PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A simple party invitation to a new neighbor captured on video and posted to social media has inspired thousands.
Doug Turner is an 87-year-old Army veteran who lives on a quiet street in Bucks County. However, he recently felt inspired to turn that quiet neighborhood into a more lively one.
About a month ago, a Ring camera captured the moment he delivered a party invitation to his neighbor.
“I have a new neighbor across the road from me, very nice lady, and when I walked up to the house, there was an automatic camera filming me because I was delivering all the invitations by hand that I had prepared,” he said.
On a hand-drawn snowflake was an invitation to “Doug’s Winter Party from 4 p.m. to whenever the cops come” — a line Turner says he always uses in reference to parties.
Turner, who’s been a Bucks County resident for about two decades, lost his wife about two years ago.
“I was swamped in love with that woman for 51 years. She was a marvelous woman.”
He says the party is a way to bring the neighbors together and celebrate winter.
“I’ve got several neighbors here now, new people, and they don’t know the other new people, so I thought this would be a good time for that party. We can have drinks and food and mill around for 2 or 3 hours and they can meet each other — that was the main reason.”
The video went viral on TikTok, reaching people from Alaska to Australia. Many were willing to trek across the country to attend, but the attendee list will stick to just Doug and about two dozen neighbors. There will be a charcuterie board, wine and, of course, some desserts.
“If it helps people to start to talk to each other and maybe just ignore some of this horrible stuff we see on the news sometimes, or not ignore, maybe try to do something about it, but at least throw light in their lives a little bit — I guess that’s a good thing.”