Blue & his Bread
The other night, I stopped on a street near my house in Gillespie Park to take some photos. The light was in that beautiful shift between evening and nighttime and I just couldn’t resist. Walking back to my car, I noticed a man sitting out in his yard. I said to myself, “If he looks at me, I’ll say ‘Hi.’” Sure enough, just as I was getting the keys out, he turned his head and beat me to the hello. He stood and approached, asking with a smile, “Are you a new neighbor?” I explained that I actually lived down a block or two.
He introduced himself as Blue, showed me his budding small fig tree, and we chatted for 20 minutes or so about various things. Blue lives with his 25 year-old daughter who has a condition that keeps her from functioning much in society-he’s chosen to care for her himself rather than put her in a home. I was delighted to learn from him that everybody on that street knows one another and has been in each other’s homes. It’s like a family, he said.
Then Blue shared a story with me that’s stuck in my head and made me reflect on my own actions and attitudes as a neighbor. He pointed across the street and told me of an elderly woman who used to live there whose meanness earned her the name “Witch Hazel” among the neighborhood kids and parents. She was always yelling at the children for playing and was just generally mean.
Blue decided he was going to break through to her, so one day he brought a loaf of homemade bread to her house. She wouldn’t come to the door when he rang, so he left it on the steps. The following week he brought another loaf. This time, she opened the door and told him to go away. Blue insisted on giving her the bread, for which she thanked him brusquely and slammed the door.
Blue persisted. A few weeks went by. He noticed that she had begun looking for him on his usual bread-delivery day. Finally, she opened the door to him. This time, she accepted the bread without anger. When Blue invited her across the street for some freshly brewed coffee or tea, she asked him into her home instead. They became friends.
The questions I’m left with are…
With my limited time as a full-time worker, family member, and active member of my faith organization, what can I do to help create the kind of street on my block-one where people have solid relationships not just with those who look like them or are likeable, but also to those like the woman in this story?
How do I close myself off to the “difficult neighbors”? When I do that, what kind of values am I expressing, and, what great experiences am I missing out on as a result? How do we do this as groups in our neighborhoods and community?
What can we learn from Blue?
I’d like to hear your thoughts…
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
Just setting this laudable intention will open doors. Your face will be friendlier and more approachable.You will share “energy” by smiling and waving, even if you don’t know a name.
And you will find every excuse to discover a name and a story. Sure, block parties and backyard barbeques help build a shared history. But if you simply look for opportunities, they will come. Good luck!
April,
Thanks for sharing this story. I am really enjoying all the SCOPE blogs. I think the fact that you stopped to talk to Blue affirms the fact that you are precisely the kind of neighbor Blue is. He’s been there for years and you are relatively new to the neighborhood, but already helping to build the fabric of your community in so many ways. Thanks for being you!
That we are all one can seem quite trite, but experience has taught me differently. We all need to feel safe and special. A small kindness always has the potetial for great reward, in all directions. Small communications bring big understandings. Go forth into this day in awe of the glory of just being, and share that feeling with others. Peace, love, and granola.
Knowing the man, I’m not the least bit suprised. Blue is a special man. His devotion and kindness to his daughter, alone speaks volumes about the moral fiber from which he is knit. He inspires me to be a better person and uplifts my spirit when I spend time with him.
The greatest lesson is quite simple…be nice.
That’s all it’s really about. Be nice. Be kind. Be gentle to others in your words and deeds…and goodness and joy will come to you. So often, we reap what we sew. So practice random acts of kindness. You never know what the results will be and the ripple effect those simple actions will have.
I’m glad to call Blue my friend.
[...] Another decent blogger created an interesting post today on Blue & his BreadHere’s a short outlineThe 2 inch wide cotton belt features a metal buckle with teeth for secure closing and easy. Shop and find the lowest prices on products from online merchants. Turquoise Heart Pendant on 16 Inch Double Strand Braided Leather Necklace Wilbur Muskette- Navajo Sterling Silver & Turquoise Shadow Box Belt Buckle. 4″ Nautilus Premium Weight Belt FREE SHIPPING. Belts & Suspenders Betty Boop oop a Doop Body Jewelry Piercings Home Belts & Suspenders. Best of New England- Unique products made Bolo Ties Belt Buckles Knives. Also see our Kids’ suspenders page for a match! Sinking speed- 6 t0 12 inches per second. THIN Suspenders Available in 42″, 48″ and 54″. The 2 inch wide cotton belt features a metal buckle with teeth for secure closing and easy adjusting. Compare at: 199.99 Kershaw 1620VIB Rainbow Scallion Folding Knife. Please Giftbox this item: Cupcake Love Belt. Shop for Rainbow Color Gait Belt 48 Inch and [...] [...]
I remember growing up when we did not have fences separating yards just rows of rocks or hedges and kids could dart in and out of each others yards. Be a boundry crosser…meet a neighbor.