Before I turned on my “find your device” app (see previous post), I was out in my truck searching for my phone. My next door neighbor pulls into her driveway, opens her car window, and calls my name.
This is pretty rare for her. Although we lived next door for the past ten years, we usually just wave, and just say “hi”.
I get out of my truck and walk over to her.
She starts telling me about how she took her granddaughters (ages 6 & 8), to the near-by park, and how much they loved it there. Apparently, she has never gone to that park before in the ten years she’s lived here. I think Mary was telling me this because she’s seen me outside playing with Lailah, and her wagon, etc.
We end the conversation, and as I’m turning away, I say “tell John (her husband), ‘hello’ for me”.
She then says: “Brian, I’ve not told a lot of people this yet, because it’s still hard for me, but John passed away in May.”
Big sigh.
John, had suffered various health issues over the years, and when I first moved into my townhouse, he already had lost a leg to diabetes (I think), and, a few years ago, I noticed he had lost his other leg, and was in a wheelchair, and he rarely got out of the house. So, hearing this just stunned me.
I expressed my condolences to Mary, and told her, “I’m right next door, please ask if you ever need any help with anything.”
Please keep Mary in your thoughts. She’s about ten years older than me. I don’t think her adult children live in this area because there were rarely in any unfamiliar cars in their driveway.
Thank you.
