This is where I Live

by: Yekyek Paa

Hawthorne Park is home to 133 families of which presently, 51 are Filipinos. The North and West side boundaries is the Rotary Club's Hawthorne Park. 104th Avenue on the East and 141st Street on the South side.

Suite #110 is where you ring the bell to see me or my family if you ever find your self in the Hawthorne Neighborhood.

The Place is quite except by 104th avenue which is one of Surrey's main roads. My home is located at the opposite side of the compound and you can hardly hear the trucks and cars speeding through 104.

The only noise you'd hear is the whirring of the lawnmowers and edgers as Lois and Paul's Landscaping team works early in the morning to maintain the grounds and trees around the the Park.

I have spent the best part of my summer last year trying to repair my fence and adding a couple of feet to its height so nosy neighbors does not keep on peeking over my fence and reporting to the Strata Council whenever they see a few clothes hanging on a rack in my backyard. My mother-in-law keeps doing it trying to save power and I just can't argue with her. Well, would a son-in-law be brave enough to? I opted to keep my mouth shut or else.......

So my only other option is to make the fence higher to the maximum allowable height according to the strata standard - 6 feet.

Behind my backyard is a lush green lawn with the trees starting to grow their leaves after a long winter.

My parking spot is by the north side with Canada Post's mail box as my markerThe 9th Gate. It is our private entrance to Hawthorne Park. The trail winds through a mini-forest. Excellent for an afternoon walk or a bike ride.

Of course like any other residential areas, there has to be a line drawn-up between having fun and respect for others.Ahhhhh, summer, it's just a glorious season when you are living in the Best Place on Earth as what British Columbians call their province. But honestly, I wish I was in Molave looking down the hill contemplating what the Cafeteria is going to offer me.