Celebrating National Good Neighbor Day One Rose at A Time
Photo: David Burton (left) and Shari McCallister (right) in 2022. I lived through 41 National Good Neighbor Days (Sept. 28) before lifting a finger to help or celebrate a neighbor. In hindsight, this was a serious mistake. When I first learned about the holiday in 2018, it took me several days to decide what to do. I did not want to overcommit, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure if a small gesture would count. Could I celebrate a neighbor with a plate of cookies and a nice note, or did I need to throw a block party with food and a bounce house? That first year, I went with cookies and a handwritten note. I had considered delivering some fresh-cut flowers from my garden. But I could have also celebrated by making a phone call to each of my neighbors and providing encouragement! On my journey of discovery, Shari McCallister of Houston, Missouri, was one of the first people I met who took the celebration of National Good Neighbor Day seriously. Perhaps no one celebrates the big day with