Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Neighbors should know they have to live, let live

Re: Feuds and neighbors, story, May 1.

I do believe the word "neighbor" has been misused in this case. I have many neighbors here at On top of the World, none of which I ever had a serious problem or unpleasant conversation with. When so-called civilized people can't live side by side, something is wrong. How do people actually live to be 55-75 without learning how to be be decent to others - yes, even those we don't always agree with?

How many years do we have left after retirement age? Why spend it being unhappy and miserable? Live and let live.

I also don't agree with C.J. Larkin of Washington University when he says most Americans are not accustomed to talking to their neighbors, so when problems arise, they lash out at each other. For those of us who are intelligent enough to understand, everyone is different and has different ideas, but that doesn't make them bad people or unbearable neighbors. To have a good neighbor, you have to be a good neighbor yourself.

The code enforcement board could send these folks a bill for what it cost the city for their lack of decency to their neighbors and the whole neighborhood. That might stop the feuding.

Elementary school goes above and beyond duty

My 3-year-old granddaughter, Karly, goes to a special prekindergarten at Leila Davis Elementary School. Karly and her classmates are all developmentally delayed. Karly has a shunt for fluid on her brain and she has seizures.

She is transported to and from school by a regular school bus. Her older brother was allowed to go to the same school to make sure of her safety. She weighs 28 pounds and has to be in a car seat.

While the school staff was educated in her problems, we were lucky all year until just recently. Karly had a seizure. Her teacher, Mrs. DeLuca, quickly noticed her eyes were fixed and she was limp. She got her to the office, an ambulance was already on the way, and we were notified. Time was important, so Karly's mother and I left for All Children's Hospital to wait for the medic.

When the ambulance arrived, the school principal, Carol Hughes, was in her own car, following. She did not want Karly to be alone and she was not allowed to ride in the ambulance. Mrs. Hughes stayed with me until Karly was in stable condition and I could be there with her.

There was always that uncomfortable feeling about an emergency situation arising at school. We now know that she is in very capable hands. The entire office staff, her teachers, Mrs. Pratt and Mrs. DeLuca, did as good a job as we could have done.

The principal should be given an award. She went way beyond the call of duty, and we will be forever grateful.

Whether or not you print this, I feel better writing this story. All you hear are the bad things that happen at school. We may be prejudiced, but we think this was a really good thing.

YOUR VOICE COUNTS

We invite readers to write letters for publication. To send a letter from your computer, go to www.sptimes.com/letters If you prefer, you may instead fax your letter to us at 727 445-4119, or mail it to Letter to the Editor, St. Petersburg Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.

Letters should be brief and must include the writer's name, city of residence, mailing address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be printed.

[Last modified May 11, 2005, 00:46:18]