Saying Goodbye

We've lived in our home for 20 years in November.

It's the first house we've purchased. Actually purchased is past tense and according to the bank that holds our mortgage, we have many more payments to make.

Our neighbors, Ron and Jan have been there since the beginning. Jan gave Beanie babies to Lyssa along with some cash for watering her flowers a couple times while they were on vacation. Lyssa had a great time visiting over there when she was younger, Jan had adopted two pug puppies. They were a lot of fun to play with and seriously the friendliest dogs I've ever met.

Jan was approaching retirement when we moved in, she is almost the same age as my mom. They have been wonderful neighbors, keeping an eye on the house when we were out of town, asking us to do the same for them when needed.

When I had the failed ACL replacement surgery and my family left me to go to Louisiana to see Eric's dad, I checked in with Jan twice a day to let her know I was doing okay. She was prepared to come over and let herself in if she did not hear from me. I had given my mom's phone number to her just in case, but she didn't end up having to use it.

They've been good neighbors. They're good people.

Jan stopped by in mid-April and told me that they were moving. She had received a medical diagnosis that was going to make things difficult for her to live at home without some help. They were invited to move in with one of their kids. He built a brand new home about 45 minutes away on the other side of the metro area. They were going to give them a whole floor to themselves. They did the smart thing and decided to go.

We had a short conversation, I was in the middle of something.
The next week I had some crazy intestinal thing (AGAIN) and didn't want to go expose her to it. She had enough going on with some cognitive issues and other stuff.

The following week was crazy as well.
And they were gone by May 1st. I have heard activity over there quite a bit, I know they were getting the house ready to sell, but when I've looked through the fence or walked/driven past, it's never Jan, just a bunch of guys doing stuff.
I never got over there to have a good conversation with her. Never got to tell her how much I appreciated her kindness over the years. I have felt very bad about that, because our last conversation was cut short and I didn't want her to leave and think I didn't care. But she was gone.

So I woke up this morning thinking of her. I have several phone numbers, including her sister. Their parents were around until about five years ago, and died in their mid-90's. I had contact information for several family members because of the whole 'watch-the-house-we're-going-to-see-my-folks'.

When I woke up completely, I resolved to pick up the phone and call Jan's sister this morning. Tell her that I would like to have an address for Jan so I could send her a letter or a card or something to let her know how much I appreciated her as a neighbor over the years.

And today, while I was getting ready to zip off to the grocery store, some nutjob on a bike was casing the neighborhood. He slowed waaay down in front of my fence, looking through into our overgrown back yard. He paused by the alley, looked around and then went down the alley. He stood by the back fence, casually not looking into my yard except for when he was.

Yes, I did call the police.

So I opened up my back door drapes and LOOKED at him. He bent down. 'Oh, just tying my shoe!'  About a minute later when the police car came around the corner he got back on his bike and took off in the opposite direction. I'm sure he was, well, shopping. Here's hoping he picks an easier target.

Anyway, although this seems like a tangent, bear with me. We're now getting to the point.

When I left the house, instead of driving in my usual direction, I went around the corner to drive past Jan's house, wanting to see if he ended up over there. I know the place is for sale and was sitting empty.

And sitting in the driveway was their white car. Standing next to it, Jan. I pulled the car over and got out to talk to her.

The house had sold. In two days. (Hot real estate market right now.. really. We should sell and get the hell out of the city.) They were there so Ron could fix a couple electric outlets and hand over the keys.

So I was able to give her a hug. Talk with her a little. I had not realized that her pugs had been put down. One of them had a sudden paralysis and was dragging her back legs, unable to walk. She had been deteriorating a little bit at a time, and woke up one morning and couldn't get up anymore. The other dog (they were littermates, sisters) was showing signs of the same problems and not getting around very well. Jan said she thought, and the vet agreed, that putting one down would probably kill the other one in a matter of weeks, they were so close and had been together all their lives. So both Tasha and Taffy were put down at the same time. She wiped away a few tears while telling me. I'm not embarrassed to say that I did, too.

I got her new address.
Because of the cognitive impairments that are happening as a result of her illness, she is no longer able to be on the computer. But a card or letter? Those things will brighten her day, she said.

So I am going to hit post on this and then go draw a card for her. I'll write her a letter to say all the things I didn't remember to say this morning when I saw her.

I'll miss having them there.
They sold the house to a music teacher from Stevenson, Washington.
I don't know if he's retired or what.
Hoping they will be good neighbors.