A pleasant surprise! / myLot

Walnut Creek, California

May 11, 2016 2:18pm CST

I got a pleasant surprise yesterday evening. My 7-year-old neighbor buddy showed up at my door, asking if I'd take him cycling. We cycled all the way to his school, where we picked up some jackets kids had left on the playground, and put them on benches. As we were cycling home, I said, "Hey do you realize it's been a long time since we made up math problems for each other?" That's been our ritual since he was 4 1/2 or so. So we got his mom's permission, went to my house, and made up some math problems for each other. He's just started doing some multiplication and division problems, and I taught him how anything divided by zero is infinity. We discussed the concept of infinity, which he said was hard to grasp. Then he said, "So you could just keep adding zeroes to the end of a number forever." I think he gets it. I showed him the symbol for infinity, and he said, "It looks like an eight on its side." I said, "That's how I remember it too." I'll attach a picture of him hard at work at my desk. I always enjoy it when he comes to visit.

22 people like this

20 responses

Alfredo Rossi

@amadeo (111937)

• United States

11 May 16

Great.He is going to be glad to have you as a mentor.Wish that I had one as a child

4 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238364)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 May 16

I wish I had one too. My dad was a good one early on.

2 people like this

Alfredo Rossi

@amadeo (111937)

• United States

12 May 16

@TheHorse coming from a big family you would think one would.But they were too busy trying to survive in the depression years.

2 people like this

Toni

@toniganzon (77308)

• Philippines

12 May 16

Smart kid. When my son learned the concept of infinity at school, he couldn't stop talking about it to me.

3 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238364)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 May 16

I still think it's pretty cool. Are things like space and time infinite? Whoa.

1 person likes this

Toni

@toniganzon (77308)

• Philippines

12 May 16

@TheHorse to infinity and beyond lol

2 people like this

Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

11 May 16

he does look quite hard at work.

3 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238364)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 May 16

When he says, "Will you make up some math problems up for me?" I say, "Only if you make some up for me." We have a lot of fun.

2 people like this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21741)

• Canada

11 May 16

It sounds like you and your young neighbour have a great relationship.

3 people like this

NJ Chicaa

@NJChicaa (127180)

• United States

11 May 16

Even I find the concept of infinity hard to grasp and I'm almost 40. hahaha

3 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238364)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 May 16

Heh heh. It's fun to talk about.

1 person likes this

Scott Ganschow

@teamfreak16 (43665)

• Denver, Colorado

12 May 16

So that is the infinity symbol. I had no idea what that was.

3 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238364)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 May 16

Sort of an elongated eight, sleeping on its side.

2 people like this

ElusiveButterfly

@ElusiveButterfly (45941)

• United States

11 May 16

These moments will last him a lifetime. Great that you can get his young mind working while having fun.

3 people like this

LK2018

@Letranknight2015 (52665)

• Philippines

12 May 16

wow some smart neighbor you got there and still young too.

2 people like this

ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

12 May 16

All little boys (and girls) should have neighbors like you. The world would be a better place.

2 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238364)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 May 16

All kids need grown-ups to show them a good time and guide them toward good things.

2 people like this

ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

12 May 16

@TheHorse It used to be supplied by neighbors, and extended families, but not so much anymore.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382555)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 16

Being me, I couldn't help noticing the horse on the cushion.

1 person likes this

Claudia Kirkland

@CRK109 (14556)

• United States

12 May 16

Isn't he adorable! And so smart! You're obviously a great influence on him! He's so blessed to have you in his life! :)

2 people like this

Sheila Brown

@sgbrown (1638)

• United States

12 May 16

That is so sweet! You are so good with kids! You probably will never really know just how much what you do will impact these young people.

2 people like this

Kharla Jolly

@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

31 Aug 17

@TheHorse I had a special buddy, similar to this fella at our first home. He's chatter on like crazy, while I folded clothes from our dryer:) He was a fantastic neighbor!

1 person likes this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238364)

• Walnut Creek, California

31 Aug 17

This young fella and I are still buds. He turns nine in October. He knows how to refinish speakers, how to garden, etc. We haven't done math problems in a long time, though! How long did you get to know your little bud before you moved away?

1 person likes this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238364)

• Walnut Creek, California

31 Aug 17

@kobesbuddy That's a long time. I bet you had a positive influence on him.

1 person likes this

Kharla Jolly

@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

31 Aug 17

@TheHorse He lived across the street from us and then, his mother took a position in South Carolina. We see his family now and then, because they still own their home in Tawas, it's rented out. He was my little friend, for about three years

1 person likes this

Show more comments

dbherald

@dbherald (491)

• India

11 May 16

Your neighbor that little master (I am calling him as little master) is quite pretty as I can see him on the picture. He is right that infinity looks like an eight only, when I was a kid I used to give answer like this. I guess you enjoy your time with him when he comes to visit you.

2 people like this