Brian Kolenich - Youngstown, OH

Brian.  Thanks for highlighting this issue.  I was a deacon at my church for a few years and among my assignments was visiting a number of our members in a particular assisted care facility in our town.  I was always amazed at the number of doors that always seemed to be closed.  Only 5-10% would have them open and it was often possible to engage in conversation. The facility generally scheduled a group activity for each morning and afternoon and would encourage the residents to attend, but few did unless it was a visiting musical group.  

Yet my assigned members were always extremely happy to have me knock on their door and spend a few minutes talking about anything and everything.  I wonder why they keep their doors shut but I have always hesitated to ask.  Of course each personality is different but there seems to be a societal custom to be closed rather than open.  And it becomes even more ingrained the older you become.

As I continue to grow old, I try to remember each day to greet strangers with a "Hola.  Como esta?" or variant thereof, and keep knocking on close doors.