“I’m Just Sayin’”
Anybody have a friendship that has sustained and grown over the years, even though you haven’t seen them in forever? I have this friend, who used to be my neighbor 25 years ago. We both bought houses across the street. She was a house-wife; I was a head of house. Our kids played together. She was the kind of mom who had Christmas brunch for the kids and SANTA showed up with pre-Christmas presents. I know because, one year, in a pinch, when her Santa was a no-show, and I happened to be home(lucky me), she said, “Hey, you mind filling in as Santa! The kids would love it!” I thought, how can I get out of this? I couldn’t—and let’s face it, I didn’t need any padding to play the part!
Then there was the time when she was so excited to show off what she and her 2 boys had just done—a handprint chair railing all the way down her hallway… actually looked really good, surprisingly! She was that neighbor—cookies being made all the time, garden, friendly, loved being a stay at home mom—all the other moms just hated her!
They moved to Tennessee after 5 years as neighbors. Neighbors come, neighbors go; but, we stayed in touch.
Oh, back then, it was yearly Christmas cards, the kind with a family update. I laughed with the stories of the boys, who were close in age with our kids. I sent the same and left it at that.
Then we got the opportunity to visit their family in Tennessee—had a great weekend, laughing and making new, “non-neighbor” memories.
We exchanged phone numbers and called a couple of times a year; then came cell phones; we called to catch up. Then came texting; then cell pics; then video; and voila! We were sharing our lives, without ever meeting again.
Then this friend heard that I had had a heart attack—she reached out to both me and my wife and let us know, across 600 miles, she was here for us.
And…she really was!
She checked on both of us during my 2 years of recovery—she was one of the few who knew, my wife needed a friend too!
My wife would say from time to time, “We haven’t even met but she cares about our family!”
Kind of like a “millenium pen-pal”…with all the latest media devices. Never meeting but never feeling like strangers!
Made me wonder if that’s how it is with God? He went to prepare a place for us, and He promised that He would come back to take us there!(John 14:1)
But He has never been out of reach and never felt far away, because His love reaches across the miles…right to where I live!
God is the “original pen-pal”!
He’s the one you always reach for: to tell the good, the bad and the ugly and He’s the one who always makes you feel loved!
And you know…someday, you really will see Him face to face, and…He will welcome you to His home, and…you will feel like you were always there!
The test of a true friendship…withstands the test of time AND distance!
So…last weekend, my wife and I got to “see” our friend for the first time….and it felt like I had walked across the street-20 years ago!
I got out of the car, turned around, and there was that same friend who greeted me years ago, with a “come see what we did” wave and heartfelt smile!
Felt so good to see my friend, “GrannyZann!”
You see, she’s the one who asked me to write this weekly column- I just wanted to say “thank you” neighbor!
Until next time,
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
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| Howdy Neighbor! The Hug 20 years in the making! |
by Alan P. Scaglione
Anybody have a friendship that has sustained and grown over the years, even though you haven’t seen them in forever? I have this friend, who used to be my neighbor 25 years ago. We both bought houses across the street. She was a house-wife; I was a head of house. Our kids played together. She was the kind of mom who had Christmas brunch for the kids and SANTA showed up with pre-Christmas presents. I know because, one year, in a pinch, when her Santa was a no-show, and I happened to be home(lucky me), she said, “Hey, you mind filling in as Santa! The kids would love it!” I thought, how can I get out of this? I couldn’t—and let’s face it, I didn’t need any padding to play the part!
Then there was the time when she was so excited to show off what she and her 2 boys had just done—a handprint chair railing all the way down her hallway… actually looked really good, surprisingly! She was that neighbor—cookies being made all the time, garden, friendly, loved being a stay at home mom—all the other moms just hated her!
They moved to Tennessee after 5 years as neighbors. Neighbors come, neighbors go; but, we stayed in touch.
Oh, back then, it was yearly Christmas cards, the kind with a family update. I laughed with the stories of the boys, who were close in age with our kids. I sent the same and left it at that.
Then we got the opportunity to visit their family in Tennessee—had a great weekend, laughing and making new, “non-neighbor” memories.
That’s the last time I had physically seen them, and that was 20 years ago!
We exchanged phone numbers and called a couple of times a year; then came cell phones; we called to catch up. Then came texting; then cell pics; then video; and voila! We were sharing our lives, without ever meeting again.
Then this friend heard that I had had a heart attack—she reached out to both me and my wife and let us know, across 600 miles, she was here for us.
And…she really was!
She checked on both of us during my 2 years of recovery—she was one of the few who knew, my wife needed a friend too!
My wife would say from time to time, “We haven’t even met but she cares about our family!”
Kind of like a “millenium pen-pal”…with all the latest media devices. Never meeting but never feeling like strangers!
Made me wonder if that’s how it is with God? He went to prepare a place for us, and He promised that He would come back to take us there!(John 14:1)
But He has never been out of reach and never felt far away, because His love reaches across the miles…right to where I live!
God is the “original pen-pal”!
He’s the one you always reach for: to tell the good, the bad and the ugly and He’s the one who always makes you feel loved!
And you know…someday, you really will see Him face to face, and…He will welcome you to His home, and…you will feel like you were always there!
The test of a true friendship…withstands the test of time AND distance!
So…last weekend, my wife and I got to “see” our friend for the first time….and it felt like I had walked across the street-20 years ago!
I got out of the car, turned around, and there was that same friend who greeted me years ago, with a “come see what we did” wave and heartfelt smile!
Felt so good to see my friend, “GrannyZann!”
You see, she’s the one who asked me to write this weekly column- I just wanted to say “thank you” neighbor!
Until next time,
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
You know some people just come and go in our lives but for all of us we will always be there...just how it should be:) there for each other in thick or thin. We had a blast seeing you and Bella and it felt as if no time at all had passed but we sure wished we could have fit another visit in for the week and look forward to seeing you both up here soon.
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