Boston...

i think i must have one of the best neighbors a guy could have. his name is jeff. he is a single dad who lives next door with his son james. here are a couple of things about jeff:

-he grew up in the south
-he spent alot of time in the military
-he owns is own flooring business
-he loves movies and mac computers and guitars
-he is a champion BBQ griller

the last one is no joke. the dude has some of the baddest grills you'll ever see. he's got a huge smoker that is custom made to hitch to the back of his truck so he can travel all over the country with it. and he does travel all over the country with it. he takes his grilling recipes and techniques to competitions all over the place carving out entire weekends to cook and compete. you know what the best part is? the best part is that while he is practicing his new recipes at home...he generously shares them with me!!
You see jeff gives generously because in his words "thats how it's supposed to be." jeff cares about being a good neighbor. he has said to me many times "if you ever need anything....i'm here." he once threw a neighborhood party so all the neighbors could get to know each other and have fun together because in his words "thats what it is supposed to be like." he once helped raise over twelve thousand dollars so his friends son could receive cancer treatment because in his words "he's a good kid and that's what we do for each other." you see jeff gets things. he gets things i dont even get. like there is a better way to live in community than our normal ways of isolation. that instead of going home and locking the door we are supposed to be there for each other. that you should love your neighbor as yourself and the best way to show that kind of love is through your how you live and what you do. and when a neighbor is in need, you help.
i learn alot from jeff. i learn so much more than the latest grilling techniques..... or where the competition is this weekend. i learn how to be a good neighbor.


while you may be shocked a little by the title, on some level i am glad that boston is back, because that means baseball as a whole is back, and of course that the greatest team ever is back. although i think i am even more glad that spring is back. i love spring....warm days with no humidity....rebirth of nature....and baseball. what could be better?