There’s an older guy in the neighborhood .. you know he’s old when he’s “older” than we are. He has a very dry sense of humor but he is funny. He seems very grumpy at first but he isn’t. He doesn’t talk much. He doesn’t laugh much but when he laughs, it’s the neatest belly laugh. I gave him some peach jam I had made and when he gave me the jar back, he said “That was just peachy!” and he laughed . . thought he was so funny.
Yesterday when Vince was pushing the planter and the neighbor was pulling it behind his mower, the old guy said to Vince “I hope you don’t have anything else to do today.” Vince said “Why?” and the old guy said “You’re going to be exhausted. I’ve never seen you move so fast!” Vince said “He was going about 60 mph with that mower and I was having to keep up.” They all laughed. Vince talks slow, he walks slow . . and the old guy has noticed how slowly Vince moves. That’s one of those conversations we’ll always remember.
It is funny how you meet someone and the first impression isn’t good. We thought he was grumpy. Then after we got to know him, he isn’t grumpy at all. He always wants to help and he kinda watches to see if there’s something Vince is doing and he can come over and help.
KATIE M PETERSON says
Good neighbors are hard to come by. When you get them, they are a jewel.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
You’re right. I don’t think we appreciate the good ones til we get a bad one. I have my fingers crossed that we get good neighbors in the house behind us.
Elana Goldberg says
Keep sending over your jam? You’ve clearly brought some cheer to this “old guy.” I work in an Assisted Living facility and there are many times when an “old face” lights up just to have human contact. We all need love and attention, no less those who are aged. If only our country was like others where they revere the elderly. In the U.S., it seems we have no more use for people after they retire. So sad. So thank you for bringing kindness and peaches to an old soul. May someone repay the favor to you one day.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Thank you for writing those kind words. When I was a child/teen, I spent as much time as I could with my grandparents. They lived probably a mile from my grandpa’s parents, one of his sisters and one of his brothers. The entire family was together often and all my great grandparents’ kids did lots of things for them and took care of them. It is very sad what has happened to families these days, my own included, and it’s sad how older folks are more or less ignored. I wish it were different.