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My kids and I love watching the Children's TV show, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. He's

all about being kind and connecting with neighbors. Each episode is like a mini celebration of

the awesomeness that is created from being tight with your neighbors. Sometimes I wish

I lived in the land of make-believe. Things just seem less complicated there. And I say

this because I don't know my neighbors at all. Don't judge me, but I've lived in my current

house for almost seven years. And I couldn't tell you the first names of the people who live

near me. Or honestly, what types of cars they drive. I just haven't paid close enough attention,

and the pandemic only deepened my no need to get to know them anyway mindset. But as a kid,

I knew almost all of my neighbors. We exchanged Christmas gifts, invited each other to parties,

which were the best because you could just walk over. One time after school, when I was locked

out of the house, I went to a neighbor who not only let me use her phone, but she even drove

me to my mom's work so I could get a key. It felt really good to know that if I ever needed

anything, our neighbors were there. There was a sense of safety and comfort that came with knowing

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