Featured Story: Living in a Loving World
October 4, 2009
Too often in this world we can feel alone and isolated. We need the power of connection in our lives to keep life feeling meaningful and alive.
This week I am highlighting the story of a person who truly makes a difference in my life; that is my wonderful neighbor Dolores.
Dolores doesn’t know that I am writing about her. She is in her eighties and has just gotten her first computer, so hopefully she can read this. She wouldn’t necessarily want me to write about her. She doesn’t really think that she’s doing anything special. But the love and caring that she contributes to my life makes a huge difference, especially because my family lives far away.
Dolores has taken it upon herself to look out for me. She doesn’t do that because she has to. She does it because it’s in her bones. She and I are both of Italian ancestry and we feel like “paisaini”.
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he sits by her front widow alot and keeps an eye on the world. I want to make clear that Dolores is not nosy in the traditional sense, but she is interested. She keeps an eye on things and knows everyone in the neighborhood and their comings and goings.
I personally love this because it makes me feel safe in my home and looked out for. She calls me every few days if she hasn’t heard from me and says, “Are you ok, I haven’t heard you recently.” I love that. Too many people live alone and isolated and Dolores is always listening for me and my little dog Miss Sweetie to make sure we’re ok.
Now get this, Dolores doesn’t just look out for me and Miss Sweetie, but she also looks out for my tomatoes. That’s right she makes sure that no one steals my ripening tomatoes! I have been cultivating these darned tomatoes all summer and as a fellow Italian, she knows how important they are. So while I was away, she made sure that my tomatoes were intact. Gotta love that!
But speaking of stealing, here’s another amazing fact about my neighbor Dolores – she actually caught some robbers by looking out her window! Yes she did.
Several years ago, Dolores was sitting at where window when she saw a car pull up. Two young men got out with a big gym bag. They took out hard hats and put them on. Dolores thought that was suspicious so she got her little pad and paper that is always at the window with her, and wrote down the license number.
I too would have thought this suspicious, but I doubt I would have taken the smart steps that she did. But here’s the best part – when she later found out that there had been a bank robbery in town, she was able to provide police with the detailed information that let them catch the criminals. Isn’t that amazing!
Listen, if you’re lucky enough to have a neighbor like Dolores, you’re not only completely safe, but you’re also in the family. I wanted to offer her this tribute for all the ways that she looks out for me.
Today, think about someone who loves you in the background of your life, someone who is looking out for you. Go take them a tomato or have a conversation or in some way appreciate that this world is made of loving people – people like my neighbor Dolores.
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Hi Annie:
Thanks so much for your touching story. We are all so fortunate that my mom has a wonderful neighbor and friend like you. She enjoys sharing her life with you and always tells us what you and her are up to.
Sincerely,
Matt Mihalich