WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOR? - Unforgettable!

His brogue told of his origin from Port Ireland; his face was that of an ageless Gaelic elf, wrinkled and brown. Under peaked white brows, his eyes were steel gray. He was tall with stooped shoulders and moved with a quick, bobbing gait. He was in his seventies when we came to live next door to him and his wife, Anna.

I must have been a very small child when I first met this couple. I must have heard most of what I remembered about them from my family, because Pat McCarthy passed away in 1946 at the age of 78 from a stroke. We moved to California in 47; I was 9 years old!

Hearing these stories caused Pat to become one of the most unforgettable character's I had ever met. Once he brought a letter he received in the mail and handed it to my Dad. Pat never had an education but he did know how to read. He knew his name when he saw it and the name on this letter wasn't his. My Dad looked at it and said he would take care of it and so Pat left it in my Dad's capable hands and returned home. The letter was addressed to 'Occupant.'

Twice a week Pat would come over to our house and would ask my brother Lloyd if he could use the phone; "Morning Roy," Morning Roy"; "Can I use your phone?" Lloyd would dial for him and with intensity he would listen for someone to answer and then with his Irish brogue he would say; "Eve's Bakery?" Hello, Hello, this is Pat McCarthy speaking!" He would order his day old bread and then hang up the receiver cross ways. Most times he would stay and visit with Lloyd for a while.

Pat's Ingersoll watch, that he had owned for over 20 years, quit working. He brought it over and asked my Dad to look at it and maybe fix it. usually an Ingersoll watch only cost about $1.00 at that time and was guaranteed for one year. My Dad confirmed it wasn't working anymore and suggested he throw it away or take it back to the store. Pat left disappointed but still with watch in hand.

Another time Pat ordered a pair of shoes from the Sears catalogue. When they didn't come he called the company to find out why the delay. The Sales Manager said that the shoes were C.O.D. When Pat heard that, he thought they had misunderstood him so he explained as only Pat could; he didn't order C.O.D. he ordered shoes.

We live in the largest melting pot in the world. It may have started with the Mayflower and the Pilgrims but down thru the ages people of many origins, color, languages; of Asian, Oriental and ethnic cultures have made their home in America. We live in a complex world when it comes to having neighbors of foreign descent. We live looking at our neighbors with suspicision. With wonder and perplexities. Should we allow them into our circle or should we keep our distance. It wasn't always like this, but America is a different place in a different time.

I don't think Pat had a profession except perhaps being a professional handyman. He did odd jobs! He would never qualify for a pension and so his wealth was not in his possessions. He was a man well liked. He was kind and considerate.

"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant."
1 Corinthians 13:4 It is amazing that the most familiar verses are sometimes the hardest for us to put into action. The love chapter is telling us to be kind! "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 We are to love our neighbors, whoever they are! Kindness is a character trait of love.

"And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged." 2 Timothy 3:24 Ask yourself; "Is my middle name, kind?" I pray it can be, because that is what God wants us to be. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 10/13/09