This morning I took the usual stroll around my neighborhood. As I walked, I thought about the changes this blue collar neighborhood of 230 duplex units had experienced during the nearly 31 years I have lived here. For many of the residents who had moved in when these homes were built in 1979, this would be their "starter home" They would endure life here surrounded by struggling tradesmen and service workers until they could afford that dream house. My home was only 2 years old when I bought it from the original owner. He had made a killing in the emerging Industrial Cleaning business and he and his wife were moving to a Resort Area to open a Real Estate Management service. It would provide cleaning, maintenance, and security services to wealthy people who owned vacation homes that they rarely visited. As far as I know, he did quite well at that and likely bought his own "vacation" home where he lived year round. His story was not unique in the 1980's and 1990's. And I am sure it was repeated many times by former residents of my neighborhood.
Part of me was sad that I had not been able to capture that same dream. But part of me was happy I did not go for it. I raised three hard-working children here. They all went to college and two of them are now married with children of their own. Thanks to a low mortgage and a professional salary, my wife was able to stay home with the kids when they needed her most. She returned to her service job as a teacher assistant when our youngest child started school. Even then it was only part time until he was old enough to be home alone. We are both retired now and our home is an empty nest. Although it is small by "dream home" standards, the 1200 square feet of living space it provides now seems too much for just the two of us. Some of our friends sold their large colonials and moved to these new 55+ communities in our area. My wife and I considered that too but when we looked at the hidden value this home now holds for us, we decided to stay here until we are both too decrepit or too poor to take care of it.
Part of the hidden value we have here are the neighbors on our street. We don't get into each others business as I've seen in some of the 55+ communities. There are no restrictions on how we landscape, or what color our vinyl siding must be. We can park our cars in our driveway or on the street as long as they don't block mail delivery. Each home has its own rural-type mailbox at the end of the driveway. If you park too close to it the mailman will not deliver the mail. Some families have four cars and only three parking spaces but we work it out. No rules or police enforcement...we just work it out among ourselves. My next door neighbor has a rusty old pick-up truck with a snow plow parked in his driveway year round. It is a bit unsightly but I know from past years that when that big snowfall hits us, he will plow my drive way and clear our street parking spaces without my asking. My other neighbor has a snow blower. I don't. Two years ago when we had a snow storm, he plowed the sidewalk for our whole block. His reason? "I just got it and wanted to give it a workout." He continued to give it the same workout the rest of that season and last year too.
The other hidden value here lies in the newest neighbors who are chasing the American Dream. Just on my block we have an Egyptian family, a Korean family, an Indian family, and an Afro-American Family. We all get along but we do not get in each others business. There is a ball field and walking trail adjacent to our neighborhood. On any Summer Sunday there is a Cricket game on the field. In
Fall the Regional Rugby match is held there, Most other times there is either a youth Soccer game or Legion Baseball game going on. If you notice the hidden value here you we realize that while we are a diverse community, we are not a divisive community.
Picked from the knowledge artifacts found in the people, places, things, and events of the last 100 years. Submit your email address to get latest Picks...
Pick 31 - My Word
He needed a hand up and I happened to be the only one willing to provide it. I am not wealthy and there were times in my life when I was the one needing the hand up. But on this day I had the amount of money in my wallet that he needed and on this day I did not need it. So I explained the terms. This was not a hand out. I expected him to pay me back on the day I needed that money to be back in my wallet. He agreed and we shook hands on our agreement. I did not expect him to sign a note or give me any collateral. I am not a Pawn Broker or a Loan Shark. I just wanted his word and handshake that he would pay me back and that was enough.
On the agreed payback day, he met me at the agreed place and handed me the money. He wanted to add interest to the amount but, I assured him I did not expect that. Instead, I suggested he pay that forward. Give it to charity or use it to give someone else a hand up when the opportunity came along. I do not know if he did so or not. But I do know that I can trust him to keep his word.
That was not the case for some other people that I had helped this way. Despite the sincere handshake and promises, I received only excuses and delays. That would not have bothered me if the offending person really did have a run of bad luck and was willing but unable to pay me back. That was not the case. This person clearly decided to take advantage of me. His gain came at my loss. But from many years of experience with these things I know that my loss will be covered in some other way. It always seems to work out that way. I cannot say the same for the person who took advantage of me. The time will come when he will need a hand up again. But this time his word will have no value and his open hand will be seen as no better than a pickpocket. That is the hidden value in a sincere person's word and handshake. I know that same hand will be there for me if I need a hand up.
