Back in February, I wrote about our little slice of residential bliss on the West Side. Now that spring is here and the home-selling season is in full gear, our paradise is threatened.
Back then, I noted that, "There are fewer than 10 houses on our block and two of those are home to singles. In the others, there are 14 kids and one on the way. The oldest is 14, but the next oldest is 8 and the youngest is about six months old. About a dozen of them, then, are between 3 and 8."
The one on the way arrived and now there are 15 kids. But there are also three for sale signs decorating front lawns and that's got me down.
Of course, like most, I fear the unknown. Who will move in? Will we get along? Will they be good neighbors? Will they think we're good neighbors? Will they have kids to replace the eight that are leaving and keep the lively vibe going?
But more than that, I'll miss the neighbors we currently have. We've all become friends, even if we spend the bulk of our time together on the sidewalk watching our kids play.
I find myself carefully scrutinizing the people I see attending the open houses, even those pulling up and stopping to pick up an information sheet. I look to see if they seem relatively young and I crane my neck to see if I can glimpse child seats in their back seats. Egads, I've become that person!
Two families have outgrown their homes and need more space. Another wants to return to the West Coast from whence it came a couple years ago. Can't really argue with the reasons.
The reasons are fine. It's the reality I don't like. We lucked into a great little street and I hate the thought of it ever changing, even though I know it will. Because, that's how life works.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
