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# Neighbor
- URL: https://dianaludwick.com/neighbor/
- Published: 2026-05-20T14:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-20T14:00:00.000Z
- Description: “Neighbor,” a note on claiming parasocial connections, written Wednesday May 20, poem 140 in a series of 365 poems written by Diana Ludwick in 2026. Photo, "Neighbor!!!!!" a photo of CBS The Late Show with Steven Colbert, by Diana Ludwick (c) 2026.
- Author: Diana Ludwick
- Tags: 2026 Poetry Challenge, Poems, Bethesda, Charity, Check, Evidence, Farmers' Market, Goodbye, Hero, Husband, I am the Luckiest!, Jose Andres, May, Parasocial, Pixels, Rep-re-Zent!, Restaurant, Spring, Stephen Colbert, The Late Show, Third Date, Uncle, Wednesday, World Central Kitchen, #Migrated-1792872215677, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-24 20:03

This week we say goodbye   
to TV's favorite late night host.  
And as part of his send-off,  
here on screen is my neighbor.  
  
Jose Andres walks on stage.  
He embraces Stephen Colbert.  
He is Love embodied, he is Energy.  
He accepts a miniscule check  
from the outgoing television host,  
for a massive amount of money  
earmarked for World Central Kitchen,  
perhaps Earth's best charity.  
  
And all the while,   
I am pointing at the screen,  
and I am babbling:  
"That's our neighbor!"  
"That's our neighbor!"  
"Bethesda, Rep-re-*ZENT*!"  
  
And my husband is nodding,   
slowly, calmly, *charitably*,  
knowing that I cannot be   
diminished in this moment.  
  
"That's my favorite human on the planet!"   
I declare, pointing at the   
cheeriest chef-slash-CEO of Caring.  
My husband absorbs this, does not argue.  
  
**"*NEIGH-BORRRRRRR*!"**   
I sit back down,   
although propped at   
the edge of the couch,  
leaning forward.  
  
"He's my favorite!"   
I repeat,   
pointing at my parasocial Uncle.  
My husband nods, silently.  
  
"I mean, for someone I've   
only *seen* and not talked to,   
at the Bethesda Farmers' Market,"   
I clarify, unconvincingly.  
  
"Don't you remember?   
"We went to his restaurant for our third date!   
"He *IS* part of our *family*!"   
I assert, without evidence.  
  
"Okay, yep, I understand."  
He returns his focus to the screen.  
"THAT IS OUR NEIGHBOR."   
"Omigosh."   
I moon up at his bright pixels.  
  
My husband, incidentally?  
He is fond of saying aloud  
"I am the *luckiest*!"  
While side-eyeing me.  
  
We all have our heroes.   
Some of us get to live with them, like my husband.  
Some of us just share municipal water supplies,   
like I do with my Neighbor.  
Either/or, what a life we get to live.