Those were the days when neighbors took pride in knowing each other by first and last names

Kids, pets included.

O, those were the days…

Those were the days when neighbors exchanged tomatoes, potatoes, and onions

Milk included.

O, those were the days…

Those were the days when neighbors drove their cars, trucks, and trolleys at a snail’s pace,

braking for kids playing hopscotch,

stopping for working men fixing street lights.

O, those were the days…

Those were the days when neighbors gathered together to wish a fellow neighbor Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary

Hanukkah, Diwali included.

O, those were the days…

Those were the days when neighbors tutored kids needing help with homework

Mathematical concepts included.

O, those were the days…

Those were the days when neighbors celebrated events together as a community

Festivals included.

O, those were the days…

Those were the days when neighbors came to the aid of an ailing sick

Parents, Grandparents, Kids included.

O, those were the days…

But here we are today, now, this minute.

Why lament when I know we can change everything. Together, we can recreate the past.

All I need is one person to agree and promise to follow my lead.

I will go out now and welcome my new neighbor to the neighborhood. I know I can count on you to say hello to your neighbor.

Let’s make this world a better place to live, one neighbor, one neighborhood at a time.