I'm not sure if I've ever shared this before, but we never intended to stay in Simi Valley forever. Our intention was to hang out here until the Freeway was completed, sell the house, make a financial killing, and then move to someplace 'civilized.' But, like the Garth Brooks song, Unanswered Prayers, we wound up grateful our prayers weren't answered and things didn't work out that way.
Simi turned out to be a great place to settle down, raise a family, and start a business. It just took us a while to figure that out.
Now, almost forty-six years later, the choices we made a lifetime ago have been validated. Reinforced as we try to figure out what this new, post-Covid-19/coronavirus world is going to look like. And, if our walks are any indication we're in good shape. Great shape, actually!
I can't tell you how many times folks I've never seen before — people we don't know — smile, wave, and say, "Hi!" I can't count the number of times they stop what they're doing after we respond with a, "Hey, how are you doin'?" to answer.
It could certainly be the stress we're all feeling as the scope of pandemic unfolds. But I'm not sure that's it. In fact, after more than thirty-five years of owning and operating a service business here, I'm quite sure it isn't. These are genuinely good people — people who care about their neighbors and their community — taking a moment to let you know they care. To wave hello and let you know you've been seen: to ask how you're doing and then wait for an answer.
I'm not suggesting this is Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. But it's close enough! Close enough to reinforce the choices we made were the right choices. Especially, for times like these!
Simi turned out to be a great place to settle down, raise a family, and start a business. It just took us a while to figure that out.
Now, almost forty-six years later, the choices we made a lifetime ago have been validated. Reinforced as we try to figure out what this new, post-Covid-19/coronavirus world is going to look like. And, if our walks are any indication we're in good shape. Great shape, actually!
I can't tell you how many times folks I've never seen before — people we don't know — smile, wave, and say, "Hi!" I can't count the number of times they stop what they're doing after we respond with a, "Hey, how are you doin'?" to answer.
It could certainly be the stress we're all feeling as the scope of pandemic unfolds. But I'm not sure that's it. In fact, after more than thirty-five years of owning and operating a service business here, I'm quite sure it isn't. These are genuinely good people — people who care about their neighbors and their community — taking a moment to let you know they care. To wave hello and let you know you've been seen: to ask how you're doing and then wait for an answer.
I'm not suggesting this is Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. But it's close enough! Close enough to reinforce the choices we made were the right choices. Especially, for times like these!
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- Garth Brooks
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