We live in a rural community, and certain things are taken for granted. One is that there are not very many neighbors, and another is that the neighbors that we do have look to each other for help.

There are two homes close to ours. Next door is Ms. Martha. She is an elderly lady who has never married. She uses a walker to get around. Next to her is her brother, Mr. Paul, and his wife, Ms. Annie. Mr. Paul broke his hip several months ago.

Our family has sort of ‘adopted; them as another set of grandparents. My brother and I spend our summers cutting their grass. Our brother tries to pick up the limbs that are in the way. In the fall we picked up pecans in Ms. Martha’s yard. As a reward she made us a pecan pie.

It is not unusual for them to call on us to do things for them like change a light bulb or work on the water well when it goes out. Sometimes we bring them their mail or newspaper.

One night Ms. Annie called in the middle of the night. Mr. Paul had fallen and she could not get him back in his bed. So Dad got dressed and went over there to help them.

We do these things because be love them, not because we expect to be paid or anything. The fact that they know we are here if they need us gives us (and them) a good feeling. They are our neighbors, and neighbors take care of each other!