Almanac Life: When Was The Last Time You Popped In?

 

When I grew up in WA in the 60’s and 70’s, we pretty much knew everyone who resided in the street.

 

We didn’t know everyone intimately but as kids we were always playing and creating outdoors and occasionally running in and out of our friends homes unabated.

 

There was a definite sense of community when I look back now, to the point where many homes, including hours, had their front door key permanently inserted in the lock inviting well-wishers and thieves alike.

 

Our Mum would explain it away as, “ Well there’s nothing anyone would want to steal here anyway.” Fair call.

 

Mum was like Mother Teresa in our local community, always helping others and as a result formed some strong friendships.

 

These locals and our immediate neighbours formed the core of visitors who would visit our place regularly without warning.

 

Added to that was a menagerie of nine children and suddenly our old commission home was a rotating turnstile of ‘pop ins’.

 

I can’t recall there ever being any friction or hostility toward what was occurring, just open arms and love from my folks.

 

Mum was famous for her simple orange cup cakes and I’m positive these were the only reason mine and my younger brother’s mates came around so regularly!

 

The ‘pop in’ is now it appears, confined to history.

 

These days you have to make an appointment to see friends and family. Have we reduced them to the same level as a dentist?

 

What are we afraid of? Provided we’re clothed, surely allowing a loved one or friend into your home isn’t difficult regardless of how time poor you think you might be?

 

Not long after moving to Ballarat six months ago, one of my old footy team mates from Werribee, Glenn who is a local, knocked on the door unannounced.

 

It threw both Lynda and I into a spin! “Who could that be?”. “Holy shit, is this a home invasion? Quick, get the cricket bat.”

 

No, it was just Glenn’s smiling face welcoming us to our new city. What on earth has happened to us?

 

Well, I think if you look at the past, there was constant face to face communication and people were home more, which enabled a lot more trust within the community.

 

Social media, texting etc was non-existent. Our worlds were smaller then, no Google just Encyclopaedia Britannica at the library. We may be technically smarter these days but we are way less connected as a society.

 

So can the ‘pop in’ re-invent itself?

 

I certainly hope so. These days working with the elderly and disabled I regularly see the joy that a ‘pop in’ can bring.

 

The world is doing it’s best to lower our standards and level of compassion. A quick ‘pop in’ with a cuppa and perhaps some orange cake just might make a friend’s life that little bit better.

 

Of course if you rock up to a door and you see the curtains being drawn and you hear the sound of feet scurrying towards the rear of the house, maybe try another time!

 

I’ll leave with this classic ‘bit’ from New York comic Sebastian Maniscalco who sums it up beautifully.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More from Ian Wilson can be read Here.

 

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