Southern Patios and More

On my walks around the neighborhoods in Northwest Arkansas and in Central Arkansas, I often notice what I call "Southern patios." Most of the homes in our respective subdivisions were built within the past fifteen years and do not have a traditional front porch that so many of us grew up with. When we were young, we sat on the porch at night anywhere from the middle of March until the middle of November enjoying the cooler air and sharing food, drink, and stories with our neighbors. Modern homes simply have a one step stoop that goes directly into the front door of the house.

What is a Southerner to do but create a new "Southern patio," which means opening the garage door and sitting at the front of it to watch what's going on around? I have to confess that ours in Northwest Arkansas is plain with just a couple of camping chairs surrounded by the usual tools and lawn mower. Still each chair has a cup holder for that ever-present glass of iced tea, and really, that's all one needs. We often wave at those either driving by or walking by the house. We do not seem unusual to anyone.

I have noticed some unusual "Southern patios" recently though. One had a poster of John Belushi with a t-shirt reading "College" on it. The garage was also filled with comfortable chairs and surrounded by road signs with varying slogans: Stop, Yield, Railroad Crossing, etc. I hope these were obtained legally. Others have very nice sofas made of leather with refrigerators within each for those cool drinks on a crisp, football type of night. Some stay decorated for any season--it's not rare to see wooden pumpkins on sticks, lighted wreaths, Easter crosses with artificial flowers stuck in them, or any other suggestion of a new trend. One house even keeps a Christmas tree in the front window forever lit any time I walk by. I have often wondered if this is simply a sign of laziness from the owner, if one feels he or she needs the Christmas spirit year round, or perhaps--and this is my imagination working overtime I'm sure--there's a child who needs to be convinced he or she will see another Christmas.

In any event, "Southern patios" are entertaining and certainly give a sense of the personalities inside the home.