When I was a little girl, I remember walking door to door to show my neighbors my skinned knee from a bike accident. You may have called me a “Boo Boo Queen.” I lived in Mississippi in the 70’s. We knew our neighbors. They all had kids around our ages. We played outside, ran through the water of the creek, chased fireflies, and rode our bikes from house to house putting on plays. Those were the days, or do they still exist?
These last few weeks I’ve been the ultimate Boo-Boo Queen following a major surgery, a hysterectomy. Recovery has been slower than I was led to believe, not because of anything more serious than basic body plumbing. It amazes me how all of that digestive stuff, gut health is so important to healing.
This recovery, however, has had some bright spots in it as I take a daily walk on my street. I feel closer than ever to my neighbors. I have come to understand that you have to let people help you. I know there will be a time when I will need to return the favor, so when next door Theresa asked if she could do anything, I sent her to the vet to pick up Charlie’s meds. Of course, when she returned, we got in a nice visit.
Yesterday I was walking and spotted a number of penny nails on the road. Perhaps some working crew had dropped them. I knew I couldn’t bend over for any length of time and pick them up, so I texted Jen and asked for one of her boys to come out with a ziplock bag. A simple act of citizenship turned into a math lesson for 9 year old James, a zine lesson for 5 year old Jerry (we wrote a story together), and an inspiring conversation with their young parents. God bless them. They are here from Indiana helping Jen’s mother cope with her father’s illness. Before my surgery, I took the three boys to a splash pad for some summer fun. After, they showed up at my door with fresh picked cucumber and a cake James made “by himself.”
With another cucumber from the neighbor’s garden, my husband suggested a watermelon and cucumber salad with dinner. I haven’t been eating much, but this idea made my mouth water. I texted another neighbor, Ric, to see if he had some basil and mint in his wife’s garden. In the late afternoon, I took another walk (figuring out that two walks a day are better than one for my recovery) and stopped at Ric’s. I came home with basil, mint, parsley, and some left over tabouli that another neighbor had made for Ric.
The list could go on. I am so blessed to live near friendly people who care about me, watch over me, and feed me. Do you have kind neighbors that sustain you?
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret,
Reading your slice makes me so happy. You spotlight so many moments of kindness! So happy you are being well taken care of. I also appreciate how you openly state your surgery. I grew up where you did not talk about hysterectomies and I can remember being so worried when a friend’s mom was in the hospital but no one would say why. So then, without info, my mind wondered to worst case scenario. Keep walking and asking those kind neighbors for help!!
Also, I got a lovely blue mailer yesterday!! I love my new symbolic bracelet and am feeling hopeful for an Alzheimer’s cure soon.
I’m so happy the bracelet arrived safely. I hope it fits. I hesitated a second before using the word hysterectomy. What an awful word really. But truth is better than having everyone wonder what tragedy I may have endured. Good news is pathology was clear. I just have to recover. I am truly blessed in so many ways.
Such great news, Margaret!! I look forward to celebrating with you come November at NCTE!!
So sorry to hear about your hysterectomy Margaret. Sending you continued healing ❤️🩹 vibes, thoughts and hugs. What generous and caring neighbors you have, that must help the healing too. My childhood days were full of carefree outdoor play and neighborhood explores too, thanks for this warm-hugging post!
This is a modern “Stone Soup” story and a great snapshot of your neighborhood.
I, too, am glad you used the word hysterectomy. By naming things, they become less scary and mysterious.
Margaret, you’ve been on my mind with your surgery and healing. I’m ever so grateful for neighbors and friends who care for us when we are recovering. That salad looks amazing. I’m so glad you are on the road to better wellness and that you are able to get out in nature and enjoy the scenery outdoors. I’ve been through that surgery in two phases – part one and part two, and it’s never easy.
Thanks Kim. I’m using your postcards as bookmarks reminding me that I will heal and travel again.
What a beautiful community. We moved about a year and a half ago to a neighborhood that I believe would be similar. Nothing better. So glad you are surrounded by such beautiful people.
I have a very hard time accepting help, so I appreciate your piece as a reminder that this is how we forge real connections between people. I especially love how you connect with those young boys. James probably felt like such a good citizen, collecting those nails. Thank you! And heal well.
What a wonderful neighborhood you live in! It reminds me of the neighborhoods I grew up in. Best wishes for a smooth recovery from your surgery.
Ah, Margaret, I’m so glad you are experiencing good recovery with love and support of neighbors and friends. Wonderful stories and photos in your post today. I thought maybe you were going to end with a poem about one of these places you call home because of our Ethical ELA prompt today. I’m going over now to write one.
Margaret, an incredible sense of peace emanates from your story. Perhaps it’s from the healing – not just of body (my prayers for your ongoing recuperation) but of spirit and of community. I am reminded of “the old days” my grandparents spoke of with such longing, when people “took turns tending to each other” in times of sickness. Good fences do not make good neighbors – sorry, Robert Frost. For true mending, open hearts makes make good neighbors.