fare thee well, Miguel

First time I met our neighbor Miguel he was wearing a surgeon's mask to do his summer gardening. He was in his 80s and was worried about getting sick, but more afraid of letting his yard, bushes and trees get out of his control.

I thought he was an odd loner. Then I got to know him.

Because he was incredibly kind to my kids, I gave him another chance. He talked with my 3- and 4-year-old girls at the edge of his lawn, telling them about the dinosaur that lived under his house, and how he came out at midnight to make sure all the children in the neighborhood were safe.

He went home to Colombia to celebrate his mother's 100-year-old birthday, and came back with straw dolls for all the kids in the neighborhood. You didn't have to do that, I told him. I want to, he said.

During the week of my oldest's birthday, he knocked on our door just as the kids were going to bed. He had a birthday poem. From the dinosaur. It was two pages and very sincere. I walked him home, and told him, tell me what I can do for you. I need nothing, he said.

The next morning, I put his newspaper inside his front door. The girls and I have done it every morning since. Before you can get in the car to go to pre-school, someone's got to fetch the newspaper from the end of Miguel's door and put it inside his door.I make the kids do it in the snow -- Imagine how hard it would be for Miguel, I tell them -- and I do it in the rain.

Miguel reminds me of my grandparents, who make me feel like I could never do wrong. Everyone needs a person like that in their lives, but just one. More than that and you've got an entourage. I wanted my girls to know a man like that.

This year, Miguel's decided to sell his house and move near his daughter up north. I have to be realistic, he said. His wife passed away about three years ago, and he doesn't want to take chances with his health. He wants to get closer to his family.

Thanks for the vodka at Christmas, Miguel. Thanks for being so nice to my kids. I'm glad to know you.