Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 13, 2025
ON BEING A NEIGHBOR
Mr. Rogers began the PBS Children’s Show singing “Won’t you be my neighbor? Could you be my neighbor? I really want a neighbor just like you.”
Jesus responded to the question “Who is my neighbor?’ With a story of breaking through walls and the rituals that separate us, that kept us from knowing each other (The Good Samaritan).
My parents taught me to be a good neighbor. When an individual or family moved onto our eastside block, my mother would take cookies, offer a welcome and exchange names and phone numbers. If a husband or grandfather were present, my father would also make a first visit. What neighbors do you remember from your youth?
As Beth and I began our life together, in a busier go-world than my parents, we did our best to at least have a waving relationship with neighbors. Later, in Santa Fe, Beth and a neighbor began a neighborhood book and discussion group. When we returned to FT. Worth, Beth and I walked the block of 16 homes inviting everyone for a traditional hotdog hello and “get to know.” Five years later, several homes have changed from homeowner to rental. In addition, all of our lives have become busier, less time, crowding out our interest in neighbors or neighborhoods. Whether your dwelling is an apartment, a 55+ community, or individual home, in what ways are neighbors part of your daily life? Do you wish for more neighbor contact? If so, how could that happen?
“Without good neighbors a neighborhood is just a place to live, but with good neighbors it becomes a place where you belong.” Gladys Tabot
Today, in 2025, neighbors are formed around our common interests in addition to our residency. Cities, large and small, host community gardens. These places offer opportunities for landscaping, seasonal planting, participation in the care of a garden and the beauty of shared experiences. Common ground “neighbors” are also formed around environments, climate, peace/justice advocacy, parenting of a special needs child or the care of an elder parent. In what ways are you connected with others in addition to residency?
It is now normal to join common interest via zoom groups with the barest of information of who is sharing the screen, most times only knowing name and email address. These are the accepted conditions of “being neighborly” in a new way. The recent Los Angeles fires destroyed 200 blocks of homes. Residents spoke about the loss of homes and the decades of raising and being family in a neighborhood. In the midst of the destruction, residents also spoke of the sudden loss of connection with so many neighbors and their families, of their comings and goings. Who would you miss if a cared for neighbor moved, or you did?
Perhaps there is sense of being neighbor in the weekly neighborhood of the Sunday Letter.
Roy, your neighbor
There is a sense of being and a real connection to the people that read and comment on your Sunday letter. I feel like I know them. Growing up in a large city, St. Louis for me, we were connected to the families of the children we played with. Every Sunday, after church, we had lunch as an extended family at my Grandmothers” house. Cousins were our first close friends. Today we must make an effort to connect to those around us. Thank you Roy for reminded us to be good neighbor in our neighborhood, in our city, in our country and globally as well.
I appreciate the way your careful observations without condemnation or bemoaning the loss of good-ol’-days prompt us to consider the true value of friendship and neighbor connection. In this letter we celebrate what we have and creatively imagine more. Thank you, Roy.
Community. Our village. Acircle of believers.
Each and all encourage my stumbles and mumbles both on the path and wandering.
And because of Maurine and you, and others, I do not do so alone,
And not only make one effort, but more than one to stay engasged.
You a=encourages others and allow others into your world of worship,volunteering, and family.
Tis who you are….and thank you for being so. RB
Neighbors bring new perspectives to life. All are welcome.
Thank you for being my life neighbor, even though we do not live close to one another.
You two, and 3 others I know, left independent homes to move into multi-level, many units of strangers.
Saying hello in new ways than before.
Tell us more that new day, new hello.
Sunday letter IS a community that you so carefully and thoughtfully nurture. I thank you as well Roy.
In my daily, I walk my many dogs (now six) at off lease time, chasing, loving, playing as I meet my neighbor 8 years my senior to help with barn chores for his horse. Many times another neighbor, with another pup comes down the lane to meet us and we all have a good chin wag before the start of our day. On my way home, I drop off one of the dogs to her person, and her person makes me a latte as a thank you. We sit and chat for 15 minutes or so. Rural communities seems to have a bit more opportunity to enjoy the company of those close by. Wish you and Beth were close by—you’d be on my daily visits.
If nearby we would join the morning walk, horse and barn chores, and morning latte we chase the morning sun upward. You and your neighbors live near but not on top of each other….a healthy pace of life. So, I can image your Monday, I be with you dear friend and honored to be so.RB
I grew up in a great neighborhood in a small city in NE Kansas. We knew almost all of our neighbors in a two block square area and I can now remember 14 kids that we (my brother and I) played with on a regular basis. There were no fences and we ranged freely across yards in the neighborhood.
We have lived in our current home in Santa Fe for 38 years. Some neighbors have come and gone, but we know all of our closest neighbors and have had some of them for 10 to 20 years. We count on each other, watch out for each other, and watch each others’ homes when away. We feel very fortunate.
Fences!!E hade back fences but no front for5 yards, then 2′ wide hedge (home run if over the hedge.
Yes on neighbors blocks wide.
People did not move….another kid but not move, stayed
38 yrs
Good for you 2, or 4, or 5.
we think the best and often you
delighted to have you nearby in my digital world. RB
Hey neighbor! You hit the nail on the head for me. I know the names of the people on my left, my right and across the street, but we aren’t neighbors. We wave if we see one another, but there is no community. The first time I visited my new soon-to-be home at the 55+ apartment I must have visited with 20 or more people before I even got to the reception area. It didn’t take long to realize that community was one of the things I missed. I’ve been back about 4 times and every time I have visited with someone new, and everyone I have talked to has said how much they enjoy living there, and how many community activities there are to participate in if you are inclined. So, I’m excited to start a new life there and add to the already established community.
And don’t forget Bridge partnrs.
I jave artist friend in N. Carolina
46 yrs of marriage, divorse, 2 girls into marriage and now grandmother.
2 months she moved, as you have, into 55+ facility
Nancy telle me this hard on introverts, but like a spring flower, slowly opening to “who are all these people.”
So, continue on
& take us along with you,,,,,RB
You’ve created a great virtual neighborhood, Roy. Thanks for this!
Slowly over time and Comments there is something here, among us, that is beyond me…..there is a “us.”
RB