Bread and Jam for Frances

love this series (and the spelling of the name too) for kids.

Seconding the love. But have people actually come up with alternate spellings for Frances? (Aside from the boy version, I mean.) Weird. After hearing that people spell ND "Dru" I'd believe just about anything though, I guess.

Huh. We know most of ours too. I thought it was just the 'hood we are in.

I keep trying not to know my neighbours. My sister is on warning that when she comes to visit she can't talk to them in case they expect me to continue being social.

But I hate people and her, she'll give exit interviews to patrons leaving a restaurant she's going into. There's never a good enough reason for her to keep her mouth closed.

Eh. She gets good gossip.

I can be very gregarious when I want to be, but on the whole I don't like humans.

That is precisely why I love my neighborhood so much. Everyone knows everyone...or at least, someone knows someone who knows the people you don't know.

Though I have to admit, I joke about never having known my neighbors when I lived in Union City CA, Stockton CA, San Diego CA or Rockville MD.

Emily, that was totally you, and thanks to you I still remember it now, who-knows-how-many electrons later. Thank *you*!

This one is about my neighborhood and my neighbors

You know, this is so interesting. You went from a first book about your community in far away places, connected in the newest way possible, with modern technology and all, to the one you're going to write about next, connected in the most basic way, living in the same place, sharing the same garden, the least amount of "new" stuff involved. And when talking about both these communities, people wonder how come you know these people at all. Huh.

In Israel, you kinda can't avoid knowing your neighbors. I mean, it can get to the point of being too nosy, but nobody would dream giving that up. It's one of the first things people point out as "Israeli" - that immediate connection and openness between people, even if the only thing that connects them is that they have similar addresses on their mail.

I avoid knowing neighbors because it's just too close for comfort. But bob knows a lot of the shut-ins/assorted day people in the building. It's like an alternate world.

But I hate people and her, she'll give exit interviews to patrons leaving a restaurant she's going into.

I do this all the time...get and give the reviews. Smile too much at strangers. Almost never pass someone without a 'morning, or 'evening greeting. I'm not Sunny McSunnoying...I don't think...but I do tend to speak to people on the street.

Mr. Jane is probably most of the reason we know our neighbors. He likes meeting people and he can tell you about just about anyone on the block. There's also the St. Pat's Parade and de facto neighborhood party that'll bring everybody out for good or for ill.

Our old across the street neigbor is Irish and was part owner of a pub up the street. His girlfriend is a vet. We spent many a night out on our front porch, watching the dogs play, gossiping about our crazy neighbor and drinking pucheen (sp?).

If there is a crazy person within about square mile of me, they tend to find me and strike up a conversation. People have witnessed this many times. It's like a superpower, only, well, one that sucks.

Me? I don't want to talk to people. I hate it when I get stuck next to someone chatty on a plane, or a bus, or...well...most places.

It's kinda odd with me, because in other situations I'm very outgoing, but in my day to day, I just want the people to leave me the fuck alone.