Bill at Dying Man’s Daily Journal wrote about his neighbors yesterday and his last paragraph jumped out at me:
I admit we were very fortunate to move into a neighbor hood full of such nice and wonderful people. But I think if people really stop and look around they will see their own neighbor hoods are not all that much different, full of wonderful people. It is a real shame we have somehow become so busy and so private in our lives we are missing out on so much. Knowing and sharing with the wonderful people around us. Really how much effort does it take to just chat and get to know a neighbor. (link)
Bill lives in Canada, so this isn’t a post about Pasadena, but about neighbors and about what is possible. I think Bill is right–that all of our neighborhoods are full of wonderful people. I have a dream for Pasadena: that it will become even more the kind of place where people naturally get to know each other–across age lines and background lines and area of interest lines and color lines. I want it to become even more the kind of place where being part of the community is in the air–it’s not just a place to live or shop, it’s a place to sit and talk and hang out and help and enjoy and appreciate everyday life together.
I feel honored that you would chose to quote something I have written. I think your message in the post is such a beautiful, wonderful one.
The world is full of such wonderful people, shear numbers and location makes it impossible for us to get to know the majority. But with so little effort we can get to know many more than we do now. Those right in our own neighborhoods. Really, it would take so little effort to get to know them. Sadly, and to our personal loss we so often don’t have or don’t take the time to get to know them.
I love your dream for your city, I pray it comes about as you are hoping.
Bill
I’m so behind in reading Bill’s posts (as I am at reading several blogs). Must get caught up there. Because, truly, if one can’t spare the time to read a DYING man’s journal, then I think one’s priorities have become jumbled (a la workload). And what kind of blogging community member would I be if I didn’t take the time to read words as precious as his are right now? Which, of course, is exactly what this post is about. Sounds to me like you wish Pasadena was a little more like the blogosphere, and I mean that sincerely. I wish Davis was, too.
Thank you for this.
A while back, a new couple moved in the house across the street from me. Over the months, I watched them make improvements…a nice new fence, pretty landscaping, the installation of a lamppost. But I never took the time to knock on the door and say hi. Last Sunday, my refrigerator stopped working…in desperation, I went over and asked if I could put some food in their fridge. So that’s how I finally met Mandy, who was more than happy to take in my fridge contents and who offered me a beer. I’m trying not to kick myself too hard for not reaching out before.
If more people like you thought that way, Pasadena would be perfect.
I try my very best to get to know my neighbors since I live in an apartment complex. Some are very thoughtful and friendly while others just don’t want to be approached by me. That’s how the world is, I guess.
Pasadena is such a place truly rich in diversity and it would be even better if we all took time to get to know each others’ similarities and differences.
I think I’m lucky because since I manage our apartment complex I really do know and have a relationship (mostly good) with everyone in my building and truly love and appreciate my “neighbors.” People come by at night just to say hello and whenever anyone leaves town for a couple of days they bring by food that would have spoiled. It’s a true blessing to have this community.
[...] I didn’t recognized his blog address right off the bat–I just started reading his blog thanks to a referral from my home grrl at Eye Level Pasadena. [...]