small town neighbors

[gbick]

I remove the snow from around my garage and out buildings in addition to the driveway and what the roadplow leaves to a big pile at the back of my property. This aids visability when exiting the driveway and reduces mud in the spring. I also plow out the old widow next door and the diabetic across the street (for free-just being neighborly) So I routinely spend 4+ hrs cleanup after a good snowstorm.Though I love the seat time, I'm frozen to the bones when finished(pause for heated cab fantacy). I work 12hr shifts and sometimes have to trudge through knee-deep snow and go in to sleep a few hrs before coming out to plow.I live in a village in a rural area, and though we wave to the regulars who drive, by my wife and I only know our immediate neighbors. Among the "wavers" is an elderly couple in a wellworn Buick who live in an old,modest,but wellkept house about a mile away. They keep to themselves and I don't think they have any family in the area. They seem so pleasant and nice, many times in the 20yrs I've lived here, I considered going to their house and introducing myself. Well, I just heard that he dropped dead in his driveway,shoveling snow. I am sorry I didn't even know his name. I wish I had gone with the JD and said "HI" after this last storm.

 

[slowrev]

Good neighbors are a great asset. Sounds lilke you are a good one. It is not too late to go meet/help the widow up the road though is it ? My neighbors and I do not socialize a lot, but help each other out as needed. For instance if I see the old guy next door working on his lawnmower or truck, I will just mosey over and offer to help with the repair or mow for him while his mower is down, etc. Most everybody else is about the same way.
Ben

 

[Freds]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For instance if I see the old guy next door working on his lawnmower or truck, I will just mosey over... )</font>

There's sure something about someone tinkering around on an outside project acting like a magnet for those around. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Well, I just heard that he dropped dead in his driveway,shoveling snow. I am sorry I didn't even know his name. I wish I had gone with the JD and said "HI" after this last storm. </font>

Gbick,

When the time comes, we all move on.

You might have plowed the driveway, but that man might have met his end walking up the basement stairs for all we know. Even at the exact same moment in time.

Being a good person is enough. No more need to be said...

Sounds like you are on the right side of the fence.

 

[cmhyland]

Gbick,

It's that old coulda,shoulda, woulda thing. All of us would as good neighbors help someone who is elderly or in poor health... How were you to know.

There is always more we can do to help others but sometimes the opportunity doesn't present itself till after it's too late.

We're not God, just people trying to make it though life the best we can.

I do 9 driveways for free everytime it snows and most of the people never even say thank you, or wave driving by.... It used to make me mad at times but I realized I do it to make ME feel like a better person and if they get something out if it, so be it.

I have at times stopped to do driveways for older people and they ask how much... I say free we're neighbors... It takes a while for it to sink in but they are always thankful.... The older people ALWAYS say thank you.... It's the younger ones who don't... And I'm a 43 year old ( Younger) guy....

Now I realize why my mother forced us kids to write thank you notes.... She turned out to a pretty smart old gal...


Regards,
Chris

 

[slydog]

Excellent points CM, and your mother raised you right!

Gbick, don't beat your self up over it. We all have things that in hindsight we wished we would have done differently. You obviously have a big heart, and I'm sure your neighbors already know and appreciate that!

 

[CajunRider]

My two next door neighbors are almost kins to me by now. When we travel, we leave the house key to one another. Their tools are mine if I want to use them and vice versa. One of my neighbor is an HVAC man and he takes care of my heat pumps for years now and only charges me for parts. In return I help him with planting and flowers cuz my thumbs are less brown than his.

We often have crawfish boils or barbeque and invite the entire neighborhood. I recently had a cochon de l'ait (pig roast to y'all). We finished two 80 lb pigs and had a grand ole time with lots of neigbors coming over. When one of my neighbor down the street passed away, some of the neighbors served as pall bearers. Good or bad times, my neighbors will be there.

There's only one drawback. When I am out in my woodshop, I often have to stop to tell my friends what I am making.

I'll have to move later this year and I am going to miss this neighborhood. I've visited my new place a few times, hopefully by being a good neighbor, I can start a new good neighborhood.

 

[EastTexFrank]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> my mother.... she turned out to a pretty smart old gal... </font> )</font>

It's really strange, isn't it?????

It always amazed me how smart my father got, and in a really short time, after I moved out, got married and had to shoulder the responsibilities that he had shouldered for all those years. I always loved and respected my parents but it was only after I was out on my own that I realized just how much I genuinely "liked" them as people. Miss them both. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Gbick, don't beat yourself up. We're all just part of a greater plan.

 

[GaryE]

Greg,

I live just down the road from you.....

I know how you feel. We try to help when we can, but there is only so much we can do. Many here are just to proud to ask for help. Think about the people you did help!

If you are ever in the Winterport area, let me know.

Gary

 

[deere_x475guy]

Funny this should be brought up. In my old neighborhood I had the JD and plow and took care of my drive and sidewalk and then as many other neighbor's drive and sidewalks I could get to. Well in December our new home was finished and we moved in, leaving the old home vacant and for sale. I figured I would have to hire someone to take care of the place that is forsale. When the time came my relator who is also an old neighbor tried to pay those that were showing up to keep my old place clean of snow and they all refused payment saying that all the years I was there I took care of them and now they were helping me....what a great feeling. It makes me smile everytime I think about it. Now in the new place I have two drives that are over 350' each plus the parking areas. I still find myself going over to the new neighbors and taking care of them. Most of time I never get to talk to them. Just the way I am.