Good Neighbors

I suppose "good" is a relative term - but how would you define a good neighbor?

On our street, I feel confident in distilling the characteristics down to two types of neighbors: The kind who can't be bothered (because they already have enough going on in their lives - for which, I reserve no judgment), and the kind who will drag you out to watch a spectacular sunset (because it's spectacular). Our next door neighbors are of the latter breed. They are the type of people who you immediately like (for reasons unknown to you) - friendly and welcoming, with big big hearts. And this week, they lost a sister to suicide.

My heart swells for them. We brought them loaves of bread (such a seemingly small gesture in the face of such big circumstances), and through the pain, frustration, and anger you can still see the love & appreciation in their faces.

How unfortunate that neighbors like these are so few and far between, and more unfortunate still that this particular set has to face such difficulties.

A few years ago I had a friend who always ended her answering machine message with "be good to yourself" - I would extend this gesture to you, and suggest that your neighbors are worth such goodness as well.