The cane

Sunday morning an older woman came to our door asking if she could please have some of the oranges from our tree in the backyard. She knew some of the previous owners and apparently had come often to harvest oranges in years past. Aaron and I thought it was a little strange but being nice people we agreed and she met Aaron around back. Plus there is no way we would be able to eat all of them. I was in my robe still (it was early and it was my birthday so I didn't have to get dressed early if I didn't want to!) so I didn't go outside to meet her. But after our bike ride that afternoon I noticed that she had left her cane propped against the tree.

Two days later and she hadn't come back for it yet so I decided I would play detective and put together the few clues that I knew about her (she lived on Wellsley, was shorter, older, and carried a cane) and try to find the owner. Plus this gave me the excuse to meet some of our neighbors! Aaron and I are terrible in that we barely know anyone around us. With our recent backyard work we have gotten to know Dave who lives directly behind us but he's pretty much it. So, here's who I met this evening:

1) I finally got to put a face to the owner of the coveted house on the corner. I've admired it when I go past (great landscaping, well kept home, awesome red door, entertaining patio out back with twinkle lights) and wondered who lives there. Turns out to be a relatively short, thin, married guy. Didn't meet his wife - but being the sleuth that I am, I noticed his wedding band. Probably about our age and as I suspected (based on the coolness of his home) he seemed to be the kind of person we would hang out with.

2) An older Japanese man had just left his house to take his dog for a walk so I intercepted and asked him about the street. He didn't know anyone of the description in the 1700 block so he suggested I go down a block and try in the 1600's. He seemed to know most everyone as he described the various families on his block.

3) An older Romanian woman (shoot - I've already forgotten her name) who worked at UCLA for 24 years, speaks 7 languages, has a son who is married - Detective Julie noticed his wedding photo on the table - and is a ob/gyn. She had taken a fall 6 months ago so she couldn't come to the door but invited me in. I was greeted with something like "Oh! Such beauty! Please, come in sit down and visit." I politely accepted all of her compliments (duh, who wouldn't!) and in exchange I sat and talked with her for about 15 minutes. She kept knocking on wood for good luck and sweetly reminded me that Romania is Dracula's country. She was sharp (I heard several of the 7 languages she spoke) but did end up repeating herself and asking me the same questions. Where did I live, where am I from, what is my name, why did I have a cane with me? She made me promise that I would come again to visit and that if I did she would teach me whichever language I wanted to learn. Considering the joy I brought her with just a few minutes of my time, I think I might.

4) I skipped the door that had a note taped to it saying "Please do not knock, children are napping."

5) Someone who appeared to be the housekeeper or nanny and politely said it didn't belong to anyone in that house.

6) A middle aged woman who had been watching the Olympics was pleased to meet me but didn't know anyone that fit the description I was looking for.

7) And ah-hah! A man who I would guess was 55 or 60 (with really bad teeth) was smoking on his porch. I crossed the street and asked him if he knew who might own the cane and he smiled and said it was his mothers. He couldn't believe I would be so nice to go door to door to find her and he asked if I would like to see her. So into their home I went (they must have lived there forever - it was crazy in there) and back to her bedroom where she came to the door and was so grateful! She could obviously move around without her cane - after all, she did get home somehow on Sunday - but was so glad that I brought it back. Her son said that they have been enjoying the oranges and that he squeezes one for her each day. They offered to have me stay for some tea, but I declined so they walked me to the door and chatted with me on their porch for a while. They are from Egypt and told me that Aaron's name means that he must be rich - that if you wanted to compliment someone about being wealthy you called them Aaron. Something about how his room is all made of gold. I'll ask my friend Catherine at work who is also from Egypt about that folklore.

Anyway, all of this took about 45 minutes of my time this evening. As I walked home I felt really good about myself and the good deed I had just done. I don't imagine that I'll have another excuse of being able to bring a cane door to door, but I would like to continue to get to know our neighbors.