Love thy neighbor....

Late last night, our neighbor, Mr. Danny was welcomed into Heaven. He has been sick for a while and is no longer in pain. That makes this time seem a tad more okay. Mr. Danny has always exemplified neighborly love. He worried about us and made sure we were okay. He and Mrs. Lorrine were among the first to come visit our newborn son, even tho' we had only lived near them for a month or so. A year later, they returned to welcome son #2 with the same enthusiasm and sweetness. Mr. Danny trusted us to watch over his place and his beloved " four-legged babies" too. Neighbors in the truest sense of the word. My fondest memory of Mr. Danny was last summer on a day when he had energy, which became less and less frequent. He called looking for Andy and then in frustration called me back because his mower would not start and it was stuck at the end of the dirt road. I told him I could help. He said, "are you sure? I don't want to put you out!" "Not a problem!!"(that's what neighbors say). Here we went... Mr. Danny on his lawn mower and me pulling him up the dirt road with the Suburban and fifty feet of rope, as if he was riding a tube behind a speed boat. The smile on his face spread from ear to ear and I was given a glimpse of times well remembered in his eyes. As I turned the curve, I slowed down and looked in the rear view mirror. He raised his hands and motioned.. give it more gas... faster!!! I did as I was requested to do and darned if he didn't decide to jump the bank. Giggling and laughing all the way. I pray that today he is finding that energy-filled laughter as we adjust to life without him!