A few weeks ago, when I checked the letterbox, there was a blank postcard waiting for me. It was from the institution known only as Australia Post.
With some art of a bird, and a message about combating depression, it encouraged human connection, for free. Simply write it, and send it, and it would be delivered.
The postcard otherwise blank on the rear, apart from the postcard related things, starts with "Sending you this postcard because I care."
It made me really think about who I really give a shit about. Well, an even smaller subset of people. People I care about, and people who have an address that is known to me.
After some thought, and even less consideration, it was decided that the card would be going through the postal system, through whatever network it would travel through, to our neighbours.
It was sent on the 21st of June. I wrote that it would be a good test of the efficiency of the postal system and while a noble endeavour to cherish others, ultimately, how many tac dollars would this thing cost the nation?
Can you imagine my absolute delight, that a couple of weeks later... I got a reply ... from. ... my .. neighbours - in the very same form of a postcard.
Now, we're not strangers. We have mutual interests - metal music, board games, technology, eating, living, and being fucking excellent neighbours to each other.
So, its even better to get a postcard back from them.
The Postcard
Dear Sender. Oh Joy! Let us confirm we recieved your junk in our mailbox on 27th June. This is not efficient and raises my eyebrows in deep concern. Thus we lodge a new attempt on 28th June.
When the mailman handed me the postcard, I read it eagerly. I laughed, I smiled. They ame through. They're really fucking good people.
That night, I sent my neighbour a text informing them of the ploy. They rang teh bell, excess mushroom gravy in bowl for a makeshift dinner.
Food was eaten, conversation was had.
It is good to have friends as neighbours, and better to have neighbours that are friends.
Even at my old address, I had a wonderful neighbour.
I still visit him. We still talk. Though there is a much larger gulf of years between he and I, we share interests too - sci-fi - dark humor, and a mutual sense of disgust and bewilderment at the rest of the world.
Sometimes, I think good enighbours are more about you than the person who lives on the other side of the fence or wall.
- holoz0r