Moving from one home to another comes with both happiness and sadness. We are most likely happy and excited about settling into our new home, meeting our new neighbors and getting familiar with our new 'hood.' But moving, whether 15 miles or 1500 miles, also comes with some sadness and loss. We temporarily lose our sense of place, and face the possibility of losing friends and neighbors.
After four weeks, we are still settling into our new home. Our new neighbors have stopped by to say hello, invite us to dinner, and invite us to join a women's book club and a men's breakfast club. These kind gestures have made us feel very welcome and 'at home' in our new place. We love it here.
We also loved our previous friends and neighbors! The topic for this blog came to me when I realized I had not yet contacted our former neighbors to send an update on our move. And so, I just wrote an e-mail to send that update and also ask for what's new on Bryant Avenue.
I encourage anyone moving (or otherwise!) to keep in touch with those old friends and neighbors. Don't wait for someone else to make the first move. Likewise, don't be shy about meeting new neighbors. We are fortunate that our new neighbors have stopped to say hello, but that is not always the case. You may also be that neighbor who needs to welcome someone new to your 'hood!'
I got the title for this blog entry from an old song: "Make New Friends, but Keep the Old" Here are the lyrics that I found online…
Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.
A circle is round, it has no end. That's how long, I will be your friend.
A fire burns bright, it warms the heart. We've been friends, from the very start.
You have one hand, I have the other. Put them together, we have each other.Silver is precious, gold is too. I am precious, and so are you.
You help me, and I'll help you, and together we will see it through.
The sky is blue, the Earth is green; I can help to keep it clean.
Across the land, across the sea; Friends forever, we will always be.
Let's keep in touch!
