The Best Birthday Gift Ever

I received a birthday gift from someone the other day

The card with it was signed “Next door Neighbor”

It occurred to me that no matter how far away you may move

Once someone becomes your neighbor

They are always your neighbor.

You are blessed

 when God assigns a neighbor to you when you are only six

but sometimes God throws one your way when you are sixty.

People can live in the next yard

Or two houses over or across the street

But their close proximity does not necessarily make them your neighbor.

There are a number of elements that might contribute to making up a neighbor.

Hours of chats over a backyard fence

Sharing freshly baked cookies

Baseball games in the street

Help with a plumbing project

Babysitting

Knowing the names of all your family And caring about their well being

Talking about dogs, and comparing personalities

Commiserating over a common neighborhood nuisance

Like the brat with the whistle a few doors over.

Or the crazy man who runs around almost naked in his bathrobe

Then there is the support at a time of family tragedy.

Respecting you enough to ask your opinion and concerned enough to offer theirs

Playing cards and arguing over who won

Allowing you the freedom to disagree on some political points

But find common ground on others

Swapping medical advice and recipes

Lending your tools and of course an occasional cup of sugar

Sharing garden produce or unusable tickets to the ball game

trading potted plants

Taking your side without being asked

Making a mud pie together

Or bringing over a beer to interrupt garden work

Hide and seek on hot summer nights

After all is considered, I realized that the birthday gift was nice

But the lifetime gift of being my neighbor was really the best

Thanks neighbor