My wife and I recently moved to our new home in Washington State to be nearer to our daughter and her family. We waved to several of our neighbors as they were working outside when the moving van pulled up on the street to unload.  We were impressed with their friendliness then and stunned by it later.

One afternoon, several days after moving in - while we were still putting the house in order – my wife noticed the couple across the street moving about in our front yard. By the time she stepped outside there were several neighbors setting up tables while others were beginning to stake down an overhead sunshade. Steaming pots of chili and barbecue, large bowls of salads and plates of pies, cakes and cookies were quickly arranged on the tables.

Before we knew it our neighbors up and down the block as well as several who had previously lived in the neighborhood were busily engaged in firing up gas grills for hot dogs and hamburgers. A housewarming party – with kids running around between the adults - was in progress, right in our front yard.

We all sat down and introduced ourselves to each other while my wife and I gratefully accepted housewarming gifts from everyone present. We enjoyed a sumptuous meal, after which the tables and sunshade were packed up and removed. We were given enough prepared food to last the rest of the week without having to heat up the stove.

Just when we thought the event was coming to a close, everyone pitched in and began mowing and edging the yard, which had gone long untended. One neighbor even connected our lawn sprinkler control box and set the timer and the different stations. Several ladies came into the house to assist my wife in cleaning and carrying out packing trash. My new friends also assisted me in carrying some heavy furniture and televisions upstairs and also down into the basement.

We later found out that this has been a longtime tradition on our block. There is no better way to get to know your neighbors and turn them into your friends.

We can’t wait to get a new arrival on the block so we can show our gratitude by participating in this wonderful tradition.