Friendly neighbors

They say New York has changed over the last few years.

First of all, it's gotten friggin' expensive. I went to the corner store to buy beer the other night and they wanted to charge me $15.75 for a sixpack! Where I come from, that's enough for a 30-pack and some Twinkies. Another word for that kind of change is "gentrification."

Since I'm part of that gentrifying wave, it'd be a little hypocritical for me to condemn it.

But one good thing that has happened in New York over the years, especially since 9/11, is that people are really nice to each other. I suppose that has something to do with New York's record drop in crime over the same period, although I'm not sure which came first--the crime-fighting chicken, or the neighborly egg.

In any case, neighbors do all kinds of nice things for each other here in New York. Take in their mail when they're on vacation. Give them milk when they run out. Babysit for free.

This morning, when I was taking James out for a walk in the stroller, a lovely man who was passing by offered to help me lift the stroller down the front stairs of our apartment building. It was such a nice gesture--we have one of these "cadillac" strollers that's a sweet ride for James but a bit dicey to maneuver (I've already gotten it wedged into the aisles of the local grocery store and run over a dog's tail with it). Anyway, it was really nice of this guy to stop and help.

My wife said she recognized the man. I found his picture on the internet, of all places. This was the helpful stranger.I wonder if he's looking for a good church?

I'll ask him next time I see him.