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by ceelo2

Last Post 186 days, 9 hours Ago


Am I My Neighbors Keeper ?
Apr 24, 2008 | 3:58 AM
Category: News
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The story of the elderly woman that was found dead and mummified in the home she shared with her sister touched me in a way that few others have lately. There has been so much murder and mayhem lately in the Metro Detroit area that it's hard to keep up. But this stayed with me. This one will be memorable.

Since I do not know these women personally, I can only speak from what I understand from the news report. Inference.

These sisters shared a home that they had lived in all of their lives. They had no known relatives and the surviving sister has mental problems. They are both in their eighties. That basically summed up their lives on the news report .

The thoughts that saddened me today was that not one neighbor popped in from time to time to check on them. Not until they realized they had not seen them in a "long time." Not for a grocery run nor snow removal or to pick up solicitations that may have piled up on the property. How do I figure this? Well. If anyone had done any of these things they would have surely smelled the rotting corpse. They would have asked questions....Something !

So many questions that have no pat answers.

I know the elderly can be a bit cranky at times. I realize that we are all busy with our own lives and that there are just not enough hours in the day. " I don't get in other folks business." "I don't want to appear nosy." I know there are many reasons as to why not.

However, there are so many reasons as to why someone should have. It's simply called being a good neighbor. It's the way we are supposed to treat one another and especially our elderly. They made it. They traveled through the storms of life that we are passing through. They passed this life on to us.They deserve to live their golden years with us looking out for them. They should garner our respect and reverence.

I find that the simplest kind deed done for my senior neighbors are greatly appreciated. I get just as good as I give.

My neighbor Bill is a man full of pride and I know it bothers him that I pull his one little half filled trash can out on Sunday evening and put it back in the yard on Monday after the pick-up. I just do it and make no bones about it. How could I not after watching him ambling along making short steps that causes his back to ache. I'll ask him for his advice on repairs around my house so he feels he's giving something in return. I listen when he tells me how I should trim hedges, even though I've been trimming them for years. His wife is suffering from dementia so I sit and just let him talk about his days at Chrylser. During the summer months he insists that I take a seat in the driveway. I get the chair. I sit. I have so much to do at home, but I listen to him tell me about the neighborhood some 30 years ago. I listen to the stories of how his immigrant parents came here from Yugoslavia so long ago. I listen to how he met his wife. She sits there and hardly makes a peep. I speak to her as if she is listening to our conversation. He has repeated some of his stories many times, but I patiently listen because I actually enjoy our conversations. And Bill's got jokes. Our sit downs ends with me laughing at one of his stories. The exchange is good for both of us. I still manage to get my work done.

Then there is my girl Rose. She is as feisty as they come. Surely a firecracker in her heyday ! She lost her husband some 20 years ago. I've had to call her to ask her if she intended to leave the trunk to her car open. She makes sure that I get my fill of fresh veggies from her garden all summer. We sit and sip our coffee and talk about her grandchildren living up north and her days as a Michigan Bell operator. She's very active in her church and lives a pretty full life. Yet, she is an elderly neighbor and if I don't see her doing something around her house, I know to call or tap on her door. So far there have been no problems.

We look out for one another in our own way. I think it's just neighborly. I know people that don't know the names of their next door neighbors. Forget about the ones across the street. Such a change from the "good old days." The days when neighbors were neighborly. The days when we were our neighbors keepers.


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Member Comments Total Comments: 6
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MichiganPerson read my blog
Apr 24, 2008 | 5:00 PM

It is a shame abut that woman I heard the story too,I think most people do not talk to their neighbors anymore is because they are not sure how the person will act.I have one that lives across from me and he thinks he is god tries to tell everyone what they can or can not do,have not seen him in months but his wife and kids we see every day we think she must have wised up and got rid of him.
jax276 read my blog view my photos
Apr 24, 2008 | 8:24 PM

Have you noticed them doing any midnight gardening lately?
ceelo2 read my blog
Apr 25, 2008 | 12:56 AM

MichiganPerson - Yes, I know we sometimes get stuck with the neighbors from hell. In those cases, "good fences make good neighbors." or something like that. I put forth the initial effort to be a good neighbor. A simple nod of my head or a wave to break the ice. I'm not one to just run them down when they step out their doors. It's just a good idea to know who the people are that surround me on a daily basis. Especially the elderly because of their vulnerability. If their not reciprocal to my effort..."I tried." most times I find my friendliness is welcomed.

jax276 - That's a good one. I hope not.
MichiganPerson read my blog
Apr 25, 2008 | 2:57 PM

we have tried with this guy but there was no hope.one day someone as driving down the street and hit his garbage cans he came running out of his house go in the middle of he road shook his arms and yelled at the driver then jumped into his car and chased them down have no idea what if anything happened or not. I do talk to some of my neighbors.
ceelo2 read my blog
Apr 26, 2008 | 11:28 PM

MichiganPerson,

I'm still laughing at the image of your "kookie" neighbor in the street yelling over garbage.

I totally understand what you're saying. Some people thrive on being angry and negativite. Can't win em all and that includes the hearts of people as well.

I find so much beauty and joy in life that I refuse to spend my little earthly time mad...just mad about what?

Thanks for your comments
MichiganPerson read my blog
Apr 28, 2008 | 11:12 AM

Well myself and my husband stood looking out our window shaking our heads and laughing I told my husband over garbage he really is a nut.The rest of my neighbors are really nice,we have one that will take his time out to talk to my grandsons about deer hunting and when he get one lets them come over and see it up close same with fishing just yesterday him and his wife came home after being out in their boat fishing and one of my grandsons went over to see the fish they let him get in the boat and hold the fish road in the boat while he backed it into his garage my grandson just thought that was sooooooo cool.when we have snow on the ground he has 4 wheelers that they driver around the block and he takes them for rides.One day about a year ago I did not know that one of their daughters were home and the door was opened my son who is 30 was over and he went over while I went to get my phone just in case I had to call 911.when they came home their daughter told them what happened and they came by to thank us,I told them that was just doing what was right and neighborly.
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ceelo2

I'm a honest and hardworking business owner. I am a native Detroiter who now resides in a suburban community. My proudest and greatest accomplishments are my children. I am honest to a fault. Definitely opinionated. Respectfully so. I live my life each day according to the golden rule. I believe it takes more energy to be negative and cynical than to stay positive and open minded. I stay clear of those that focus on problems rather than solutions. My father was my hero. I thank god for him each and every day.

Member Since: 3/11/2008


 

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