Neighbors ..

My whole life, our neighbors have always been like family. Some of the best memories of my childhood involve my neighbors. Some of my best friends were neighbors.

There was never a dull moment -- hunting frogs, exploring in the woods and tying bikes together to create long "trains". We had Fourth of July parades where we decorated our bikes, Halloween evenings were spent sorting and trading the candy we collected, holidays were spent at parties in our cul-de-sac and birthdays were celebrated in our backyards. We jumped on trampolines for countless hours and swam in pools until our hands were wrinkly. We were told to be home when the street lights came on .. and most times I pushed my luck, peddling home on my bike after the specified time.

Years passed and many friends moved away, then it was our turn.

We moved to a new neighborhood and although our past neighborhood friendships remain, new relationships were formed.

I have since moved into a home of my own, but I still consider my parent's house my "real" home.

Our favorite neighbor, Mary Pat, is a dear friend. She recently lost her husband and it shook our whole family -- our whole neighborhood, really. Bob was a great man who ALWAYS kept a smile on everyone's face. He was very well known and very well liked. I will never forget him.

One of Mary Pat's favorite daily activities is to walk her dog, Nick, around the neighborhood. We have known Nick since Mary Pat and Bob first got him as a pup.

I was shocked to learn that he fell very ill this past week and passed away. No one knows for sure what made him sick, although there are suspicions that he was exposed to poison on the golf course where he and Mary Pat often walked.

Nick came over to visit Beau and Knox every time they were at my parent's house. The pair would come walking up the driveway and the boys would go crazy with excitement. They loved Nick. Beau would occasionally take it upon himself to run down the street to Nick's house to pay him a visit.

Say a little prayer for our friend, Mary Pat. I pray for comfort. I pray for peace. We'll miss you, little man.