Page 13 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

“Won’t You

Be My Neighbor?”

by Colleen Eppler

Spiritual/Bereavement Care Coordinator for Kindred Hospice

ack in the day, when we Today, in our transient society
were raising our three (and with the invention of
tiny tots, now grown with garage door openers!), it’s
Blives and families of their challenging to have good
own, one of the shows we would neighbors. I was raised in the
watch on TV was “Mr. Roger’s 50s in Spokane, Washington
Neighborhood”. The whole show where I knew everyone on take a meal if they were sick or if
was an eye-roll for me, but when my block. Girlie, the white-haired there was a death in the family.
asked, I would stop my never- little widow, lived next door to our
ending chores and watch it with left, and Mr. and Mrs. Varcoe lived A close neighbor is like family.
them. I remember his cheesy songs, on the other side of our house. The They know you well and have
one of which I would sing to my Reynolds lived three doors down been in your home. They know,
daughter during her potty-training with their children, and my best not just about your carpet/tile
years: friend Marie and I would play choice, they know your children
Barbies at her house across the alley. and grandchildren by name, and
“I’m proud of you, I’m proud of you My parents were very close to the if you have a need, they are just a
I hope that you are proud as I am Varcoes and Girlie - bringing food to click away on your phone. A close
Proud of you, I’m proud of you them when they were ill, shoveling neighbor knows your story and will
I hope that you are proud of you their sidewalks when it snowed, at laugh with you, cry with you. They
too.” least until I was old enough to do it. know you well enough to either
I remember “performing” for Girlie “get in your business” or “give you
Simplistic for sure, but even today, as she sat on her porch, watching space.” And when you come to the
if this daughter of mine does and smiling as I did cartwheels for end of your life, along with your
something worth boasting about her in the grass. Funny, I don’t family, your close neighbor will
(which is often!), she likes me to recall that I ever knew her last name. be there with you, knocking down
sing it to her. Cheesy? Indeed, but obstacles, cleaning out the fridge
effective? Without a doubt. A neighbor is someone who lives for the meals the “good” neighbors
close by. You may never know their
Despite those cheesy songs name or whether they have tile or might bring, relieving pain as much
and puppets, “Mr. Roger’s carpet in their home, but you know as possible for you and your family.
Neighborhood” was the longest them enough to wave or nod at This is a close neighbor. This is
running program on Public them as you get into your car in the Hospice.
Television. He taught valuable morning to head off to work.
lessons about life in a rapidly “So, let’s make the most of this
changing world. His calm, kind A good neighbor is someone you beautiful day,
voice was somehow able to simplify might have a light conversation with Since we’re together, we might as
life, slowing it down for just a bit. over the hedge or in the front lawn well say,
I miss him. He really was a good as you fix your car or plant flowers. Would you be mine?
“neighbor”. You might know a few details about Could you be mine?
them, enough to bring flowers or Won’t you be my neighbor?”

Amarillo Senior Link 13