Sunday, February 14, 2021
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/bible.png
Memories of my Neighbor,
As I sit here and ponder the memories I have of you, Neighbor is only one of them.
I remember as though it were yesterday moving into a small apartment after our
house burned, feeling as though life would never be the same. I was lost and hurt,
it was the toughest moment in my 16 years of life.
I was walking to the truck to get another load of boxes that I couldn't help but think
held the memories of someone else's life. I looked up the hill and seen you walk to
your truck next door and wandered to myself who is this man I would now call
"neighbor"? As you drove past me you sent a smile and a wave that made me smile
for the first time in a week.
I would soon find out that you were the father of one of my classmates and co-workers
at a local restaurant, Tammy. Days after that, Tammy invited me over to watch a movie,
as I came to the front door and knocked you were sitting on the couch watching "Dallas"
just as a commercial came on you began to ask me questions about my family and I
embellished you with our story. You were so kind and sympathetic. As Tammy came in
the room you shushed us out, I'm sure J.R. , Sue Ellen, or Bobby Ewing were up to no good.
Over the next few months You, Tammy and myself would play card games on the weekend.
Well, Tammy and I would lose and you would cheat I'm sure of it to this day as this memory
still makes me laugh.
One afternoon I came over to get Tammy for a partner to go to the store with me and you
were sitting under the awning in a lawn chair, you informed me that she was napping and
invited me to sit down. You asked me what my plans were, I assumed you meant for life.
So I sat up straight proudly proclaiming I was going into the Air Force and was going to make
a carrier out of it. You began telling me stories of your life in the Marines and held me captive
for over an hour. I listened to every word finding it the most fascinating, heroic stories
of my life.
Not long after this your life and mine would change forever. I met your son when he came home
from the Marines, I knew I was going to marry him before I knew his name. Five months later
my card playing, chit chatting, neighbor became my new Father-in-law. So a much different life
came to us both, I no longer even thought about the Air Force and you became a part of my life
story forever.
I remember hiding from you that Jonathan and I were going to have your first grand-baby
as you and I sat late at night on the breakfast bar in your kitchen. The sickness was so
overwhelming I could hardly listen and I was afraid to open my mouth to speak of fear
of what would come out. Without saying a word you stood and retrieved a tin can from
above the hutch and handed me a bag of crackers. You never spoke a word, but we both
know you already knew what was wrong with me. I always loved our nightly chats at the
breakfast bar as we waited for Jonathan to get off work. Our conversations would jump
from family to football to J.R. Ewing from that weeks show to what ever our thoughts would
come up with next.
Over the next 33 years our families made more and more memories together. You never
forgot to send me my weekly jokes on email. Making me laugh so hard sometimes I would
have to run to the bathroom before I could completely read it. You would make fun of the
kids for characters in their personality that came straight from you. (which I wouldn't change
for anything) You trusted me to feed your sisters and brothers during a family reunion which
was an honor of a lifetime for me. I may not be able to cook like you but, I called in the best
catering place I knew and we ate like kings, you patted my back and said that was my new
job in the family.
I came to love your pats on the back. It was like a father saying "Good Job". Our families
over the years celebrated every holiday together. You would invite my Mom and Dad to every
gathering regardless of the occasion. These are memories I will forever hold dear in my heart.
You were much more to me than just "Father-in-law" and I will forever cherish these memories
and many more.
I love you and will see you again one day, Neighbor & Father-in-law
