Won't you be my Neighbor

It still amazes me that Tim and I lived in our house for 4 years before meeting our neighbors in the house behind us, directly across the alley.  We met Erin and Eric in the spring of 2009, when Ryan was about 18 months old, and we quickly learned that they had a daughter, Ava, only 3 weeks younger than Ryan.  Erin invited Ryan and I to a Saturday morning playgroup, and soon enough we were hanging out more often than not, both with the other playgroup moms, and on our own.  The kids hit it off immediately, and Tim and I really enjoyed spending time with Erin and Eric.  With most of our friends not having kids yet, it was fun to hang out with another set of parents, comparing notes while the kids enjoyed being together.  We especially bonded during the snowstorms of December 2009, and February 2010, wading through the snow in our back "yards" to have happy hours together while the snow fell.  We have babysat for each other, cooked for each other, provided spare keys, picked up each other's mail, borrowed ingredients from an egg to a cup of sugar, listened to each other, been there for each other through life's ups and downs, and shared more wine and beer than I can even keep track of!  There were many a weekend morning where we would send a quick text that the kids were stir crazy, and within minutes we were gathered at one house or the other.  I will especially never forget in December 2011, when Tim, Ryan and I packed up on short notice to head to MA after my grandmother passed away.  Within minutes Eric was at our house to be instructed on how to disable the alarm so he could water our tree while we were away.  And when we returned one week later, late on a Saturday evening, emotionally and physically exhausted, Erin texted us within minutes that she had dinner for us, and came over with a fully cooked sausage and pierogie dinner for us.  It made our return home a little less sad, and a little less lonely.  And those are the types of things they did for us all the time.  They started as neighbors, and along the way they became very good friends.  Ryan and Ava adore each other, and we adore them all.  A few months ago, they decided to put their house on the market as well, and it sold very quickly.  They moved a couple of weeks ago, and their absence is one of the things making our move a bit easier to bear.  Knowing that they are no longer a quick walk across the alley away makes it easier to leave the 'hood. We will continue to keep in touch, and we will continue to get together, but we will always miss our first real neighbor friends...