今日はバレンタインデー。といっても我が家は至って静かで何も特別なことはありません。それでも、ちょっとだけ楽しいことを考えました。高齢になったお隣のご夫婦に小さい贈り物をしたのです。
最近は私も留守で、お隣とのお付き合いはほとんどなく、会えば挨拶をするぐらいです。今の家に引っ越してきたのが、娘が２歳ぐらいの時。以来ハロウィンには希望する動物の衣装を私が作ってそれを着た娘がご近所を回るのをお隣は楽しみに待っていてくださいました。その娘も今では子供がいてもおかしくないほどの歳になりました。
その娘から、去年のハロウィンにお隣のMさんが我が家の玄関先にお菓子を娘宛に置いてくださったと聞きました。後日お返しに娘は小さい贈り物をお隣のドアの前に置いたそうです。今回は私がボストンにいることもあって、何か喜んでいただける小さな贈り物をしようと考えて、カードと一緒に日本から持ってきたお菓子を袋に入れてお隣の玄関先に置きました。Mさんとご主人のNさん、今年もお元気で過ごしてくださいますように......
Today is a Valentine's Day but we don't do any particular activity in my home. I had, however, a little bit fun idea for my neighbors who are getting older than us. It is a small gift for them.
Since I have spent only a few days in Boston these past years, I have few neighbourhood relationships now and only give greetings when I meet them. When we moved to the current house, my daughter was about two years old. Since then, when Halloween Day came, they were waiting for my daughter who wore an animal costume which was her wish and every time I made it for her, we would visit their house. Now my daughter is grown up.
Well, I heard from my daughter that last Halloween, Ms. M, my next door neighbor, gave some sweets to her and put them in front of our front door. My daughter put some small gifts in return in front of her house to show her appreciation. This time, I would like to give a small Valentine's gift to them. We put a card and some candies from Japan at their doorstep. I wish Ms. M and Mr. N's a healthy and wonderful year ahead.
