I took down my holiday-season decorations today, but I’m going to continue trying to keep this cute little poinsettia alive.
Every year since I moved into my house, one of my neighbors (the same person every year) has gifted me a poinsettia plant in the days leading up to Christmas. I think it is so thoughtful and sweet for my neighbor to go out of her way to extend this kind gesture year after year.
I don’t take it for granted, but it has become a part of the holiday season that I look forward to each year. Not only do I get to enjoy seeing the poinsettia in my home, but it also gives me a chance to talk to my neighbor and verbally share my appreciation for her.
When I moved onto this block in 2008, I was only 23 years old and living alone. I was able to feel comfortable and safe, in large part, because I knew my neighbors were looking out for me. It means a lot to me that I can count on my neighbors to help me when needed.
I bought my house in October and that first winter when it snowed, I was not prepared. No shovel, no snow melt or salt. I didn’t even own an ice scraper because I didn’t have a car. My next door neighbor took care of shoveling my sidewalk without hesitation. And shoveled for me so many times after that.
A few years ago I sliced my thumb using a mandoline, when I was preparing for my great-grandmother’s 90th birthday party, which I was hosting in a mere couple hours in a location an hour away. I was home alone, I was bleeding, and I was panicking. I lost my cool and knew I needed help. I opened my front door hoping to see my next door neighbor and sure enough he was out there. Right away, he asked if I was ok, knowing I wasn’t because I was “scream crying”, maybe whaling? It was dramatic. I showed him my bleeding thumb and explained the situation through sobs. He handled me like a pro. He bandaged me up and gave me the Dad advice I needed, “Stop that crying because that isn’t going to help anything. Calm down and keep it moving. You’re fine.” I made it to the party without a problem and everything turned out great – even if I had to hide my bandaged thumb in every photo – thanks to the kindness of my neighbor.
I’m really going to miss that part of living here. It’s almost like a safety net or a security blanket. As long as I live on this block, I am never alone.
That surely won’t be the case at our new house in Ulysses. Unless we have people visiting us, we’ll be alone on our 100 acres. There are a few hunting camps scattered on the edges of 2 sides of the property, but they are not full-time residences. It seems like they are vacation mountain cabins or just simple structures used only during hunting season. I look forward to meeting our new “neighbors!”
I’m going to try to keep this poinsettia alive as long as I can this year. It’s going to be the last one that I get. And even though that sounds sad and might feel a little sad, I couldn’t be more excited about what the future will bring. Maybe I’ll continue the holiday tradition by paying it forward and giving my new neighbors poinsettia plants next year.
