Losing neighbors like that has got to hurt a bit.
My parents have a number of deaths among their neighbors, too. It’s like that in a senior citizens’ residence of any kind.
Today was the 46th anniversary of a couple in our parish; they were at the 11:00 Mass. The gentleman has Alzheimer’s, but when Father Gary gave them a blessing and then said, “You may kiss your bride,” he brightened up and did!
They were married just a few weeks after I was born. Two of their grandchildren died in a house fire a few years ago. ... I can’t help but hope that Fred doesn’t remember that, but does remember 1966, when he and Linda were newlyweds.
Because of CFIDS, I don’t socialize much, so losing a neighbor to death or moving is not much of a loss for me. I’ve learned the hard way that becoming “friends” with someone in a small community such as this can be a double-edged sword.
In a way I want to help, and I will listen if they need to talk, but I won’t share myself with them except to tell them about CFIDS. To share more than that is to open myself to gossip and the bad natures of some of the residents who have nothing better to do than discuss their neighbors.