Ode to Thistle Street

Steve and Sara are giving up their maverick status in South Park to become hippie farmers in a tres chic area of Whidbey Island. On Sunday we had a going away party that started at four - an extreme contrast to the majority of parties that happened in South park which usually started around 10 and ended up dancing to "don't stop 'til you get enough' around 1 AM.

Each of those parties had some special occasion: Sara's finished her math class party, leisure suit party, Let's continue this party in South Park party, Fred and Becca's engagement party, Halloween Party, Bacci ball/croquet party, Cathy is making something like pizza party, Steve caught a Salmon in the Duwamish party, monochrome party, So-and-So is in town party, come see the new... (anything that they may have found including a boat, leather couches or 8 foot organ pipes) party, and meet the new dog party. Some random Saturday night parties we all ended up raiding Steve's closet and would dress up in his best thrift shop finds - green felt vests, Budweiser jackets and plaid patchwork pants - also known as what Steve wears to weddings.

At each and every party,we all ate amazing food, lost our wine glass and picked up another, sat on the front porch keeping Sara company, caught up with friends, laughed at, and with, each other. There are people, that I would call my friend, that I have met at that house, and that I only see at those parties.

Today was not much different- there was still more grilled pork and that crazy Frieda begging to fetch - but there was a tinge of sadness as they leave, mixed with excitement for their future, mixed with a little bitterness from JB who will miss his neighbor, mixed with concern that we may not see them as often as we are used to.

Thistle Street, I will miss your pizza with canned mushrooms, your beer runs to the mexi mart and your cherry trees in full bloom. I will miss the wainstcoated ceiling and the clouds on the wall. I will miss Maggie and the Clematis on the porch. I will miss the grape light fixture and the spices inside the wall. I will miss the friends at the table and the well worn plates. I will miss the skunk smell of the new red couch and the little leather fanny pack. I will miss the living room is the dining room is the living room again. I will miss the fire pit in back and the old stove that didn't quite heat the whole house. I will miss the sound of barking upon opening in the door and I will miss the sound of "C'mon In!"