They Didn't Come Back To Say Goodbye

When I woke up Monday morning, the big moving van had arrived to load up my neighbors belongings.  Thankfully it was a beautiful sunny day...no rain...while the movers loaded the big truck.  We chatted off and on all day,  Mr Newton was bringing boxes of wood scraps and other items over here through-out the day...his wife was in the house overseeing the movers.  When she did come out to talk we'd both be teary eyed.  Bob was here for a while and he left...tears flowing.  Mr Newton tried not to show it but he'd come over and sit for awhile and abruptly get up and walk back across my yard, blowing his nose.  It was bittersweet.  We know they need to move to Missouri, they are both in their middle 70's and since their daughter and son-in-law got transferred in August, they have no family here. They've already rented the other side of the duplex where their daughter's family have moved.  So they were paying here and there since the middle of August.   I wanted to take a picture of them together, then one of all of us...they have been such precious neighbors.  He and Bob have enjoyed many breakfasts at the nearby Denney's or I-Hop. Spent hours in one carport or the other solving the world problems over the last 6 years. Everytime I'd bring out my camera one of them would say, we'll come by Tuesday morning in our "traveling" clothes to say good bye and you can get a picture then.  After the moving van left they checked into a close by Extended Stay Motel...as they were both exhausted.

They never came back....I was home today until 1:15pm this afternoon. I think they decided it was too painful to come back and tell all the neighbors goodbye.  However yesterday, once when neither one of them was looking, I put a card in the back seat of their car.  A card filled with pictures I'd taken of the snow, fall colors, etc. and 2 of Bob and myself.  One was the picture of us in the fake black mustaches & sombreo's from the graduation party for his grand daughter~Mr Newton cracked up when he saw us like that.  And we wrote our address and email addresses and gave them a $25 gift card for Denney's.  I believe they are right at the top of the list of the best neighbors I've ever had.  When we were gone, he'd watch over the place, get the mail & paper. I knew the house was safe with Mr Newton standing guard. 

I wish them a safe trip and a happy reunion with their family within the week.