I look out my door in both directions before I leave the house. Once I am out of the house, I go straight to where I am headed and come straight back. No stopping to talk to neighbors. I don't even answer the door anymore. I'm hiding — from gifts.
Recently, I've been over-gifted, to the point of no return.
Please, someone take me back home to my country where people accept favors with no intention of returning them, ever! Even if they say they will, they probably won't. Which is my excuse for not being good at returning favors. I try, oh how I try! I can see myself kowtowing to St. Peter at the gates of heaven, while exposing a hand-written note from my good neighbor saying, "Pete, she really did try."