Dangers of the Porch

Per my suggestions a couple of blog posts ago, Asherel and I were sitting on the front porch yesterday doing school work. Both dogs were out front with us, with Honeybun tied to the porch column. She was sitting between us on the porch glider while Lucky lay in the yard, watching the world go by. It was a gorgeous 80 degree day with flowers and bushes all in bloom, and birds chirping.

And then, just as I had written about in my blog, community was about to be enhanced! People were walking by, people I only vaguely know who live somewhere in our neighborhood. Here is where the rubber meets the road- time to prove you believe all that inspiring stuff you write about. Time to shout hello to the neighbors and build this gentle and friendly world through the assistance of the benevolent front porch.

The neighbors were walking a dog. In a flash, Honeybun, seeing the dog, shot off the porch swing and ripped full force barking towards the neighbor and his dog, just as I was about to wave and start exchanging planet- changing pleasantries about what a nice day it was.....
As she reached the end of the wire tie, there was a terrible crash and the porch column came crashing down, completely ripped off its base. It is lucky Asherel wasn't killed. Arvo had told me before the column was just for show- it does not hold the porch roof up, so I panicked less than I might have had I thought the roof was about to bury us in rubble right in the middle of our Bible study.

The neighbor hurried on, not even looking back. Not only do I suspect I have not advanced "community", but I suspect they will not be walking anywhere near our street again. As the dust settled Asherel and I looked at each other.

"Well we probably shouldn't do that again," I suggested.

So now I must add a warning to my blog post about porch sitting. The world is a dangerous place and the porch is no exception. Sit on the porch at your own peril!

Psalm 140:4-6

⁴ Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from men of violence
who plan to trip my feet.

⁵ Proud men have hidden a snare for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net
and have set traps for me along my path.

⁶ O LORD, I say to you, "You are my God."
Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy.