Being Neighbourly

One thing we have noticed in our town is that it really pays to be neighbourly. We are quite lucky to have such wonderful neighbours on both sides and down the street. Everyone is very friendly and chats on the sidewalk or over the hedges. We love that about living here. It really is the type of town where one can run next door and borrow a cup of sugar from a neighbour (or a can opener as happened in our case).

This week, being neighbourly brought quite the unexpected gift to the boys. One older woman down the street asked if we might be interested in having a swingset for the boys as her son and daughter-in law (who live next door to her) have one that their son has outgrown. Strangely enough, Terry and I had just been out at garage sales that morning looking for a playset for the boys.

This afternoon our other next-door neighbour offered up his services to help Terry carry it over to our house; so off the two of them went and lifted the whole thing, intact, down the road.

Is this a matter of living in a small town or is this the simple return of being neighbourly, no matter where you live? I don't know. All I know is that there are two little toddlers happily climbing and sliding and swinging in what was once an empty space in our backyard.