Narberth, PA..no driveway..no problem

I live in a small town...right next to a big town..

This blog has been sitting in a semi-finished state for months..in fact, I keep meaning to finish it but too many thoughtful and wonderful things keep happening, and my why I live Narb list keeps getting bigger, so before this becomes a novel, let me just get this blog out... Below is a sweet little picture, take a moment to ponder it, read it, and think...does this happen in my neighborhood? Take your time, I made it big so all my 40 and 50 something year old friends can read it..

Some examples of why I live here..and why we stay..

Here are some amazing things that prompted me to begin this blog..in just one morning of walking out of my house to our little downtown..

• Three of my neighbors stopped to ask me how things were going in my career sabbatical, and I had not even gotten to a stop sign.
• My neighbor's little girl called out to me to ask me where my son was...she is three, he is 14 - they are buds...she likes to tell him about everything on her mind..When he was three, he did the same with the two lovely teenage girls next door.  See, when you have a front porch, its pretty hard not to know your neighbors..
• I left the house to run a few quick errands, you know, the post office, locally owned grocery store, cheese shop, French bakery, the local hardware store.  It took me three hours to go precisely 1/4 mile.

Going Postal...not here..

There is something special about being able to walk to the post office.  Maybe its that other people are walking too, and usually, a nice older gentleman, with a VFW hat always opens the door for me, its never the same one.  I always offer them to please, step up in line in front of me, since they were courteous first..but, they always decline.  It's nice to not to always be in a hurry, because that leaves you time to chat with the friendly person that is always behind the counter at my post office.  Don't look for a note of sarcasm here..there is none to be found.  Perhaps they are trying to determine if I am violating some major postal rules by engaging me in polite conversation to weed out what it is I am really shipping. And no matter how many times I have shipped a package to an APO address, we always take time to talk about those we love who are fighting for our country.  

Happy Postal Man

By the way, do you know your delivery dude's name?  Mine is Eric...my grandparents had Tony as their postman. It was the highlight of my day when Tony stopped by my grandparents house.  Eric does not miss our former, dearly departed dogs..but he always has something nice to say, usually not about the Eagles..

Eagles fan..typical species

The Best Neighborhood Grocery Store ever...

I am certainly not the first one to write about American Family Market, ("AFM" at our house..), see, our local Philly food writer, who lives here did that..Rick Nichols (aka "Scrooge" for our Dickens Fest), but here is a link to what he said..

http://www.narberthpa.com/AMF/index.html

If you aren't into clicking on links..let's just say this, the brothers Bovo run the this family place.  My husband spends a minimum of a half hour a day with them...almost every day.  I was in there on Saturday morning, it was a great day..they asked me where my husband was (umm..golfing..when he is not here with you two..), and then they asked me about my dad...how was he doing..the dad that lives 400 miles away..and they knew he was ill...when I told them the news..well, it was hugs from my Italian uncles..they get it..Angelo lost his wife a few years back, it was so sad.  Angelo looks like a chubby happy version of my dad...let's not go there..but geez..what great guys, and their meats, and DiBruno's cheeses..Mama Mia!!!

AFM..baby

Your Friendly Neighborhood Drug Store..the legit stuff

Hey, I am all for some "version" of reasonable health care costs containment, management of some type..not sure what..but DON'T TREAD ON ME..when it comes to my local pharmacist, Narberth Pharmacy..for God's sake..the local large chains are pill mills.  I love my little corner drug store where they know my name (and don't confuse me with the other seven members of my family who live in this town), they have caught more than a few mistakes made by docs with crappy handwriting, and have free delivery (yes, I know its two blocks away). And on those rare moments when I show up at two minutes after closing time in tears, they wait for me to show up because my super nurse practitioner just called something in, and give me that knowing look, the one that says, "we understand."  Good luck finding that at Rite Aid.

Fine French Pastries, Pedicures, Wine from Big Brother, and Everything you forgot from Jed.

As usual, I am getting really long winded, and have not even come to my big close..

Let me be brief...(stop laughing). 

If I want a warm greeting, a divine pastry and a superb cup of La Colombe coffee (soy milk soon, please?), or I am trying to find my Canadian brother in law and two year old niece, I need only to step into the La Petit Mitron..Patrick and Isabelle do it right..their croissant rival any I have had in France..

Of course, this leads me right next door to Rickin's, which to call it a hardware store, is like saying George Clooney is a "tv star."

George Clooney..tv star

Seriously, if they don't carry it at Ricklin's..you probably don't need it.  The first week we moved in our house..oh, 15 plus years ago, I walked in to buy something, I was about $3 short, they said, come in honey next time you are around and bring it in, we know you will be here a long time..you are not kidding..

Narberth State Store...

Open until 10 pm most nights...and we can walk there, what else do you expect from the Stalinist PALCB..bet you cannot walk to your liquor store and get a Joseph Phelps and Everclear..and a smile.

But why now..why are you finally finishing this blog and torturing us?

I shall tell you..There is something special about drinking outside, on the main street of your town. Its more fun than a block party, because its everyone's block party.  We have three or four of these a year in my town. Bands come, kids get their faces painted, and mostly, people stand around and talk to their fellow "Narbs."  We all kind of know each other. 

Our most recent Narberth Music Festival (Arts too!) was this past Sunday. The weather was spectacular, the Eagles stunk, but I had an out of body, why I love this town experience.  I am friends with many of my other townies on Facebook and through friends of friends.   

On Sunday, my Narberth family, just like the Bovo boys the day before, made sure that when they saw me to express their condolences on the loss of my dad.  Many had done so on-line (my dad, for the record, LOVED NARBERTH!), but when I saw them in person, it was hugs, thoughts, let me buy you a drink, I am sorry for your loss...you know..the stuff that makes you glad you are wearing sunglasses, even if the sun is not out.

Get to the point.

I wish I could tell you all the amazing reasons why we live here...but it would take too long.  So here are your take aways...

• As long as you treat your neighbors with respect, you don't need a driveway, unless it snows 30", and then, you cannot get your car out anyway.
• Drive down the street you would like to live on...Saturday afternoons, warm summer evenings, after a snow storm..if the neighbors are out talking to each other, if kids are riding their bikes, if people are on their front porches, if people are digging out each others' cars..BUY NOW.
• The price of your cold cuts, your croissant, a hammer, or your prescription may be a few pennies or dollars more from time to time...but the value of the smile, a quick chat, or a hug when its least expected, but truly needed is priceless.

Find your Narberth..or make your own.

Ps...Thanks Mayor Tom Grady for this awesome picture...