Feeling Sad Today

I had the most wonderful neighbors, a young couple with two children.  I will have to say they have been the best neighbors I have ever had.

I can still remember when we were moving in to our home and Wendy came over to see if she could help.  She was pregnant at the time and there was no way we were going to let her help.  This is just the kind of neighbor she and her husband were always there to give a helping hand.  When we left for the Summer Wendy watched our home like a hawk and we never worried about our home.

I will never forget when Frank ended up in the hospital and we were told he had a mass in his stomach.(It ended up that he didn't)  Wendy called me on my cell, and when she found out I was by myself, she left her family right in the middle of dinner, and drove 45 miles to be with me.  This is just the kind of person she is, never giving a second thought about helping a person in need.  They were our neighbors for almost eight years and we grew to love them like family. The kids called us Grandma and Grandpa and that thrilled us.  Wendy had us go to grandparents day a couple of times as the other grandparents lived too far away to be there.

When Frank had surgeries, Kyle would watch for us to come home and would be right there to help Frank out of the car and into the house.  I could go on and on about all the things they did for us.

Then the day came when Wendy came to my door in tears telling me that they had lost their home, and they were going to move.  We cried together.  Kyle had lost his job twice, and because of this, they got behind in their house payments and could never get caught up.  Another family caught up in the bad economy.  Wendy told me they were moving just a few minutes away from us and that we would still get to see each other, but I knew it wouldn't be the same as having them next door, and it hasn't been.

Frank went over to their place a few weeks ago to get our flat bed trailer from them, and Wendy broke the news that they were moving again, this time to Arizona. Kyle found a really good job there, and Frank and I agree you have to go where there is work. When Frank came home and told me, once again I felt sad knowing that they would be so far away.  They are moving this weekend.  I took the kids a travel bag of games to play in the car as a farewell gift, and I couldn't believe how much they have grown since they moved from our neighborhood.  As I left the kids gave me a hug and told me Goodbye and a thank you Grandma. Wow! I love being called Grandma.  A tear in my eye started to form, and I quickly said goodbye with a promise from Wendy they would come and see us as they will be coming back the next two weekends. Her brother lives two house away from us.

The house next door sits empty, but every time I look over there I remember the wonderful neighbors that lived there and sometimes I can see the kids playing and hear their laughter.  I sure hope someday soon I will be fortunate enough to have some new friendly neighbors move in, but I know that no one will compare to Wendy and Kyle.