What makes a good neighbor?
Well, let me tell you about our neighbor Bill. He’s an awesome neighbor.
First let me share how I met this particular neighbor of ours. A couple of years ago I was driving home and pulled over to check the mail. I had my 3 daughters with me (the oldest ones were 3 I believe at the time) and our little dog, Calbie (bless his heart and soul).
As I was checking the mail Calbie jumped on the window and locked the car door from the inside. Which then locked me out with nothing but a mail key and a handful of junk mail.
I just stood there for a moment processing what had just happened. I was proud of myself for not really panicking. I was more like, “damn this sucks, my phones in there too…..”. I tried to encourage my girls to unbuckle their seatbelts to unlock the door but they couldn’t. Can you believe that! Ha!
All of a sudden this guy pulls up in a white truck with a trailer of landscaping supplies (thank goodness I wasn’t standing there long!) . He asked me what had happened, I explained, and come to find out in that small moment that he lives in the house behind ours.
Long story short another neighbor (John, whom I just pretty much met as well) pulls up close to the same time and immediately takes me to my house while Bill (the neighbor I just met too) stays and watches my kids so I can get the spare set of keys.
Essentially I got in the car with a stranger and let a stranger watch my helpless children. Trust good vibes.
Just in that small moment I saw how amazing my neighbors were and still are.
Bill particularly has become one of our good friends. Came to found out he’s a retired executive chef too, so we get to reap those rewards often. It’s awesome, he made these bacon wrapped dates this one time that I still think about. He also makes this amazing soup filled with shredded meat and lots of veggies that can cure any stress in your life!
He spoils our children with goodies weekly and our kids just love him. I joke that our dentist needs to send him a thank you card since he gives them so much sweets. We’ve come to know his wife and kids and on occasions have all got together for a game of cards or lunch. His wife and daughter have horses (they are barrel racers) and we often pay them a visit during evening feedings and our kids enjoy that. Especially one of our daughters whom they have let her ride a few times!
But our neighbor Bill is a real gem. He is always willing to lend a helping hand or make us laugh with joke just to cheer us up. He thinks of us and makes us feel special.
He’s a good neighbor. Thank you Bill.
The Wild Gems 