I wasn't a big fan of moving to Attleboro, Massachusetts.
"You gotta give it a try sometime, perhaps maybe leave your living room when you're off work, or maybe go do a stroll around to see the neighbors and, get out of your negative, little scope," my friend Dawn told me as I was regretting I leaving Virginia.
"You made your bed, now lay in it."
I was human resources manager at a retail wholesale club and felt the need to grow professionally, and so after 11 years of life in Virginia Beach I figured I could do better elsewhere. The location in Attleboro was hiring for new positions with more money and opportunity to rise, and with me originally being from Vermont and Boston Celtics fan, it seemed only right to make the leap that just felt right all the way around.
"People up there aren't as friendly like down south from where you just left," she told me when I vented.
After the reality conversation I ended that day going out to my balcony as it was a Saturday morning and 65 degrees, then sat down and kicked my feet up on my patio with phone in hand, just scrolling social media and enjoying a quiet moment when a voice yelled from across the breezeway at another apartment.
"Hey new neighbor," said the gruffy voice. "New neighbor, you hear me talking to you? Thank you for your service!"
I looked over to see a short, chubby white dude, an older guy, with salt and pepper hair, and a neatly trimmed goatee yelling at me as he stood at his railing from his balcony.
"I see the Navy veteran flag hanging, and I have a soft spot for young bucks who served this country for whatever reason. I salute ya," he said as he emulated a semi salute and warm smile.
"That made my day, thank you," I told him in response as it warmed my heart he went out of his way to acknowledge.
"Come over sometime and let me properly thank you. I'm Ronnie," he said to me as his voice lowered as he was only a few feet away.
I wondered what he meant by "properly thanking me."
"Come over and have dinner. I love to cook and entertain," he clarified before I gave my name and accepted the open invitation.
The following Wednesday he caught me in passing walking from the parking lot, to my apartment t.
"When you gonna take up my offer," he said to me with a wide grin.
"Hell, depends on what's on the menu," I told him.
"Tonight its pot chuck roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, and apple pie to make it all settle. Sound good," he said.
I admitted to him I was a little tired, but he added it would be worthwhile for me stop by. I agreed to come, and 4t minutes passed when I headed over to his side of the building and he buzzed me up. Ronnie's place was on the same level as mine, but bigger, and better furnished as the bite sized man (five foot nine, 280 lbs., compared to my six foot five, 260 lb. frame) had taste. We shook hands then hugged, and he led me to his living room's plush couch to kick back and relax until he was ready to serve.
"I don't drink, but I do have a few cold brews and some chilled wine I keep for guests, on top of root beer, soda, and bottled water. You're in my home, but you're not a guest, you figure what you like, take, and kick back," he said while standing in front of me.
I checked out Ronnie briefly as he wore a black t-shirt and loose basketball shorts over his pot belly and hips. He big, hazel eyes under silver rimmed glasses, and a cute, gray handlebar mustache as he appealed to me. I loved his northeastern accent as it was strong, but not overbearing for Ronnie seemed like a peaceful man, one with little drama at his doorstep in his warm, friendly tone. I'd end up getting up one of his root beers, then he summoned me to the dining room table as he brought over the dishes of food, and plates to begin serving.
"Dig in," he told me once I sat down, and I would end up tasting the most savory meal as Ronnie for sure could burn.
"I'm retired, and alone, so I tinker a lot with foods to make them perfect," said the former fire captain.
He explained how he loved to entertain, but didn't often as he was somewhat a recluse.
"It's not that I'm anti-people, but I'm just a chill dude."
I immediately meshed more with Ronnie after the meal as he made me relax more. We talked cleaned off the table while discussing the complex, the city, and our proximity to Boston as he opened my eyes to so much.
"You don't get out much," he said with a chuckle. "It's not all about just Boston, there's a lot to do and see here if you just open your mind, kid."
