The Neighborhood

Welcome back to THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  This week’s story is about one of my favorite teachers.   I cut into the milk carton and immediately feel a sense of pride.  I make a large square hole and put the cap back on.  I write “John Ostick: Plastic Bag Holder” on the side.  You see, if I take an empty milk carton and cut a hole in it, I can use it to store old plastic bags.  The other option is to allow the space under my sink to become a bottomless pit of bags.  No thank you.  Thanks for the tip, Dad.    My father teaches at an all-boys catholic high school in the suburbs of Philadelphia.  He is loved by so many students.  I am so proud.  Every year the yearbook is dedicated to someone in the school community.  My father has been a member of the faculty for YEARS and finally they are honoring him with the dedication.  I am so excited to surprise him.  My family and I gather in the faculty lounge while in the chur...

Hey Neigbhor! Welcome back to THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  This week’s story is about traditions.   One of the hardest things for me about the new year, is that the magical feeling of the holidays is over. Suddenly it’s dark outside. The lights get taken down. The trees litter the sidewalks. But the thing I miss the most are the traditions and family time.  It’s no secret that I love traditions.  I get and carve a pumpkin every Halloween.  My family’s Thanksgiving schedule never changes, save for during COVID. I missed the usual routine. The three turkeys. The broccoli casserole and all the other sides.  The pies. The football game at the park. The way we all cram into my family’s living room, all 33 of us, and say grace. It’s special.  At Christmas, we put up our tree on Christmas Eve.  We open presents one at a time from youngest to oldest.  We always have lasagna and ham for dinner.  We play a game.  We have our family gift exchange a few ...

 Hey Neighbor! Welcome back to THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  This week’s story is about a song that I discovered in dance class a few years ago.  I’m going to share the lyrics to We’re All In This Together by Ben Lee.  Woke up this morning I suddenly realized We're all in this together I started smiling 'Cause you were smiling And we're all in this together I'm made of atoms You're made of atoms And we're all in this together And long division Just doesn't matter 'Cause we're all in this together, yeah I saw you walking In the city We're all in this together The city's changing 'Cause we are changing And we're all in this together Every twelve seconds Someone remembers That we're all in this together In the kitchen Of your rent-control apartment We're all in this together Come on, baby I don't mean to rush you I only wanted to reach out and touch you I've gotta start to open my heart I know you think About jumping ship before it ...

 Hey Neighbor! Welcome back to THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  This week’s story is about a little surprise that I found in my door.   Here in New York City, we live on top of one another in apartment buildings.  For people living in such close quarters, we know very little about each other.  In my hometown of Havertown, PA, my neighbors are like extended members of my own family.  My parents recently went to a potluck at a neighbor’s house.  We say hi to everyone when we walk down the street, even if we don’t know them.   Not in New York City.   Here, you don’t make eye contact.  You don’t peep a word, unless someone is in danger.  As they say in the subway train announcements, “If you see something, say something.”   It can feel very impersonal…until it’s not.   I am opening my apartment door after a long day at work.  I am carrying my mail and I turn to make sure the door is locked behind me.  I notice ...

 Hey Neighbor! Welcome back to THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  Happy New Year!  Can you believe that it’s 2022? I can’t either. It feels like the last few years have flown by and yet, that we are also still in 2020.  So much has changed. The world has changed. I, as an individual, have changed. I have been thinking a lot about what I want to focus on in 2022.  Gratitude.   Creativity.   Community.   Opportunities to learn.   To play.   To spend time with family and those I love.   I’m looking forward to a year filled with all these things and more.   What about you, Neighbor?  What do you want more of in 2022?   I look forward to hearing your stories.   I’ve Got You in My Pocket, Jackie