Big things matter, of course, but it's the little, day to day things, that give life meaning.
Deb and I finally managed to give our neighbors a small plate of homemade goodies this year, just before Christmas. We've been wanting to do it every year and something always made us forget or we just got too busy. The plate had homemade fudge, snicker doodles, divinity, rum balls and anise pizzelles. We went around to a few houses and got a chance to say hi and spread a little cheer.
I try to talk with my neighbors whenever I see them in their yards or walking the sidewalk or just sitting on the porch. Yes some of my neighbors actually sit outside on swings and on their porches ;-) Most I just have to catch when they are outside to do yard work.
The little conversations, sometimes no more than 'Hi, how are you doing?', make my day. From the smiles we both have I think it boosts their day just a little too.
I had a chance to recommend a lawn service to a neighbor just the other day. A simple thing. A two minute conversation about my newly sodded lawn and how good it looked. The shade from mature trees in Texas will slowly kill some grasses underneath. Mike, my lawn expert, said I should try zoysia when I needed to replace the struggling Bermuda in my yards.
My neighbor was outside doing some yard work and we had a short talk about the weather (very cold for Texas) and the bare spots under his trees. He asked about my yard and I promised to give him Mike's info.
Yesterday we got a small envelope in the mail box, simply labeled 'Gary and Debbie'. Inside was a thank you for the treats and the info.
It was a small gesture. A hand written note of thanks. But it made my day. And I know that the next time I see them in the yard we'll say our 'hi's and the smiles will return.
