I don’t recall when it started, but I do remember how. On this post about October being my birthday month, Dwight was surprised at how close I am with my neighbors. Well….it’s amazing what love can do and it all started with a smile and a wave.

This time of year I start walking the hood and will continue through Winter, God willing. I don’t walk very often during the summer and people notice. About a week ago, I walked by a house with a couple sitting on the front porch and their faces lit up when they saw me. The man exclaimed, “Where have you been?!”

We laughed as I stepped into their front yard to chat and I told them I don’t walk during the summer, but they’ll start seeing me now that the weather has cooled. We talked for a bit, but it was time to continue walking so I bid them farewell. Stepping across their lawn toward the street I yelled, “I love you guys”, over my shoulder and kept walking not expecting any response, but to let them know they are loved.

The man didn’t say a word, but right before I turned onto the next street the woman yelled, “We love you too!”, and I smiled.

This is how far a smile and a wave can take you. That was my start to smile and wave at every car that drove by, or people I’d see during my walk.

Whenever I stop and talk with someone during these walks, that’s how I depart, by extending three words over my shoulder. It used to render them speechless, but now they’re used to it and sometimes tell me first along with a hug upon exit. I don’t say it to everyone I meet, only when it feels right, but more often than not I step away with a little shout of, “I love you”, over my shoulder.

There’s one neighbor I’d say it to and she’d respond with, “I love you like a neighbor”, which I thought was funny to be categorized, but she’s a college professor, so I’ll take it. She moved away to be closer to her grandkids, but I miss our front yard chats.

I don’t know when we decided to reserve the words, “I love you”, for our partner, or immediate family, but we need to extend it further than that. Dwight is right, my neighbors do love me, but I loved them first and it all began with a smile and wave.