Good-bye to a neighbor

Our next-door neighbor Gert died on Monday. He'd had several heart attacks this month and was in Victoria having by-pass surgery when one last heart attack took his life. Derek and I were really sad and shocked by the news. We weren't close friends - our contact was limited to over the fence gardening advice (from him to us) and the odd street side conversation about our cats or kids. But he was there. I always knew when he was home - I knew he kept late hours and loved to sit out under his cherry tree. He fed the birds and sat outside sharing chocolates to anyone who entered his yard. He was generous and warm and sought out friendship with his neighbors. He let the rough neighborhood boys take his enormous fir tree as their fort. The nasty tom cat that sprays our front door - he let it in and fed it milk.

Gert died alone in Victoria. He had no one to go with him and stay with him. He had no living family and only a hand-full of close friends. In his will he stipulated that he did not want a funeral. Did he think that no one would want to gather and say good-bye? I'm finding this all really sad. How is it in this over-populated world that someone can die alone - it's not like he was a grumpy old man - his eyes were begging for connection. Are we all to busy for that or are we scared of it? I know I was. But is there anything more important than connection with our fellow human beings? Isn't that what gives life it's richness - makes it all worthwhile? What would our lives look like if relationship really was a priority? I think if it came first a lot of other things in life would fall into peaceful order.

These are the tulips that Gert planted in his garden a couple of years ago. He missed seeing them bloom this year.


Good-bye neighbor. Your presence here will be missed.