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Ouch ouch ouchouch Ouch ouch!! It was a good day.
Posted: 15 Jun 2014 Posted: 29 May 2014 Posted: 18 May 2014 Posted: 05 Jan 2014 Posted: 01 Jan 2014 All Entries |
A Day Off and Good NeighborsI work two jobs. My day job is sandwiched between working early mornings and late evenings as a personal trainer. Both jobs I LOVE and wouldn't give up. But in doing them I very frequently work seven days a week... like for the last 41 days. Granted the weekends give me a little more free time than the weekdays do, but I'm still working with clients for up to 10-12 hours spread between Saturday and Sunday. And while I love both jobs, the hours I put in take a toll on the mind, spirit, and body. So when a freak schedule of timing left me without any clients and a slow day at work I jumped at the opportunity (with my boss's blessing) and called in for a mental health holiday. This is where neighbors come in. I never really met my neighbors before I bought my house. And in the back of my mind I was a little concerned about what kind of neighbors I would have. Those fears have been valiantly assuaged over the past months as I've come to know them. I've never really met the neighbors to the south. But they're quiet and keep to themselves, their yard is clean and maintained, and I do catch sight of their young son and a couple of other neighborhood boys having sword fights, climbing trees, battling monsters, and other things young boys do in the yard on these warm Spring evenings. To the west, across the backyard is a young family. They also have a young son who follows his daddy around asking all sorts of questions. And I hear a lot of patient answers. I wave to them and they wave back. And I frequently have to throw back footballs, Nerf darts, plastic frogs, and a slew of other toys over the fence. I don't mind. It's the neighbors to the north of me that have made the biggest difference. I'll admit, when I first saw them I fell into the trap of judging a book by its cover, and I'm ashamed of it. They're an older couple, a little rough around the edges, but I've learned that buried beneath those rough edges are a couple of true diamonds. And it's just the little things. If I forget to take my trash out before leaving for work it always seems to still make it to the curb. It was the patient guidance and a spare 2x4 as I built my garden gate. It's a paper plate with hamburger and baked beans offered across the fence when they're cooking out. It was checking on me this morning because **GASP** I was home when I shouldn't be, and she was worried something was wrong. I bet we could all tell neighbor stories -- good and bad. I haven't been here long enough to really have too many of those stories, but I'm learning very well something that Sjoerd once said to me in a blog comment, "A good neighbour is better than a distant friend." This blog entry has been viewed 173 times
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V, you have entered a neighborhood. Some folks come with casseroles and a big smile, some are there when they perceive a need, and some are just there--to be called on in an emergency. You are fortunate, and so are they!
Marlingardener, your comment made me realize something. For the past 6 1/2 years while going through undergrad and grad school I've lived in dorms or apartments. And as close as everyone was there in physical proximity, I never got the neighborly feeling that I'm getting here. It's rather ironic.
I quite enjoyed reading your account here. I was greatly surprised to see that you recalled something that I remarked to you once. I just gave you the literal translation of what we say here.
Lovely recount of your neighborhood. So glad you are are enjoying the familiarities that come with having a home. Login or register to leave a comment. |
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