Trego's Mountain Ear

Some years ago, we were pleased to make the acquaintance of a man willing to take the coat off of his back and give it to an injured pig. I’ve been reminded again of the quality of our neighbors.

I recently made a rather foolish mistake with a laptop, and came away from it with reminders of two realities. The first is that for all the evil in the world and for all the tragedy, there are some really good people too. The second is that there are people I think the world of that I cannot recognize.

I’ve been faceblind for a decade or so now, and I’ve become accustomed to not recognizing my loved ones. It doesn’t get easier, exactly, but one acclimatizes. The obvious reality then, is that the neighbors I think highly of and seldom see, I also do not recognize. This isn’t new- but I’ve been newly reminded how much I would like to be able to recognize those people.

Mel and Griz, whom you may remember from a fire several years ago, or for just being all around wonderful people, saved me the consequences of leaving a school board meeting with a computer on the roof of my car. The morning after I’d done it, they were at my door to return it, only slightly worse for wear.

A matter of luck, sure, that it didn’t break badly. But far better luck, I think, that we have people like Mel and Griz in our community. It’s easy to read the blotter, to get caught up in worry about thieves, poor drivers, and strangers joining our community. Perhaps easier for me, to whom everyone always appears a stranger. But I have often been reliant upon the kindness of strangers, and I have found we have many kind strangers in our community. Although, of course, some of them are people I know.

To Mel and Griz: My thanks. I am sorry I did not recognize you. I know that it is very unpleasant to be greeted as a stranger. Know that when you told me who you were, it seemed suddenly obvious that of course it was, and how could it be anyone else? We are fortunate to have the two of you in our community, and though my greeting did not reflect it, I think the world of you both.