The party is inching closer and my sanity is inching closer to the breaking point. I have so much to do before the party which is next weekend and all sorts of details need to get worked out. Now I have another dilemma. My mom has kindly offered to cook a few dishes for me to serve my guests. I am very tempted to take her up on her delicious offer however that means I need to drive to Minnetonka this weekend leaving me even less time to prepare for the party. Or I could stay here and get party stuff done but be without my mom’s delicious food. Oh the dilemma 
Even as I write this I chuckle a bit at the fact that I am weary of driving ALL the way to the Twin Cities. It wasn’t long ago that I had to hop a plane in my few weeks of vacation time whenever I wanted to see my family. As a matter of fact my best friend would lecture me about never taking any vacation time to do anything for myself because I would use it all to come home and see the fam. Now I can hop in my car and drive home in a few short hours. The difference just a few short months can make in your life is amazing.
I am not without help though. Several people at work have offered to help me cook and prepare and most of all my WONDERFUL neighbors are loaning me tables and chairs to furnish my still sparse duplex. I hope I don’t embarrass them but I must write a bit about them. Since the first week I moved in they have been my faithful friends in this transition. One day after unloading several heavy boxes from IKEA and feeling especially down about not having any friends here I heard a knock on my door. It was my neighbor Don with an easy smile and an offer to come over later and help me put my furniture together. I thought surely he must be kidding but sure enough a few days later him and his brother came by to fix up everything I needed. Later that day his wife Linda brought me some cupcakes to welcome me to the neighborhood.
They have helped me in so many ways including moving furniture, pointing me in the right direction to anything I might need and Don even comes over and cleans off my driveway when the snow hits. They regularly check in with me to make sure I am doing okay and I cannot tell you how much more welcome it’s made me feel in the Cedar Valley!
I am so blessed to have them nearby whenever I need something. I just feel safer having them here and they are the true meaning of what a good neighbor should be like. In fact Don wrote me an email just this morning saying “Don’t worry a bit about the party..we are going to make sure you have everything you need”
Blessed? Indeed!
Don and Linda Blau-- Wonderful Neighbors and Friends
Posted under January 2012
This post was written by nchughtai on February 1, 2012
Welcome to Iowa, Natasha!! This is what neighbors do here.
Natasha, your neigbors are just one example of the many great people who live in Iowa. People who have never been to Iowa have NO idea of how wonderful it is to live here. As for your party…relax and have FUN!I’m sure it will be wonderful and your guests will have a great time.
How wonderfully lucky your are to have landed in a neighborhood with caring people. I grew in a neighborhood where we all watched out for everyone – the older couple across the street would worry until they saw my car, my other neighbors had children my age and are like my second parents, the widow across the street was watched by most & many times there would be 3 or 4 of the neighbors standing on the corner chatting. It is sad to say, but the small town Iowa neighborhood I currently live in is the total opposite. Many days I long for the old neighborhood or at least the friendships that a great neighborhood created. Enjoy your party!
This is quite commonplace in Iowa! But yes, you are blessed!
Because of the weather, you probably better stick back here & prepare or you might miss your own party!!
Even though I’m sure Mom’s cooking would be fantastic…just have fun and it will all go smoothly.