Adios Amigo

In August it will be two years since Big Daddy and I have lived in our house. We are quite proud of our home and are regularly reminded that owning your own home is the way to go, if it is at all feasible.

But since we do live in "semi-detached" housing aka townhouse it is pretty close quarters sometimes. We purposely purchased an end unit so that we would only have one "attached" neighbor. Did we luck out! Our neighbor is a single guy who travels for work. Best neighbor to have... The guy was almost never here. Not that I didn't like him, but I could feel less guilty about the noise my kids make and the fact that they may set foot on a portion of his lawn.

Big Daddy and I always used to talk about "you know, that single guy who lives next door" and we got tired of calling him that. I suggested we name him. We chatted about some common names that could be his title... Mark, Sheldon, Mike, Jason, Brad... We settled on Fred. Our children even started calling him Fred.

Low and behold as time went on Big Daddy and Fred would once in awhile meet on the front step for a smoke. In the darkness of the night with their burning ambers through their quiet conversation they learned a little about one another. Most of all... his name is not Fred. Well, try to tell Joseph that Fred is actually Mike. It didn't fly. To this day we still call him Fred.

Recently Fred's family was here for a visit, the kids and I came home one day to find Fred's Mom and Fred's niece and nephew perched on the front step enjoying the weather. Joseph introduced himself to the little boy and proceeded to invite him to share in our abundance of toys stashed in the back yard. Joseph and Eric hit it off and were instant buddies. I chatted up Fred's Mom while they played. I mentioned to her that we called her son Fred. She thought that was pretty funny and I think by the end of their visit here they were calling him Uncle Fred. Joseph at one point looked up and asked Eric "So, your Fred's Kid eh?" Poor Eric really didn't know what to make of that.

If life could only be so easy and a sweet boy like Eric could live next door for Joseph's playmate. But now we have learnt that even Eric won't be coming to stay as Joseph's once in awhile playmate anymore. Fred sold his house and is moving away.

So, on to some new neighbors to name. But nothing will ever be the same as Fred. Adios Fred, we'll miss you.