On the agreed payback day, he met me at the agreed place and handed me the money. He wanted to add interest to the amount but, I assured him I did not expect that. Instead, I suggested he pay that forward. Give it to charity or use it to give someone else a hand up when the opportunity came along. I do not know if he did so or not. But I do know that I can trust him to keep his word.
That was not the case for some other people that I had helped this way. Despite the sincere handshake and promises, I received only excuses and delays. That would not have bothered me if the offending person really did have a run of bad luck and was willing but unable to pay me back. That was not the case. This person clearly decided to take advantage of me. His gain came at my loss. But from many years of experience with these things I know that my loss will be covered in some other way. It always seems to work out that way. I cannot say the same for the person who took advantage of me. The time will come when he will need a hand up again. But this time his word will have no value and his open hand will be seen as no better than a pickpocket. That is the hidden value in a sincere person's word and handshake. I know that same hand will be there for me if I need a hand up.
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Pick 30 - Heat Wave
For the past few days it has been in the 90's here in the North East. Many folks here consider that a heat wave and long for cooler weather. But I like to think there is hidden value in this heat wave. It is the beginning of August. In this part of the country we have grown up with the perception that it is always too warm and humid in August. So we usually complain and look forward to the cooler weather that Fall will soon bring us. However, what if we were to convince ourselves that it is not August but February--usually the coldest month in the North East. But we have been fortunate enough to afford a two-week stay at a luxury hotel on a Florida beach. Now we would begin to feel sorry for our friends and relatives stuck back in the cold North East. The temperature has not changed but our mental attitude has. Attitude is the hidden value lurking in our own mind and under our control alone.
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Pick 29 - Pennies From Heaven
Today as I stooped down to pick up the Morning Newspaper in our driveway I noticed a shiny new penny about a foot from the paper. Its newly minted glow so contrasted the black driveway that I could hardly miss it. I went to pick it up but hesitated when I recalled what a dear friend had told my wife and me about such pennies.
We were discussing the "pennies from heaven" stories that appear in the Dear Abby column from time to time. Most of the spotters of these pennies claim that finding such a coin had profound significance for them because the penny had some feature that connected it to a deceased loved one. Sometimes the mint year matched the birth date of the loved one. In other cases, the penny may have been a collectable that matched one in the coin collection of the deceased but the circumstances under which it was found may have been extraordinary--like it was in the bottom of a vase bought at a yard sale hundreds of miles from where the deceased loved one last lived. Whatever the significance, the penny was thought to be a sign from the deceased loved one--usually a positive sign. So the name "pennies from heaven" was coined into the English language.
In our discussion this dear friend noted that in her family, which was rooted in Eastern European traditions, when one spots a single coin on the ground it should not be picked up before determining if it is lying heads up or heads down. If it was lying heads down you'd best let it be because it is the purveyor of bad luck. The shiny penny I found was thankfully heads up. But the hidden value was not in the coin. It was in the fact that within the hour, my wife and I would be heading to the funeral of that dear friend. She had passed away a just few days earlier.
We were discussing the "pennies from heaven" stories that appear in the Dear Abby column from time to time. Most of the spotters of these pennies claim that finding such a coin had profound significance for them because the penny had some feature that connected it to a deceased loved one. Sometimes the mint year matched the birth date of the loved one. In other cases, the penny may have been a collectable that matched one in the coin collection of the deceased but the circumstances under which it was found may have been extraordinary--like it was in the bottom of a vase bought at a yard sale hundreds of miles from where the deceased loved one last lived. Whatever the significance, the penny was thought to be a sign from the deceased loved one--usually a positive sign. So the name "pennies from heaven" was coined into the English language.
In our discussion this dear friend noted that in her family, which was rooted in Eastern European traditions, when one spots a single coin on the ground it should not be picked up before determining if it is lying heads up or heads down. If it was lying heads down you'd best let it be because it is the purveyor of bad luck. The shiny penny I found was thankfully heads up. But the hidden value was not in the coin. It was in the fact that within the hour, my wife and I would be heading to the funeral of that dear friend. She had passed away a just few days earlier.
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