Neighbors

We recently met our new neighbors.  Neighbors are a very special breed of people.

We lived in our former house for over 11 years.  For 6 of those years, I was a teacher at the local school. Local in this sense meant that the school was less than a mile from our house.  I spent 2 of those years riding my pink cruiser to and from school.  During that time my students were also my neighbors. I quickly got to know them and their parents.  I would wave at my neighbors as I rode through the neighborhood and often stop during walks to have visits.  I knew which kids I would find playing in their yards or riding bikes in the street.  I knew my neighbors.

Upon arriving at our new home about a month ago, I realized I would have to introduce myself to neighbors because I didn't have the luxury of getting to know them because I taught their children.  I did the only thing that I know to do.  I made my mom's prize winning lemon bars and we walked over to our neighbors to share them.  We visited with them for a few minutes and became acquainted.  I've also met a few other neighbors in our journeys around our neighborhood.

After our few encounters I realized how extremely special neighbors are.  Our neighbors are rarely people we would meet in our normal day to day experiences, yet they are people that we see almost daily.  If we don't see them, we see their homes and think of them.

Essentially, we live with our neighbors.  We see their comings and goings, we see what happens around our homes.  We are closest if there is trouble or a need.  We can always be the cheerful greeting down the street.  I feel blessed to have nice neighbors.  I feel blessed to have neighbors.

Growing up our closest neighbor lived a half mile away.  We knew of their kids and their cats.  We didn't visit all the time, but we were there for each other if it was ever needed.  I still remember our special neighbor.  She let my brother and I play in the tree house on her property and always welcomed us in for a visit.

Neighbors aren't our friends.  They are our neighbors.  They are special and get to have their own category.  If neighbors become our friends or friends become our neighbors we are doubly blessed.