I’ve been waiting for La Rad to post a comment to the Hemingway story, but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen, so I’m moving on.
Susan, Larry, Robert, Diane, Katherine, Matt, Emma
As I was driving down Central St, I passed by neighbor, Joy. I waved and then I pulled into my driveway. As I got out of my truck, I turned to see Joy had made a u-turn and pulled in behind me. I walked up to her and said,
“We got your grandsons. Another great Christmas card.” (Her daughter has three blonde boys, each a year or two apart, the oldest must be about ten.)
“I didn’t like Kyle’s smile but..”
“Come on, Joy, you’re a nitpicker. It wasn’t as perfect as last years and …”
“A professional took that one.”
“With the sand dunes and the boardwalk and the beach plums?’
“And that boardwalk has special meaning to Bob (her husband), it’s where he grew up.”
“I didn’t know that. And how did you like our Christmas card?”
“Next time I’m going to put a note in mine nagging you for yours.”
“Believe me, you’ve brought it up so many times, your card already comes with that note.”
The last time I’d talked to Joy was right after Patti died and we’d both, then, caught up on family matters. At some point, we always talk about the two widows, Mary and Dolly, who used to live between us. I’d walk through both yards to get to Joy and Bob’s.
“I guess you heard about Dolly?” My Two Neighbors and Parting Company
“No, I’ve been meaning to visit her again (In the nursing home behind Emerson Hospital).
“Dolly died. She finally got to go to her daughter’s in Texas, but she lived only three months.”
“Three months?”
“She had cancer, but no one knew it. At least she didn’t suffer much.”
“And, Mary, is she still in the same nursing home?”
“Mary doesn’t recognize anyone anymore.”