Game for a Neighborhood

A week ago when I posted the modest announcement sign at the bottom of the hill, I had my doubts it would produce results.

It read:

“Neighborhood Board Games … Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. … Here”

“Here” was under a tree on the fringe of our curbless street.

The idea was inspired by Jay Walljasper’s “The Great Neighborhood Book,” published by the Project for Public Spaces.

By 7:45, lured by neighborly competition and the novelty of it all, 14 neighbors—our ages ranged from 10 or 12 to more than 60 — gathered bearing assorted games.

Scrabble, chess and a few games I had never seen.

Laughing and kibitzing, we played past dusk and into the darkness until we could no longer see tile or card.

Finally, reluctantly, we surrendered; we lost only to the night.

Some of us met for the first time, even though we live within a block or two.

Now we feel like neighbors. We know each others’ names — and our opening moves.

We vowed to bring a lantern next week and, if it looks like rain, a canopy.

The sign I made was roughly lettered with a chunky, chisel-tip permanent marker.

Today I spent time at the computer making a formal looking sign. I had it laminated and mounted.

The words are the same but more emphatic:


The new sign, unlike the old, is one of affirmation.