side-dishes, salads and desserts. You never knew what you were going to get and sometimes it was really good. Then there were the parties where the grown-ups went from house to house for each part of the meal; drinks with appetizers at one, entrée at another and so on. What ever happened to those days?
I wonder, if we held a block party would anyone come? Is good food, music and a sociable atmosphere enough to draw people together these days? Would the neighborhood gather on someone’s porch or deck for an afternoon toddy or a bowl of ice cream? This fall, if it is permissible by the city, I plan on finding out. I’m inviting my neighbors to a block party.
Note: Unfortunately this never came to pass.