Won't you be my neighbor?

Alright, time to chat about Ms J. 

On the day we moved in, this lady walked out of the home next door and said "Ya'll the new people?" I introduced myself, and she shook my hand, but never said her name. Normally, Cory and I learn all the pets names in our neighborhoods first anyway, so I didn't think anything of it. She proceeded to tell me all about every neighbor and told me that she was basically the neighborhood watch and knew everything. She asks people what they're doing on our street if she doesn't recognize them. 

For the following weeks, she would come out every now and then and say hello to us on the porch. One day, she saw Cory walking to the corner store and asked him to buy her a beer and some cigarettes. One day, I sat on the front porch and planted some mums-- she walked by and said "Hey Mrs Brooke. Can you take my picture? I'm really feeling myself today." One day, I was sitting outside, and a truck drove up and she walked out in her PJ pants and head wrap, threw her laundry in the back of the truck and told me she was heading to the laundry mat. One day, we were heading to Red Dress Run, and there was a lady sitting on Ms J's front porch. 

She looked at me and asked: My sister J____ still live here?
Me: Is that your sisters car? 
Her: Yes.
Me: Then yes, I guess she does. 
Now, Ms J either sleeps like the dead, or didn't want her sister coming over, because she straight up left that lady on the porch and never opened the door. 

One day, I heard her yelling at the people renovating the house next door. Now, Ms J has a naturally [very] loud voice, so even when she's speaking, it sounds like she's yelling. Picture Samuel L Jackson, just in female form. So the next day, Cory and I were outside and she walked up. I asked her who she was yelling at. 

"Mrs Brooke. Those guys keep parking in my spot. And I get home late at night and this corner is dark. I sure would hate to shoot a mother f***er for sneaking up on me and end up on Channel 4 news." Fair point. I sure would hate for that to happen too, but good Lord did I laugh so hard after she said that. To be honest, Cory and I still quote her when we're on a dark street, or just in every day conversation. 

At this point (after living here for 2 months), we still didn't know her name. I could have sworn her sister was shouting Julie when she was sitting on that front porch, banging on the front door for J___ to let her in, and Cory thought she was saying Judy. We figured we could just call her Ms. J and be good. So, she finally had a name. THANKFULLY, a few weeks ago, we got a piece of her mail and lo and behold, I was right-- it's Julie! 

A couple of weeks ago, Cory was walking inside and Ms. J asked if he had any writing paper. He came inside and asked me. I took the pad off of our fridge and walked outside to give it to her, figuring she'd tear a piece off and hand whatever she didn't need back. She didn't, and still has the whole writing pad. 

She's literally the best, keeps the laughs coming, walks all around town in her PJ pants and headwrap, usually with a cig in her hand, yell-talking to everyone. Thankful for her and her sense of humor. The picture above is of the sole chair on her front porch, where she sits, and smokes and watches the neighborhood go by.