Getting to Know My Neighbors.

When my husband and I first moved to Hollister, we knew exactly two people: our next door neighbor, and our realtor. After settling in, I started taking my baby out on walks around the neighborhood. We always passed by this 70-something man, who had the kindest eye crinkles and always seemed to be working on something in his front yard. After weeks of waving hi to one another, one day he told us to wait one minute, walked into his home, and then popped out with a basket of fresh strawberries. That was the moment he turned from a stranger to a lifelong friend. Now, five years later, all my three kids yell out his name as we pass by his house, and scramble down to hug him. We check in on each other once a week, and love to surprise each other with homemade strawberry cakes and produce from our gardens. I knew I'd make new friends eventually in this town, but having someone we can trust and turn, who also lives right down the street, has been the biggest gift.