I went out to the driveway this morning to fetch The Globe and Mail – as I do most mornings. As I reached for the paper I glanced over at Muriel’s window next door – as I do most mornings.
Muriel has been in that house next door since 1972. Sometimes in the morning she sees me as she is sitting having a coffee by her window. She always waves and sometimes beckons me over to share some gossip or a tidbit of family news from her large family. Muriel is, as the biblical saying goes, the salt of the earth. She has been a good neighbour, and a good friend to our family for many years.
And then I remembered. Muriel is no longer there. She had a heart attack recently. She is now in a care facility on the Island somewhere.
A wave of emotion swept over me. Muriel is not going to be in her window again, waving or beckoning. I’ll probably not hear her voice or see her smile again.
Say “Hello” to your neighbours today. For you never know when the opportunity will be gone – slipping into the stream of time.
Filed under: love
