Part of the Neighborhood

This was a picture I took of our front garden yesterday. Our neighbors Shirley and her adult son Allen Jr., were backing down the drive at the time. We waved at each other, and she continued to back out into the street. But then she pulled back in and gestured me over. Allen Sr. died the previous evening, she told me.

Such sad news, though not sudden. I'd known he'd been ill; he'd been in poor health since we moved in. And Rick and I could count the number of times we'd seen Allen Sr. on a collective hand. We'd actually seen ambulances there more often than we'd seen Shirley's husband. It doesn't make it any less sad for being a somewhat anticipated event.

So today I made my famous baked macaroni-and-cheese, and I will take that over with a 2-liter of cherry cola. It is the very least I can do.

Prayer and comfort food seem like trivial things to offer. They are all I have. I hope it will be enough. I hope it will at least be a start towards healing for my neighbors.