Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Recently, my neighbor from my childhood home passed away at the age of 80. Though I have known him my entire life and our families are very close, I was a little surprised at the depth of the sadness I felt.

My family has lived next door to the Somples since 1979. We have witnessed each other's births, first days of school, proms, weddings, backyard barbecues, and more. We have borrowed sugar from each other, collected the mail while the other family was on vacation, and told stories while leaning over the fence. 

Roger Somple was a man of integrity and character- character in many senses of the word. Character in that he had strong, clear beliefs and told you about them. Character in his personality- his booming voice could be heard for blocks. Mr. Somple exemplified the work ethic of past generations. In his younger years he was a Marine who fought in the Korean War. In his later years, he spent hours working in his garden and taking care of the yard. Mr. Somple worked hard to provide for his family. 

He also gave us the "Mr. Somple Dog Test" in which you hold a puppy up, keeping your hands under his belly, and watch his reaction. If he squirms, he's too feisty for a pet. If he lays quietly in your hands, he's a good dog. This instinctual judgement of character- even in a pet- is a skill that I admire and try to emulate today.

When I was 5 I decided to leave my house and look for my sister and Mr. Somple's daughter, Cathy, who I thought were playing next door. As the story goes, I entered the Somple home all by myself and began to look around. Apparently I was gone long enough for my mom to call the cops and begin a search of the neighborhood. When I was found, my parents were incredibly relieved that I had been safe in the home of the Somples.

To me, Mr. Somple's passing may be the end of an era- one in which men are committed to their work and their families; one in which families sit at the dinner table and tell stories; and one in which you can call on your neighbor in time of need. My biggest hope, however, is that the era isn't actually ending but just regenerating and we will again live in a country in which your kids can play in the neighborhood without fear and your neighbor will send over some vegetables from his garden. 

Tutor's Tips: Spend time with your neighbors. It makes your home a nice place to be and your children will undoubtedly grow from those relationships.