A Neighbor Departs

by Pa Rock

Neighbor

Yesterday I used this space to discuss a friend who departed this life unexpectedly through a heart attack a couple of months ago.  Daniel and I were out of touch when he died and it took a while for news of his passing to get to me, and then another month or so before I had my thoughts organized to the point that I felt I could pen an adequate tribute.  Daniel and I had a lot in common and were close - even if we were "out of touch" when he died.

Two days ago another friend of mine "departed," but his was a simpler departure in that he just packed up and moved away.

This friend and I were not close.   We might speak to each other once a week or so and maybe have a real conversation several times a year.  We were neighbors, and that brought us into contact whenever there was a weather emergency, power outage, or other incident impacting the neighborhood. In addition to living across the street from one another, we also had a house in common.

My home, which was built in the 1950's or early 1960's was constructed by my neighbor's father, a local master carpenter, who built it specifically for his own family.    My neighbor and his three brothers grew up in the house where I now live.  The brothers seemed to have scattered as they reached adulthood, but one remained, across the street, to look after his widowed mother when she still lived where I do today.   My house sits on ten acres, a situation which makes for a lot of work.  My neighbor helped his mother look after the place, but she eventually decided that life would be easier in a smaller place and "moved to town."  The house and property was sold to a man and his adult son who lived here several yearss, and then I blew in from Phoenix one weekend a dozen years ago, looked at the place once, and bought it.  Today it is still more work that any sane old person would want to tackle.

My neighbor and his wife built a house across the road from his mother where they raised their own children.  Those kids scattered when they were grown, like seeds in the wind, and the older generation gradually passed way.  With the relatives all gone - passed away or moved away - the husband and wife across the street both retired, something which is not as easy and carefree as it sounds.

Recently on a trip out-of-state to visit kids and grandkids they looked at a place that was for sale - probably just out of curiosity - and wound up putting in an offer and purchasing a home eight hours away from literally the only home my friend and former neighbor has ever known.

The moving van rolled out of here on Friday.

Doug, it's an adventure.   Remember that, and make every day better than the one before.  I'll keep your old home place looking as good as I can.  Enjoy those grandkids - I'm envious!