KISS our neighbors

Our new neighbors? They’re KISS. As in the hard rock band known for their scary obnoxious face paint and even more scary, obnoxious outfits.

It was a Thursday night, and B and I—normal, ordinary, Midwestern B and I—were returning from a run on The Strand, which you’re sure to hear more about. The Strand—German for “the beach” or “seaside”—is a wide sidewalk between the sand and stunning ocean homes located in what we now like to call “our neighborhood” with our noses just tilted slightly upward. The Strand has also become our favorite jogging route.

On this particular night, sweaty and a little out of breath, we were making our way down 29th Street to our much more modest abode, the bottom of a rather small duplex with no ocean view. I could see that our neighbors were having a gathering. Actually, with the sun going down, I could just hear them and make out a few images sitting on the front patio as we neared. Oh, I thought, it’s the house that I think is uber cute. They always have their big French doors wide open onto the front patio, and they have the thick, white, wide wooden blinds, and the guy who lives there—I’ve seen him working on his sleek new Mac. He must be about our age. Probably hip like us. Probably likes coffee and beer. Maybe his wife likes wine like me. Maybe we could get to know them and maybe hang out with them. Drink a few beers and a glass of wine with the….

And as I looked up contemplating this pleasant possibility, there they were. Four people. Sitting at the table on the front patio that I think is so cute. And they were KISS. Like full-on wigs, makeup, costumes, shoes.

“Uh…hi,” B and I both stammer. And to our surprise and confusion, they said hi back normally. As if sitting outside on a random Thursday evening socializing, dressed like KISS as neighbors pass by is the most normal thing ever. I mean, couldn’t we even get a chuckle and a I-know-this-probably-looks-silly nod? Nope. Just a normal “hi.”

B and I had three more houses to go before we got home, but I could hardly contain myself. Once we were safe inside our patio area, I just stared at B with wide eyes. Did you just see that? Did you SEE OUR NEIGHBORS?! This is where we've moved?! This is what it’s come to!

For the record, I did check KISS’s website for their tour dates. I mean, perhaps, maybe, it would be somewhat acceptable if there had been a KISS concert in L.A. that night (although, my friend and I decided even that is a little like wearing the band T-shirt to the band’s show…not so cool). No luck though. Their last concert was March 17, and we were well into April.

And B and I are well on our way to learning more about life in L.A. ... like the real KISS could just live a few houses down from us!