I think I understand why there's a welcome party

We watched that show first-run.

It is good to hear that your first house experience gives you pleasant memories. They have lost a lot of things in this day and age and it saddens me. I try to make sure and share as much as I can with my grandchildren and hope they try to be good people. My oldest granddaughter shops with me a lot and I tend to help people if it looks like they need it. Especially elderly people. My granddaughter asked me why I talk to strangers and I had to explain the nuances of that to her and that if it looks like someone is confused or undecided about something and you have some knowledge and can help then don't be afraid to offer. Or just saying hello, compliment someone on their outfit, whatever. I totally practice what I preach and people love it. Human kindness, the golden rule.....you know. People are so busy and don't really talk or interact like we used to and I do my best to not neglect the little gestures of kindness. 

Today, while doing some errands outside of the house, I think I made a woman's day (by accident).  I was at the grocery store, just walked in and this woman and one of the store workers were walking,  The isle was big, but there was someone blocking half, and just out of habit (being raised in the south with a southern mama) I moved over to let her and this young man by.  She let out the biggest smile and wished me a good day.   I guess people also don't have many manners and it made her feel really good that someone out there still had manners.  It also made me feel good that I was, despite moving out west, still a southerner at heart. 

I have only, to my knowledge, had one neighbor, in the early 2000 to actually come to our home and introduce themselves.  Things have certainly changed, and I would have loved to have had a welcome wagon, and even feel like I was part of a neighborhood.  When I lived in a small town, of around 300 people, I did (somewhat) feel that way, but we moved into the house that my grandparents use to live in and people already knew us.  I never had the chance to experience something like that. Every so often I watch a movie from the late 80s about a real life haunting in Pennsylvania (one that I saw on TV ages ago) in the 70s and early 80s, and the neighbors brought brownies over. 

I have never had a welcome party in my 20yrs of renting.  I'm thankful for that becuese if a group of strangers showed at my door I would just watch and be ready to call the cops. 

That's why I love this game...it's in a different time frame...that doesn't exist.  🙂

I think if people live long enough in one area, they get to know each other eventually. Then also, it may happen that your neighbors are not nosy enough to come see you under the guise of welcome wagon. I have some neighbors who know everything about everybody because they they love to chat, meeting them by chance by the elevator is no reason to not ask you to spill the beans on everything going on in your life. 😁😂

I feel ya. You performed a common courtesy without much thought and that is awesome and it really can mean a lot more than people think. I went to the store yesterday and my timing was totally off and it started pouring rain. So hard that the roof was thrumming and you couldn't see the cars parked in the lot while it was that hard. It finally lessoned but was still raining too hard to really run to the car with groceries. So I told people I'd watch their basket and they could run and get their car and pull in front. So they did and I'd run out and help them throw stuff in and bring the basket back. I did that until I could talk myself into running to my own car lol. It was mad fun really and I was gonna get wet no matter what I did so why not help some folks out. I truly enjoy these moments when the spirit of community overtakes everyone. :)  

I think this may very well be our Prime Directive --- to help spread the random acts of kindness, even if it's just to smile at someone walking in the mall. I used to just smile at a person walking toward me. Many perked up and smiled back. You just never know when or how much another person needs that smile.

Exactly!!