Note , hey lovely people ,last day when i read Jenny's Procrastinating Donkey post with title Neighbors i felt like i should share my memories belong to this topic.
I think just like first love we never forget our very first neighbors . As i mentioned many times in my previous posts that i spent my childhood and early youth in village . There were hardly less than forty houses and most of them were relatives.
If i remember correctly most of the houses had no main gate. Walls of yards were not higher than 7 to 10 feet probably. Visiting each other at any time and spending most of the free time together was common.In short people trusted each other like one family members.
We changed two neighborhood before reaching to our own home. After spending few months in Nana's (maternal grandpa) house we shifted to my aunt's house which was newly made but was empty and two of it's rooms were used as store for hay.
That was big house in the middle of the village and surrounded with neighbors . My first memories of neighbors starts from those 3 houses. On right side lived an old couple with their only daughter. It was second marriage of lady and she was almost 15 years older than husband . Her young married children from ex marriage visited her once in year.
The daughter from second marriage was tomboyish and my age so we became good friends .Wandering on hills with bowed in hands and a basket we would collect sticks for clay stove and sing songs . She was happy curious kid with no girlish habit . She was my first friend in consciousness. Unfortunately she later became reason for her parents death (other time story).
On left was lady with bit unfriendly habits. She had five or six children and as far i know she was never on good terms with anyone around. People around her blame for theft often .She was unhappy specially with me because her mother in law would visit us and eat with us . I too would visit her secretly in absence of her daughter in law and would give her meal and fill her water pot.
Once during rainstorm we heard huge noise .The roof of one of the room fell down .It was frightening sight . I saw it first and told my mom who shoutingly informed others. The quarrelsome lady was not present in the house. Men hurriedly but carefully dug the Huge pile of wood and clay and discovered the old lady and her grandson .
I can never forget when i saw the old lady who was not breathing at the moment ,one of the man immediately pulled out mud filled in her throat and nose .She coughed and started to breath . Her grandson was hidden under the bed so he was not hurt except shivering with fear .Damage could have beyond if roof was made of cement and iron like now days mostly is done.
My friendship with old lady whom we called ma ghafooran lasted until she was alive.She died 2006 or 7.She sent me letter after my marriage the she missed me since i left and it meant to me alot!
On back of the house lived mom;s cousin who had huge family with thirteen children.They had farms and so many cattle . We would buy milk from them twice a day.Wall between our house was single and had hole of almost one feet long and 8 inches wide.We would exchange our dishes through that .It was common tradition to exchange or share meal with each others then. Girl i mentioned in post "Lotus in the Mud" belonged to that family. Special memory related to mom's cousin is she would spoil my name in worst way ,which was annoying than but now i know it was her love :)
We lived there for some years i think 2 or 3 and then we had to leave for some reason .Mom moved to one of her girlfriend's house.Which was on hilly part of house though not on top.That big house had almost 8 rooms . We lived in the middle one which was largest one.
We lived there for almost one year until our own was built. Unforgettable memory belonged to that house is that the younger sister of mom's friend who was not happy with our stay there ,once had arguments with mom and said something bad about us angrily . Mom's friend slapped her hard and said you can say anything to my own daughter but not this one because they are modest girl.
That was surprise behavior which i could never forget. She had special place in my heart and i visit her whenever i visit to my village.
When we moved to our own house which was on hilltop we had noone around. Hills nearby had foxes and wolves who visit sometimes and would pick up hens and goats. I remember few nights when we woke up with terrible noise of hens who were under wooden basket instead of coop in summers because it was hot.And a fox was trying to pull them out .in later years when electricity came and stone crushing machines were placed there ,wild animals moved to thickly bushy and less populated area though we could still hear them.
After sometime a family moved to our neighborhood from another village . It was young couple with two children.Husband was mason and in winters he had quite less chances to earn. So basically it was quite poor family.Mom would often help them by gifting her homegrown veggies or loaning little bit money from her tiny saving.
We were school going girls so we hardly took notice how decent and sweet that neighboring lady was .She would visit us often and mom and she would chat for long .What i noticed was that i never saw that amazing smile disappeared from her face. I liked her in my heart.
Once mom went for checkup Islamabad and could not return because she was hospitalized immediately. My father was out of the city too. We both sisters were alone at home. When mom did not return even in evening ,we got so worried . We never had lived alone before .Mom would always come back before evening if even she had to walk or travel alone and leaving all friends behind who accompanied her in journey.
I hardly knew how to cook .After evening prayer i started to calm my younger sister that it is okay we will be fine.We did not tell anyone ( my aunt or grandma who lived below in village) . Inside my heart i decided i will not sleep and will guard the house as three sides of our house had no neighbors.I placed ax and knife beside me .As teenage (15 i think ) i had weird fears in my mind.i was trying to figure out all possible ways to defend from any kind of possible attack.
It was last bit of light in the sky with few twinkling stars when i heard knock on door . I opened and found my neighboring lady standing there. She had something in her hands . When i let her inside .She said smilingly i know that masi (aunt) is not home and you know how to cook so i brought daal chawal ( rice with re lentil ) .
It was so reliving to see her at that moment .That night she and her daughter stayed with us.Even i could sleep peacefully . It was sweet of her to keep check on mom who let her knew that she was going to the city so she should check on girls if they are in need of any help.
It was first night of our life without mom. That lady still lives there . Two of her children are married now . She has some health issues but i still find that smile on her face which always fascinates me :)
It's been 30 years to left village but still i have these treasured memories of my loving neighbors . I feel blessed to have such precious memories in my heart! and i think it is good luck to have good people around :)
Wonderful post. I also have some nice memories of some of my early neighbors. In fact, I am still friends with someone who was a neighbor and who I grew up with. It is interesting how these strong, early memories stay with us.
