Part 1. After 5 years, I finally met my "new" neighbor! Ain't that sad?

I live in "the country", as they say--rural Indiana, surrounded by bare fields in the winter, corn and soybeans in the summer.

My closest neighbors in any direction are a quarter of a mile away. I don't see them often, like over the side yard fence in a real neighborhood. This "new", unseen neighbor built a house in a woods, so he's really hidden from view.

Anyway, I was beginning my jog last week when he stopped at his mailbox. I greeted him with a "Finally, we meet!" We chit-chatted for awhile, then parted. Seems like a nice guy. I probably will never meet his wife.

Part 2. I've lived in my house for 32.5 years. I've known one neighbor (Ken and Janice) for the whole time. Other neighbors have come and gone, but the latest ones (2) have been there for over 10 years. We're all friends and friendly to one another. My ex-wife and I used to host neighborhood parties. I like them all.

But you know, only once has (last July 4th) any neighbor invited me over for dinner or dessert or even coffee (and that was for their kids' fireworks). Even when I was married, there was no reciprocation to our parties.

I've been divorced now for 10 years, living and eating alone this whole time. I find it a little disturbing that, for whatever reason(s), my Christian neighbors have closed the door on a supper invitation. Maybe that's the reason--I'm not a Christian.