Things I Have Learned From My Neighbors
Even though I’m well into my fourth decade, I’m still getting used to having neighbors. You see, I grew up out in the sticks, far from our closest neighbors, with so few people around that the seven or so children who lived in our environs got picked up for school in a “short bus.” (There’s a psychological quagmire there … let’s not get started.)
Now I live in a coastal ‘burb of LA, a place so crowded with people that my mom once stood at my kitchen sink, hands covered in suds, and marveled, “Oh, look at that. I can not only see into your neighbor’s house from here, I can see through their house and into their neighbor’s house!” Let’s just say it’s a lot of togetherness. If you don’t like each other, chaos ensues.
Luckily, we have lots of great neighbors but one particular family is so good at the neighbor thing that I can only sit at their feet and take notes. Here is a sampling of what I’ve learned so far:
- When your neighbor’s house is TP’d by the local hooligans, go out on a Sunday morning and clean it up before the neighbors wake up. No one needs to see toilet paper hanging in the willows when they have a hangover.
- When your neighbor breaks their arm, drop everything and take them to the hospital, even though she looks like she’s going to barf all over your car. Also, make her a splint from a Cheerios box, have your teenage son drop everything to watch her 6 year old for an indeterminate amount of time and wait in the emergency room until her husband takes over for you.
- When your neighbor needs anything moved (from the 500 pound couch to the 700 pound treadmill), come right over and help them. If doors need to be removed to accommodate the new thing, do that, too.
- When your neighbor locks herself out of her house (again and again), tell her where the secret key to your house is so she can break in and take her key off of your spare key hook.
- When your neighbor’s son sells cookie dough for a school fundraiser and needs to store 30 tubs of dough in your garage freezer over the holidays, say “yes.” Oh, and buy five tubs of it from him while you’re at it, too. And some wrapping paper you don’t need.
- When your neighbors go skiing, loan them your suitcases, your cold weather gear and your teenage son to feed their cats and fish. And, speaking of fish, don’t you have an old fish bowl and accoutrements you aren’t using? Give those, too.
- When you go out with your neighbors, always offer to be the designated driver.
- At Christmastime, tuck all the kids into the back of your truck and drive them through the crazy Christmas light neighborhood.
- And, for God’s sake, when your neighbors finally get to do something in return and let your extended family stay in their guest house for a few days, go for a little one-up-manship: pick a whole box of grapefruit, add a gift card for coffee for the adults and a gift card for Fro-Yo for the kid and leave it on their back porch.
Good people are good. And I’m happy I have mine.
Those are some damned good neighbors. I wish I was that lucky. Though I must say that our neighbors on both sides of us are excellent, and save our butts constantly by reminding us about the streetcleaning days. I’d say that once a week our doorbell rings at 8 am, and it’s a neighbor telling us to move the car quickly before we get ticketed.
Sounds like you have awesome neighbors! I am a little jealous *L*
Wow, you have some amazing neighbors! I really like my neighbors as well, they are pretty good people! Dropping by from SITS, have a wonderful weekend
You are kidding. Are you sure those are neighbors and not aliens trying to do their best to be liked so no one suspects anything? I *wish* I had neighbors and even friends like that.
Fond you through Sits!
Can you move next to me? Because my neighbors REALLY SUCK.
Hey Jules
Thank you for letting us stay in your gues house it was really nice to have a place to park our behinds. I assume you are referring to my sister & her hubby in your blog. Yeh pretty great gol==folks to have as neighbors and as family. we all enjoy each other and wish we had mnore time but we did really have a great trip. love your little cottage, I wish I had one so when my hubby and I got snarky with each other I had a place to hide
thank you again
You are too funny girlfriend. I love your blog. This now will be my morning coffee read so please make sure you update it daily for me being the good neighbor you are. We love the hogans feel that we are blessed to have such good neighbors/friends as you folk. Couldn’t ever ask for more. Thank you
Kel
It was our pleasure! Actually, since the boys were out of town, it was nice to have some other humans on the premises.
Great to see you all … and thanks for the gift basket. I’m still eating the grapefruit!
xo,
J
Nice to see you here, Kelly! Sorry I didn’t get a new post up for you this morning … I’ll get right on that!
xo,
J
Hey Julie! A BIG thanks from the east coast sis of that wonderful, adorable neighbor. Your cottage was heaven for our gang and anytime you want to head out to Philly we may not have the extra house, but our guest room is always open. Thanks a million. S
[...] my actual birthday, we went out with our neighbors and watched a Laker’s game in a pretty fancy-shmancy bar here in the ‘hood. Love [...]
[...] my actual birthday, we went out with our neighbors and watched a Laker’s game in a pretty fancy-shmancy bar here in the ‘hood. Love them [...]