When my grandmother was growing up she knew everyone in her neighborhood (of several blocks). She also used to leave her doors open while they slept, and if there was every any problem people from down the street were there in moments offering support and various baked good.
 When my mother was growing up she knew everyone on her block, and she too left her doors unlocked when she left for a few hours. If there was a problem, neighbors generally offered a hand with this or that, and they were always on a first name basis.
 When I was growing up I knew the people that lived next door, slept with my doors locked, and had family stop by several times a day to make sure it was still there.
 Children today are growing up with the doors locked while they are home, have never met their neighbors, and are sometimes afraid to even go outside to play…
 Do you think there is a connection between the relative safety in today’s society in comparison with knowing ones neighbors? I’m almost starting to think so…
 Up in Michigan the guys across the street and I would take turns helping out the couple that lived next door to me. Running errands, yard work, painting, etc. Sometimes we got cookies, but we never accepted money…it was the neighborly thing to do.
 A few weeks back my neighbor had a stoke which placed him in the hospital. He is still there, and his wife simply has too much on her schedule to do everything that needs doing. Cyndi & I went over and watered her garden yesterday (which REALLY needed a drink). I know they would have done the same if the tables were turned…and we both would have done the same for a few other neighbors of ours (though not the morons across the street *smirk* ya just can’t like everyone).
 I know others that lend a hand with their neighbors, but I know SOOOO many more people today that don’t even know the people that live next to them. How can one claim to live in a community, without being a part of it? Hell, in most instances today, there simply is NO community.Â
 I think all of need to set aside some time this summer for a meet & greet, with at least those that live next door. If you have the time, it would be a FANTASTIC idea to actually call your town hall and see about having a block party. The city will work with you to close off the street so that you can have a pot-luck! Go on, meet your neighbors…be neighborly…bring back the missing community our grandparents enjoyed so much. Maybe your own grandchildren can once again sleep with an open window…
Share This
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 at 12:27 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.