A little over a week ago, our neighbors Sonya and Andrew invited our family over to their house for some Christmas sugar cookie decorating.
This is one of their family traditions, and as simple as it sounds, I was so grateful to be a part of it this year. We had fun. We bonded. Especially my kids—Nora, Ez, and Meisha (Michaelyn and Maurya were off being more grownup in far flung places). The decorated cookies might not win any awards, but they sure are sweet.
I love these neighbors. They are into sharing. While they were building their home next to ours, we shared tools with them, which required no effort or thought on our part. Meanwhile, Sonya’s (and sometimes Andrew’s) good homemade food arrived on plates and in bowls in a steady stream as evidence of their gratitude. Emphasis on homemade. Homemade requires effort. And thought. (Maybe Sonya will share her granola recipe and Christmas sugar cookie recipe, and Andrew his cinnamon roll recipe…they are all divine). We shared sand with each other when we mixed the concrete to edge our yards, and peat moss when we seeded our lawns. Sonya has offered to teach Meisha voice lessons in exchange for my giving her little girl art lessons. We are communal neighbors. Sonya and Andrew’s communal-ness extends beyond us and across and down the street to our other neighbors too. They are a lovely connection.
