Ok, so now I have a new man in my life
I mentioned my neighbor Bill a few days ago saying how lonely I thought he might be. He's, I think around 80 or so and single living alone. His daughter lives somewhere nearby and visits often taking care of some of his basic needs especially driving him around. I haven't met her yet but have seen her car out front a few times.
He's legally blind so he has no car. Although I know he has a golf cart. I actually met him at the mailboxes, about half a mile away, a few weeks ago. He was in his golf cart. Not sure how that works with the ol' eyesight thing. Mostly I think he just walks around with his cane. He's tall and sort of lanky and very outgoing and happy.
One day he told me he got lost around the neighborhood pond. He found himself just walking around and around it trying to find out which direction to go. He laughed when he told me this.
Usually I see him around the neighborhood kind of stumbling along slowly. He carries a cane and can see people closeup but doesn't recognize anyone from a distance. Although he has noticed me whiz by on my bike. He's hard of hearing as well and if I get close enough to him when I ride by, I always say hi if I don't stop and chat with him.
Whenever I do stop to speak to him anywhere around the neighborhood or at the mailboxes, he holds my attention for a while. I can see he just so enjoys the company. Most of the time you either have to talk loudly or just end up repeating yourself. He seems to get about half of what you're saying.
So today I decided to stop in on my way home from my daily bike ride to get the mail. I had baked a large 13 x 9 cake and with just the two of us I thought it would be nice to share with Bill. I noticed his door was open, so I peeked in as I knocked. Of course he couldn't see me and since I wasn't sure if he could hear me, I said loudly, "anybody home?" I could see him just sitting there in a chair. I mean it's the middle of the day and he's just sitting there all alone. The tv was off and I was wondering what he was doing and how long he was like this.
He jumped to his feet and welcomed me in. It was quite obvious he was tickled to have the company. He loves to talk and he goes from subject to subject hoping to keep me longer I think. So I asked him if he would like me to bring him some cake and he, without hesitating said he'd like that. So he gave me a plate and I went home and cut him almost half of it to bring back. I had all I could do to get out the door of his home even tho I was going to return with the cake in like three minutes.
When I went back with the cake he kept asking me all sorts of questions. He showed me his new phone. He asked me a question about the garbage disosal and asked if my hands were small enough to get my hand down the disposal because he thought maybe something was stuck. I told him no, that was not a good thing to do and that he needed to call the warranty office to have it checked out. It sounded like it had a major problem and I couldn't help him with that.
He asked if we would be willing to do his tax return for him. He's on a pension and has stocks so after finding out he usually uses H & R Block, I said sure. So, of course, he had to run around and get his paperwork for me talking with me the whole while. Poor guy. I think I'm going to adopt him.
I told my husband tonight that we are going to have to start having Bill over now for dinner when my husband is home more. In the meantime I'll think everytime I make a cake or batch of cookies or something else Bill is going to get a taste. I think the real treat tho for Bill will be a friendly neighbor to talk to.
I like old people. They have so much history and a different perspective than the younger ones. I so enjoy finding out all about their history and what makes them tick. When I look at them, I try to imagine what they might have looked like in their younger years. Were they handsome or pretty? Did they have dark hair or light complextion? Were they athletic or sedentary? Did they always enjoy life or are they just now realizing there's not much left so might as well enjoy what's left of it? Usually, in time, many of these questions get answered but it's always fun to look at the old photos and see exactly how close (or not) you were in your imagination of them.
So now my husband is joking about the new man in my life. Ha! Just add him to the rest!!