‘I am trying to be a better neighbor’

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October 22, 2011

Kathi Nailling The Athens Review The Athens Daily Review Sat Oct 22, 2011, 06:00 AM CDT

Athens — When I moved to Cedar Creek Lake Jackie and I bought four acres in the country just west of Seven Points.

After living there for 10 years I decided I needed to get back to the city, Jackie moves me to Gun Barrel City. Not sure that's what I meant, but here I am.

I love it.

We bought our house for a very good price knowing we had to remodel all of it. It's only taken me 18 years to finally get the kitchen remodeled. Still in the process of that remodel.

Jackie and I both have always worked hard. Jackie worked in Dallas as a Quality Control Inspector at a machine shop and me here at these papers.

We always considered ourselves pretty social and friendly. I have lived and worked in the community for a very long time. I think I have a fair number of friends and know a lot of the business owners.

So you have got know how surprised I am when I am told I am a snub and just not neighborly.

I guess in all honestly some of that may be true, but not intentionally. I guess just living life too fast and not stopping to get to know people. Maybe it was just me that didn't stop. Jackie seemed to know more about our neighborhood than I do. Jackie also retired about nine years ago. He had time on his hands. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Recently, I was covering a chili-cook off at Tom Finley Park in Gun Barrel City. I knew some of my neighbors had cooked in past years, so I assumed maybe they were cooking again this year.

I headed to the location I saw them at in previous years. Sure enough, there they were. You couldn't help but notice them. This group of people you could tell just enjoyed life and had a great time every where they went.

I had met this group of people of couple of times. I wasn't even sure they would remember me. I was so wrong. I told my neighbor Jeff, I am with the Athens Review I'd like to take their pictures. That's when it started.

He told everyone I was the unfriendly neighbor. For some reason they all seemed to know who I was. Jeff said he knew the whole neighborhood within five minutes of moving in.

He has now lived there about 10 years and doesn't even know me, because I am the only unfriendly neighbor he has.

Okay, I would say my feelings are hurt, but he is right. At the cook-off there were some of my other neighbors, trying not to let it show that they agreed with Jeff.

This is an open apology to all my neighbors “I am not intentional unfriendly. I do go home and hibernate or have somewhere I have to be in the evenings. But I really have no excuse. I hope in the future I can be a better neighbor.”

It has made me stop to think about not taking the time to get to know someone. You may not know what or who you might be missing.

I can't even use the excuse we have nothing in common, because I really think we do.

Jeff invited me to a birthday party for his brother Cody that same night. I had been working most of the day, but trying out my new neighborly friendly thing, what would a few minutes hurt me. All I had to do was walk across the street.

Walking up Jeff's driveway he spots me. I knew what was coming. The elusive neighbor showed up. His father even said he had heard about me, but never met me. Again, I really think I am more friendly than what I appear to be.

One of my neighbors who both have their own health issues were there and happy to see me. I actually did know them, but not as well as I should.

Great group of people. Jackie would have loved hanging out with them. And they would have loved Jackie.

Writer John Burroughs said "I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."

I am trying to be a better neighbor.

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