Puzzled

I try hard not to be a bad neighbor. I’m tidy, I don’t let my dog bark and I never throw rowdy parties. But being a good neighbor is something else entirely. There are 63 homes in my little subdivision, and I know about a third of the families that live in them. I smile and wave at everyone, but if they don’t attend my church, shop at my grocer, or have kids in music lessons I’ll never know their names. At an HOA meeting five summers ago I met a woman who lived a few doors down. She was an avid quilter who’d earned several state fair ribbons. I looked forward to seeing her again, to comparing work and sharing tips. But it never happened. She passed away very soon after that. Her kids emptied her house and sold it. I don’t know who lives there now. See what I mean? I wish I was a better neighbor.