My good neighbor was home yesterday. The back story is that he lived next door to me for more than twenty years. In that time he cared for his wife until the day she died. She had a long illness that stretched her final demise over years. He’s a good man. He since remarried in his middle seventies. Now I see him smile and walk hand in hand with his like aged new bride. I am happy for him.
He moved away and is living in her house “up the country.” His home next to me is on the market. There seems to be a downturn as it has not had many bites, and it is a fine place in a desired neighborhood.
I arrived home yesterday to see his new bride with a twenty inch push mower giving all she had on the lawn. Nice lady, well kept in a working dress and apron. Her hair was up in a scarf, until she took it down to wipe her face and brow. Obviously, a modest woman of a time long past and her hair now down, she retired to the house. I would imagine to freshen up and fix her hair back.
My wife and I had been enjoying her “half-day” at work. We lunched together and she had plans for me to climb the step stool and change some light bulbs. She understood when I nodded toward the neighbor’s place. “I’m sorry baby. I can’t let that be.” – “I know. Go take care of that.”
So off I went. I fired up the zero turn and went to cutting the neighbor’s place. It wasn’t long she came out and gave a sheepish smile. You could tell she was not one for charity. Then came my old neighbor and flagged me down. He explained that he was in his shop trying to get his riding mower battery to take a charge. I simply asked that he open the gate and let me get to the back. He did, and I went to work there.
The grass had gotten as high as the floorboards on my mower. I had to take half cuts on a line, then pass back over it to level the cut. I got it done though. When it was all finished my good neighbor came with a bottle of cold water. He explained that his son-in-law had agreed to keep the place up, and obviously had not. He then offered to pay me for my troubles.
“No Sir. I won’t take your money, but I will surely take your son-in-law’ s.” - “Are you serious!” – “Yes Sir. Tell him he owes me $200.” – “You are a fine neighbor. Thank You.”
He moved away and is living in her house “up the country.” His home next to me is on the market. There seems to be a downturn as it has not had many bites, and it is a fine place in a desired neighborhood.
I arrived home yesterday to see his new bride with a twenty inch push mower giving all she had on the lawn. Nice lady, well kept in a working dress and apron. Her hair was up in a scarf, until she took it down to wipe her face and brow. Obviously, a modest woman of a time long past and her hair now down, she retired to the house. I would imagine to freshen up and fix her hair back.
My wife and I had been enjoying her “half-day” at work. We lunched together and she had plans for me to climb the step stool and change some light bulbs. She understood when I nodded toward the neighbor’s place. “I’m sorry baby. I can’t let that be.” – “I know. Go take care of that.”
So off I went. I fired up the zero turn and went to cutting the neighbor’s place. It wasn’t long she came out and gave a sheepish smile. You could tell she was not one for charity. Then came my old neighbor and flagged me down. He explained that he was in his shop trying to get his riding mower battery to take a charge. I simply asked that he open the gate and let me get to the back. He did, and I went to work there.
The grass had gotten as high as the floorboards on my mower. I had to take half cuts on a line, then pass back over it to level the cut. I got it done though. When it was all finished my good neighbor came with a bottle of cold water. He explained that his son-in-law had agreed to keep the place up, and obviously had not. He then offered to pay me for my troubles.
“No Sir. I won’t take your money, but I will surely take your son-in-law’ s.” - “Are you serious!” – “Yes Sir. Tell him he owes me $200.” – “You are a fine neighbor. Thank You.”
Comment