Good Neighbors

I am so blessed when it comes to having good neighbors!

After I came home from work, yesterday, I called one of my neighbors across the street.  He came over at once, took a look at the prong stuck in the outlet, ignored the two pairs of pliers I had set out (both with what I think are insulated handles, although I don't know for sure - they just might be some sort of plastic coating for all I know!), and, without even turning off the power, just pulled it out of the socket with his bare hand!  He said it was the grounder and that the cord could be used as it is, with just the two prongs.  I know the grounder makes equipment safer to use without getting electric shocks, but, it made me feel better to know I could still charge my laptop computer if needed (I can plug it into one of the outlets in the kitchen, which has a trip switch, just to be cautious, and will not use it while it is charging, to minimize any chances of getting a shock).  I will, however, go to the store, later today, to see if I can buy a new cord.  Still, it is good to know I have options!

I did feel rather foolish about the whole thing when he just pulled the prong out, without taking any precautions!  Felt like I let the whole sisterhood down for not knowing I could have done that, myself, without getting electrocuted!  LOL.  Oh, well, I know now!

Later in the evening, I went for my walk around the block.  One of my neighbors, about two houses down from me, has several large succulents plants growing in her parkway.  They've been there for years and are about three feet high, if not more.  A mixture of jade plants, echeveria, etc.  I don't know this neighbor too well, but I know her well enough to say hello when we meet and she's friends with one of my neighbors across the street as they are both from the same country.  However, the only time she has been to my house was when she was searching for her missing cat and I took her to my back garden through the house rather than the side entrance through the gate.  Anyway, I've been eyeing the plants in her parkway and wanting a cutting or two for my own garden and a planter or two I want to make.  So, yesterday, I knocked on her door and she immediately invited me in.  We chatted for a bit - she asked me about my daughter and I asked her about her two daughters and her husband's music studio (he teaches music; so does she, for that matter), and after her mother (who had a heart attack, recently), etc.  Her older daughter is finishing up her doctorate and her younger daughter is getting married this November.  I remember her husband bringing them to wait for their school bus at the same place where I would take my daughter.  He, the neighbor who came to help me with the outlet, and I used to all wait for our children's school buses, together!  LOL.

Then, I told her of the reason for my visit and asked if I may have 3 or 4 cuttings from the plants on the parkway.  She immediately said, "Yes, of course, you don't have to ask, take as many as you like!"  Then, she said she had more in her garden and proceeded to take cuttings from various  plants she had in the front garden!  She put them all in a small box she had and on my way home, I picked a few cuttings from the plants in the parkway, as well.  Such generous neighbors!  I plan to bake something this weekend and take over to her as a small thank you, in return. 

After I returned from my walk, Thursday evening, I called my cousin as I had offered to find out some information for her.  I gave her the information I had gathered for her and then, we had a long chat, basically reminiscing about our childhood, our aunts and uncles, our grandparents, etc., all triggered by me saying that our aunt had shared some memories of her mother who died in childbirth at age 36; the baby had been stillborn and was her 9th or possibly her 10th child, six survived to adulthood.  Women dying in childbirth was such a common thing back then.  My paternal grandmother, too, had died in childbirth, when she was 28 years old.  She left behind my father, his older brother, and a younger sister (who died when she was 15 of a fever).  My father also had a younger brother but I don't know if he was a half-brother or not my paternal grandfather remarried after grandmother's death).  I didn't know him and only saw him for the first time at my uncle's funeral.  My mother said she had met him once, but apparently there had been something that caused my father to cut off ties with him, although, I guess his older brother kept in touch with him (why else would he show up at the funeral?)  I should ask my sister, but she prefers not to talk about family too much.

Forgive me, I am just rambling!

Later in the evening, after dinner, I finished reading one of my library books:

Library Book

I enjoyed reading it.  There was a lot of detailed history in it, along with the author's family history.  I found it all to be quite interesting.

Afterwards, I started reading another library book; fiction, this time, although based on historical personalities.

Another Library Book

A lighter read, this time around!  But I have enjoyed reading other books in this series, by this author.

And, of course, I video chatted with my daughter for a little bit.  Then, I went to bed at 1:30 a.m. and fell asleep a little after 2:00 a.m.  I slept till almost 1:00 p.m. this afternoon!   Guess I was tired?

I am grateful for:
- Good neighbors!
- Neighbor E for helping me with the plug and outlet, and for telling me I could still use the cord as it is to charge my laptop.
- Neighbor S for so generously sharing cuttings from her plants with me.
- Library books to read
- Being able to sleep in (I had taken the day off from work due to a doctor's appointment that had been scheduled for this afternoon).

How was your Thursday? What are you reading these days?