Page 30 - Summer 2019 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine - Online Magazine
P. 30

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        50’s 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?”



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