I think I've told the story about my young neighbors cat getting stuck in my basement for 3 days. Then shortly after that I locked my keys in my car and they helped me out.
I never really met them before this. I pass them going in and out of the house but never really chatted. We are both in the same situation, lack of funds. Scraping by. Fortunately my car is in much better shape. For the last few months every once in a while I get a knock on the door. My neighbor asking for a jump start. Their car has a new battery but something is draining it out if it sits for a long time. It's a klunker. With the cold weather it's just worse than usual. This may seem strange but I actually look forward to this break in my usual pattern. We stand around shivering in the cold chatting about all kinds of stuff. Today the lady of the house brought out a scarf for me to wear so my ears wouldn't freeze. I just now got back in the house. It took an especially long time to get it started. Apparently the coolant froze as well Yikes! They know there is something draining the battery so they disconnect it when they aren't driving but they forgot to do that last night.
They always feel like they are bothering me. They don't knock on my door loud enough to disturb me and then leave a note. They tell me they sometimes ask other people for a jump or a ride somewhere but they feel uncomfortable about putting people out. I have made it absolutely clear to them, with all sincerity that anytime day or night they need a jump start, a ride somewhere to just knock on my door (loudly in case I'm napping) or call me. I can give them anything but money. I am happy to do it. It is never an inconvenience. It's bad enough to be in a situation where you need help, if you are willing to help someone you should go out of your way to make sure they don't feel guilty about asking for it. The warm feeling you get from helping people is as good or better than the relief you feel when someone helps you out of a jam. I know this sounds all dorky and "Hallmark Card" but I can't help it. I think it's genetic.
I am a hopeless "romantic". I rave and fume about injustice but at the same time I get all mushy about helping people in a jam. This is probably why I'm involved in so many "free" projects. I find it hard to say no and then get spread too thin. Those con artists in parking lots stranded without gas money are excluded from this of course. I met the same person twice in the WAWA parking lot, a month apart who either always runs out of gas at that WAWA or was stuck here in Delaware for a month without gas money. Nice brand new SUV too. Is it only people from PA who run out of gas in DE or does it work the other way too?
We all jumped for joy when the car finally turned over and now I'm finally warming up. My hands were very cold but are starting to work again (I had no gloves). But my heart is warm.
p.s. During our chat today, I found out that my crabby mean neighbor with the opossum problem lost nearly all of her retirement fund in the recent economic collapse. $150,000... poof! Gone. I feel bad for her... I really do. I don't know where to put this in my world view. I believe in karma but I wouldn't wish that nightmare on anyone. I checked with my own parents but according to my dad they weren't really effected by this that much. They lost some but it wasn't devastating. Those conservative Mennonites. They moved their money out of any risky stuff back at the last crash. They won't be selling the house and moving to the retirement community as soon as they planned though. They would like to wait for the housing market to come back a little bit first.
-vern