That kind of neighbor

When Kevin and I were first married we bought a house in Noblesville and moved next door to Gwen, a true neighbor and eventually a dear friend.

Gwen was widowed as a young mother with 3 small children. She raised them and supported them on her own and at the age of 86 still lives in the same home.

Gwen is the kind of neighbor that will let you in your house to go the bathroom because you can't get your key to unlock your door even though she barely knows you (what? this hasn't happened to you?),

the kind that will rush over to help you shut off the water gushing from under your sink and flooding your kitchen when your husband is gone, and then stick around to help you mop up the mess,

the kind that will hold a key to your house in case you lock yourself out again,

the kind that will sit and look at your wedding pictures that just arrived in the mail even though she barely knows you (although she knows you better now since the whole bathroom loaning incident),

the kind that will loan you a cup of sugar while filling you in on the neighborhood gossip (who knew Bev was working more hours at LoBill?)

the kind that watches your house and knows everything you are doing without being creepy,

the kind that figures out you are pregnant before you have told anyone else,

the kind that knows you are in labor in the middle of the night because you turned on every light in the house and she happened to be up,

the kind that can tell you you were a ball of nerves when she first met you but that you are much better now and not seem at all offensive (mainly because she is right),

the kind that will watch your newborn so you can get a haircut,

the kind that will sit outside with you on the swing oohing and aahing over your baby,

the kind that will write you letters when you move away filled with random details about the new neighbors and the state of your former yard,

the kind that always remembers to send cards for every birthday and anniversary,

the kind that will make you and your kids lunch when you come back to visit and take you to the park with a carousel just so your kids have a good time.

Everyone should have a neighbor and a friend like Gwen at least once in their life.