ReplyDeleteBoth good and bad memories, that is life.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post, sweet friend. It's always nice to have good people around. I've moved many times in my life and in each place there were good neighbours.
ReplyDeletePeople in small villages seemed to have a positive relationship. Too bad we didn't have some of that today.
ReplyDeleteNeighbours, both good and bad, can have a big impact on our lives!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful to have such fond memories of kind people?
ReplyDeleteBaili, it was so interesting to read of your younger years and all the different neighbours and experiences you had! I enjoyed your post very much. You and I grew up very differently from each other but we both have all kinds of different neighbours in our memory banks :)
ReplyDeleteI loved your memories of your neighborhood and the people you knew. Your mom sounds like she was so giving ..helping those in need. My memories are good of a childhood in a small midwest town in Kansas. I so fondly remember them. I still "google map walk" the neighborhoods and was happy to see that some streets photos have been updated around 2018 - most where older from 2014 in October but I loved seeing them because it was Autumn and the little old houses and streets were covered in colorful leaves from the tree leaves changing colors.
ReplyDeleteA very nice post to read.
ReplyDeleteNeighbours can indeed be such a blessing.
All the best Jan
In Macau, because the housing market is very volatile, neighbors come and go very frequently.
ReplyDeleteVery few remain and very few friendships are really established.
Lovely memories there for you and wonderful to read about them for me.
ReplyDeleteNeighbours are a blessing, they are there if needed by all who live there.
What sweet memories of your former neighbors, Baili. I also have fond memories of my neighborhood as well. Sadly, like my parents most of the people I grew up with have also passed on, but their memories are always with me too.
ReplyDeleteWe had wonderful neighbours when I was growing up. They helped make a happy childhood.
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderfully poignant memories of your neighbours, dearest Baili!
ReplyDeleteI found this beautiful post incredibly heartwarming. When I was growing up with my parents, we had pleasant and friendly neighbours too...but now...it is a very different story. People seem to be so wrapped up in their own worlds (and their phones) that they no longer seem to have time to even acknowledge anyone outside their own little bubble. I vividly remember when my husband was in hospital in London four years ago and was in a coma and close to death. As I sat in the relatives room, just across the room there was a young Arabian lady. She was sitting alone and crying. Everyone else ignored her, and when I went over to comfort her, they all looked at me in amazement!
I really don't understand what is wrong with people. A person is a person, it doesn't matter what nationality they are, or the colour of their skin...we are all human. We are all neighbours...who should love each other, unconditionally.
Oh thank you so much, my dear friend...for this invaluable and thought provoking post.😊😊
All my love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
thank you for such heartwarming comment dear Ygraine
Deletei agree that we meet different people while moving place to place ,good or bad memories always stay and remind us people we encountered in life time to time
and i believe this diversity help us grow more for better
how amazing that you are such kind and sweet person ,exactly the one comes in mind when i think about you believe it or not :)
i am certain that that arabian lady will never ever forget your warm behavior !!!
either i believe that treating others with kindness is our utter most important job here ,through such love we represent a very little portion of love given to us by the endless vast ocean of love that our Lord has for his creatures ,we show we are his men by being kind to all :)
all we need to replace ourselves with others and feel their pain and desire they are suffering at such delicate moment
I am always so moved when you share your memories with us. Good neighbors are a blessing.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I think you're right, dear Baili, we never forget our first neighbors. That's so nice that you were surrounded by relatives. That was scary that the roof on one of the houses came down during a rainstorm. I remember our first neighbors also. The boy went to school with Nel, and they always kept up their house and front yard. Isn't it wonderful to get good neighbors, Baili, and you have reminded me to always be a good neighbor wherever I may move to in life. Thank you. : )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Estoy de acuerdo contigo en la importancia de tener buenos vecinos, y además te agradezco, que hayas querido compartir con nosotros esos entrañables recuerdos de algunos momentos felices, y de otros, no tanto.
ReplyDeleteHay otras formas también de recordar la infancia, como pueden ser la música, los olores o los sabores de las comidas que nos hacÃan nuestra abuelas y madres. A ver si te animas y nos quieres contar en otra ocasión, algo sobre ellos.
Un cordial saludo.
Thank you for sharing those precious memories! I still know my first neigbours, cos we visit my parents almost every Sunday, they live in a different town, but it is close to get there. My memories are very alive because of that☺ Have a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice sharing about neighbor and neighborhood, Baili.
ReplyDeleteI remember my neighbors where I had belong, even we never talked, just communicated by facial expression and gesture with them, such as smile or wave hand.
Have a great weekend, Baili.
Hi Baili :) Those are some nice memories...and some scary ones! My grandparents were our neighbours when I was a kid so that was nice. My grandfather was beloved to me, more so than my parents. I don't really remember other neighbours, except this one boy who lived down the street. He was much older than me, a teenager and I always thought he was so cool because he wore purple pants. I called him "purple pants" because I was too shy to talk to him and ask his name lol! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your memories of your neighbors from when you were young. I have many memories of my childhood neighbors too.
ReplyDeleteHi, Baili! I loved this post filled with memories from your childhood. You make everyone and everything come alive so vividly. I laughed at the thought of you with the ax and knife! I can remember doing much the same thing when I was babysitting at night. Kids!!! What would we have done if someone dangerous had shown up? LOL My family moved a lot when I was growing up, so I have memories of a lot of places and a variety of neighbors. Have a great tomorrow, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI have moved so many times over the years, I have many memories of different neighbors. In years gone by neighbours were a community and looked after each other. More recently neighbours are individual and inwardly focused rather than observing and connecting with those around them. That being said some of my neighbours are delightful :-)
ReplyDelete