Curryville Neighbors

The Browns, Dan and Sara, lived next door to us. They were the garden experts and had a well-manicured, heavy hedged yard. Beautiful rose bushes lined the fence next to our driveway. They had a swing on their front porch and would be there most every summer evening. You could count on it.

The next family were the Podwells. Mr. and Mrs. Podwell were usually on their porch swing as well. Mr. Podwell had a song he sang every time I passed by: “Marie, Marie, my sweet pea. Why don’t you marry me?”

When I was very young, that made me blush. Then I started to wonder why he would sing that w...