Front Porch Sitting
There was a time not so long ago that when friends visited and the weather was nice, they sat on the front porch and talked. Often there was a bench-shaped swing that hung at the ends of long chains that were attached to the ceiling to support the swing. There were chairs of all sorts and in usable condition; many were mismatched. It was a shaded, cool area to gather, visit, renew friendships, talk and relax.
I remember my Grandmother Rebecca Rugg Miner’s front porch. Her front porch was large with cinderblock half walls and tall pillars. It was tucked beneath two large evergreen trees. The cement block sides were topped with green wooden flower boxes filled with red geraniums. Two, painted green Adirondack chairs and a settee adorned the porch. Gram stored rolled up rugs on the settee in the winter. It made a warn nest to curl up inside, bundled in a rug cocoon when the inside of her home got too warm or noisey.
In many of past memories the front porch became a gathering place. It could have been the front porch a friend, a relative or even our own home. Many of us sat on the front porch to help to peel the husks off ears of corn, to shell peas, or to snap green beans, getting them ready to freeze or for canning. Doing the work outside only made sense. It kept the messiness outside where it would be easier to remove with just a broom.
 The work was a reason for people of all ages to sit, keep their hands busy, and yet it had the benefit of having time to talk and share their thoughts and memories. Too often we don’t take the time anymore to sit and talk. So many people have lost their families past history and closeness gained by that time together.
People don’t use the phrase of, “C’mon up and set a spell” anymore. We are too caught up in the hustle of daily living, if we can call the business of the rat race earning a living. Neighbors are no longer neighbors. They are strangers that just happen to live next door to where we live. We may know their names and wave to them on occasion when they are outside, but they haven’t become the friendly neighbors that neighbors once were.