Hovsepian Going Away Party

The first neighbor I ever met was Denise. She made me feel right at home , and I soon came to realize that she was like the room mom for our street. Krikor, just retired from his job, so now they are trekking it back to where Denise is from, Fresno, California. You could always find them in their garage sitting at their patio furniture with a drink waiting for you at 4pm in the afternoon. The refused to take no for an answer as they would bring homemade Armenian hummus with carrots, pistachios, and almonds for snack. Denise would call me when I was out-of-town to tell me my sprinkler had been running for an hour and a half. Or my phone would ring at 9:45pm to make sure I knew my garage was open, which I did not. Those kind of neighbors that just take care of you. They leave this weekend, and I will be very saddened by their absence. Six other families got together to throw them a going away party.


What I love about all my immediate neighbors is the diversity. I have learned so much about the different backgrounds, countries, and belief systems of these people that I have grown to call family. We all look out for each other. Dawn, Susannah, Naseem, Denise, Virginia, Chandrika, and someone who crossed her legs in the other photos but looks like she is about ready to bolt in this one.


The fellas look awkward touching arms on the couch, don't they? Greg, Gary, Mike, Krikor, my beloved, & Jin.


We had decided to give them photos of each family. So the week before I would walk in front of each person's house and take their family photo in front of their home. I then put them all in a frame or them to remember us by. We were their family away from home while in Texas.

Here was our quick family photo when I realized last minute that I had everyone's photo but mine. Justin wasn't in the best of moods, so we just went with what he had on and said cheese for 2 photos. He is wearing his Lightning "MaTween" shoes.


After stuffing ourselves with Lupe Tortilla fajitas, the only proper farewell for anyone leaving Texas, we gave our toasts to the best neighbors ever. Denise & Krikor will be greatly missed!