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From: Melanie T
Date: 04-11-2006, 09:49 AM (1 of 14)
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Yesterday had a little neighborly tit for tat. About 2:30 I heard some weird noises and went to look out. DS4 was jumping out of the neighbors truck in my yard. Our neighbor, 78years old, is always doing stuff for us (tilling my garden, helping me with the raking - its not like he doesn't have 5 acres of his own to care for, it looks lovely) and we try to return the favors. On the back of the truck was a log splitter that he had borrowed from somewhere. To make a long story short, he split 2 huge piles of great big pieces of willow that are a back breaker/acher to split by hand. DH has been gradually getting to them one at a time for the past 2 years. DS4 & I spent the afternoon stacking wood until sewing lesson time, and then again after supper. About 3 weeks ago, DH changed the oxygen sensor in the neighbors vehicle and only charged him for the part ($148, he had been quoted $600), Angelo felt that wasn't fair ("you are a business, you need to make money so you can stay in business"), and he spies on us to find stuff that he can do for us. DH feels it is more than fair for the amount stuff that he doesn't have time to do around here that Angelo does (like making thread racks for me, hanging pictures, getting the boys off of the bus when I can't make it home on time, tilling the garden, etc). I would sew for him, but he has a 1930 industrial singer that he got as a downpayment for his house in town that he uses to take care of what he needs  .It is a good all around relationship. DH was sure happy last night when he came home and saw all that "clutter" that has been hanging around his neck (or at least the yard) neatly stacked and ready to be burned next winter. Have a wonderful day, and do something nice for someone else it feels good and it just might come back 10 fold.Melanie Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
From: MaryW
Date: 04-11-2006, 10:40 AM (2 of 14)
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Thank you very much for posting Melanie. It's nice to do for someone else, let's all see if we can do something for a friend or stranger.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 04-11-2006, 11:22 AM (3 of 14)
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That was so nice of him to do that for you. There is a movie about doing things for others called "Pay it Forward", it a good movie BUT a tear jerker at the end. I think that if we all did something kind for someone else this just might be a better place all around to live in. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: swartzrn
Date: 04-11-2006, 11:39 AM (4 of 14)
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Oh how sweet! You are lucky to have such a caring neighbor!!!
Julie
"To see the future, look into a child's eyes." |
User: swartzrn
Member since: 02-17-2006 Total posts: 436 
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From: Almajanesattic
Date: 04-11-2006, 11:48 AM (5 of 14)
Melanie...... Thanks for posting this......it was exactly what I needed to read this morning!Sometimes it is so easy to become depressed about the 'human condition' in our world but there are GOOD people out there and we need to hear stories like yours! And, yes, we all need to Pay It Forward!! Hugs for you and your neighbor...........Sharon |
User: Almajanesattic
Member since: 01-20-2006 Total posts: 42 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 04-11-2006, 03:58 PM (6 of 14)
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That was a nice post. I've been feeling cranky all day, even though it is a beautiful day. And I got a parking ticket! That made me feel a bit better. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: carman
Date: 04-11-2006, 04:14 PM (7 of 14)
| i had this done to me a while back and i do it a fair amount now; i was driving through the Tim Horton's drive through and when i got to the window to pay for my coffee, the car ahead had paid and all the clerk said was the driver said " do it to someone else some day" and i have never forgotten that feeling and so continue to do it. it makes one feel soooooooo good, despite it being only a couple bucks. |
User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692 
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From: esrun3
Date: 04-11-2006, 07:44 PM (8 of 14)
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How lucky you are to have (and be) a neighbor like this! Especially in this day and age where most people just want to be "left alone" and have their privacy. I miss the days when we knew everyone on the block and knew that everyone was watching out for all the kids in the neighborhood and helping each other.
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 04-11-2006, 10:52 PM (9 of 14)
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When I was a teenager we used to pay tolls for cars behind us on the bridges (in CA..like the Golden Gate, etc). Now I help my neighbors. I powerwashed my neighbors house, driveway, patio, etc. While she was in PA last summer .(her Dad died) Before she came home I cleaned her house, shampooed her carpets and killed the weeds and ants in her yard. (my husband helped me mow the yard) I also mowed my two NEXT door neighbors yards. (till one got mad and told me to cut it out...I donno, they don't have much of a yard to speak of and I thought I was doing them a favor). Almost the whole block left last yr during Katrina and since we stayed, I got everyones mail. Till they got back. They all forgot about the mail.. I like to do for anyone that will let me...but they have to let me help them and no I DO NOT take anything in return...I don't need or want anything. Before hurricanes we all help each other get things boarded up and afterwards have 'block' parties. If we have no power, we share generators, ice, food, we cook out. We share vehicles. We make sure everyone is Ok. We have everyones home phones and cell numbers. (theres a 'block' list). We're also 'watchers' of the neighborhood. If anyone sees something out of place, we all start calling each other to see if anyone knows whats going on, before we call the sheriff or police. I never did this as a kid. In CA I knew all the neighbors. Went to school with the kids, but nobody cared to deal with anyone. (of course there were no disasters either....). Funny how things work sometimes....in some parts of the U.S. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 04-12-2006, 07:16 AM (10 of 14)
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I live in a tiny village and everyone here knows everybody else -- or at least about everybody else from the grape vine. It was a great place to raise kids. One time my youngest daughter asked me how I always knew when she did something bad. I laughed and asked her if she really thought people were going to pass up the chance to say "Well I heard (or saw) your daughter did such and such and was hanging out with so and so." There are three guys (including mine) on the block that kind of compete over who can snow blow the side walks first after a storm. They used to all do lawn and yard work for the elderly lady that lived next door to me, until she died. Our neighbors on either side compete all summer to see who has the best mowed lawn. My husband stays out of that competition. He hates to mow and loves to annoy so a shaggy lawn works for him. The best thing is that younger people bought the homes on either side of me so I have kids running back and forth through the yard all the time. I love that. Until these people moved in my kids (and others about their ages) were the last kids on the block. Still, now that my kids are grown, I'm eager to move somewhere more urban. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: debsews
Date: 04-12-2006, 09:49 AM (11 of 14)
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This story is great but makes me a little sad. We've never had those kind of neighbors. Maybe we just don't live in the right places! Keep it up. I'm sure it makes for a happier life! |
User: debsews
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 254 |
From: Melanie T
Date: 04-12-2006, 10:32 AM (12 of 14)
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More neighbor stuff, This morning early I got a call from Angelo's wife. She was out of sour kraut and wanted to make cabbage rolls. I have lots in my freezer becasue I went overboard last fall (ok, planted to much cabbage in the spring). I sent DS4 and DS2 over with a frozen container of it so she didn't have to come across the pasture, she is 75 and not in very good shape (they got to use their umbrellas, major thrill). About 10 minutes ago she called and wants us to come for lunch, "I have too much come for lunch", Yeah right, she planned that from the moment she needed the sour kraut. She will make a special dish for DS4 who has allergies. We will go and enjoy. Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 04-12-2006, 07:25 PM (13 of 14)
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How wonderful to have such great neighbours. We have some really nice ones across the street, and a nasty one also across the street. I avoid her. But so far we quite like our neighbourhood, been here 4 years now!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Rea
Date: 04-20-2006, 08:15 AM (14 of 14)
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I just love having good neighbors. Most of mine are, except the single woman across the street.
A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather with a certain set of attitudes. Hugh Downs
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User: Rea
Member since: 12-19-2005 Total posts: 47 
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