| On a Sunday morning in November the snow started | | | | resting on my couch, I had time to reflect, and was |
| falling in my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan. With | | | | filled with a strong feeling of nostalgia. I was musing |
| our close proximity to Lake Michigan, we are also the | | | | about how years ago neighbors used to always |
| beneficiaries of lake effect snow, which occurs when | | | | watch out for each other, bring casseroles when |
| arctic air forms over the Great Lakes, picking up heat | | | | someone was sick, and take turns watching each |
| and moisture and depositing a "bonus" amount of | | | | other's children. |
| snow over our region. | | | | And then I realized that those days aren't gone. There |
| Within two days Lake Michigan graced us with a | | | | are still people helping out their neighbors, like my |
| record-breaking total of 24 inches of the white | | | | Shoveling Angels did. However, sometimes now our |
| powdery stuff. My 11-year-old son had gone out early | | | | "neighbors" and friends are those we have met on the |
| that morning to shovel, but by nightfall there was no | | | | Internet, and there is some wonderful, miraculous help |
| sign that any dent had ever been made in the snow. | | | | being given via this online world. The neighborhoods |
| With my weak back, and my older daughter sick with | | | | may have changed, but people's hearts have not. We |
| a cold, I decided that any more snow removal efforts | | | | have just created a neighborhood unrestricted by |
| could wait until morning. We were just finishing dinner | | | | sidewalks and street signs. |
| when my son Carman heard a noise outside and | | | | Our friends and "neighbors" live in all different parts of |
| opened the door to investigate. There at the bottom of | | | | this country and the world, and they do what neighbors |
| our steps, in the freezing cold, was our neighbor from | | | | have always done. Our inboxes have become our |
| across the street just finishing up from shoveling our | | | | backyard fence, and we share our lives and laughter |
| driveway, sidewalk and porch. I was barely done with | | | | with each other, send our prayers, offer |
| my profuse thank you's to this young father when | | | | encouragement, and provide a virtual shoulder to lean |
| another neighbor walked over and began shoveling | | | | on when needed. I've learned that love and friendship |
| snow out from behind my car. | | | | can come across a computer cable just as easily as |
| It's rare that I do any baking, but coincidentally this day I | | | | across a shaded street. I am blessed and thankful for |
| had just happened to bake a batch of chocolate chip | | | | all my neighbors - the ones who live next door to me, |
| cookies. I quickly sent my son out with two bags full of | | | | and the ones online who live next door in my heart. |
| cookies for my kindhearted neighbors. Later, while | | | | |