We are moving this weekend. We reached out on Facebook to ask for people to help us move and to come with their pickup trucks. We do not have a problem doing this, because through the years we have helped countless people move (including several who were moving off of the street into apartments). I have helped roof friends’ houses, parents of friends’ houses, and friends of friends’ houses. I have done wiring, installed phones (back when that was a thing) and painted for friends, relatives and friends of relatives. I have helped build decks, additions patios and driveways. I have even helped build and install a few docks in my misspent youth. I am not saying this to boast. This is just what one did in the culture I grew up in. It was a culture of sharing and mutual care. Implicitly I knew that if I ever needed help, people would be there to help. And just like me, they would not expect pay or even a commitment to help them specifically at any time. They, like me, just knew that in a culture of paying it forward and mutual care, no one is in it alone.
We never considered whether or not someone who asked for help were handicapped or economically disadvantaged or prosperous. If someone asked for help and we were able to help, that was enough reason to say yes. It was unthinkable to say no. These work parties were almost always memorable, fun and joyous happenings. We made new friends, learned new skills and had a great sense of accomplishment. We may have been tired and dirty when we were done, but it was a satisfied tired and dirty.
I know that some of you who will read this will think that it is just fond reminiscences of another old man talking about the “good old days”. However, the response we have received to our call for moving help indicates that this aspect of our culture is still alive. We are so grateful!