There Goes The Neighborhood

Meet Gary. He’s one of the more senior members of our neighborhood community. He’s been on this street for a very long time. Completely full of houses now, Gary, as a young man, used to break wild horses in the area where the newer homes currently sit.

Moving kind of slow, Gary still reaches out to chat a bit or show off his once beautiful yard. He has been caring for his also elderly wife Elaine, who has mild dementia and in poor health. He does not complain, quite the opposite, he speaks so lovingly of his wife of more than 60 years. 

Recently Elaine suffered a heart attack and Gary has been spending a lot of time at the hospital. Our neighborhood got together to help Gary and Elaine a little. They did a yard clean up. Boy Scout headed it up by honing his newly acquired skills of pruning, having just finished his mid term in the course he is taking. He cleaned up all the roses and then tackled the Japanese maple tree. He filled all the neighborhood yard cans that were each generously donated to the cause. Raked, tidied and rain gutters cleaned out, I was proud of the hard work that took place. They did a great job with zero expectations of something in return. 

Sweet Gary was grateful.

Elaine will not be coming home. Gary will be living a more solitary life, having only Cheeto, his marmalade kitty, for companionship. We will be watching out for him. Boy Scout will take food and sweets over. 

Life ambles on.