I’ve spent the last several years watching the young family across the street live life and grow. I would really enjoy sitting on my front porch watching the young girls play on their bikes, skates, practicing throwing and batting balls, as I’m soaking up that youthful laughter. Also everyday their dogs would come out to run and play. I remember one snowy day the whole family and the dogs were out having a grand time playing in the snow. In the early years I’d see dad come pulling up to the house in his semi truck and the young girls being so excited to see daddy again would come running out and practically climb all over him, young mom was right behind them. I’d often see the girls with young mom coming and going loading and unloading athletic equipment for either practice or games. They might see me on occasions on my porch and we would exchange neighborly waves. It just seemed like I’d watch the girls go in the house and then in no time these tall lanky girls would re-emerge from the house. They were growing up so fast. I figured soon they would be driving. It gave me such joy to see all that youth and energy around that house.
Young mom and I would text and check on one another from time to time. We would try to comfort and console one another when life would hit us with the hard stuff. Her and the girls would leave get well gifts on my porch and at Christmas we would exchange some goodies. I enjoyed seeing her house all decorated outside for Christmas and she enjoyed seeing mine.
Young mom and I hadn’t communicated in a while. I had heard rumor there was a storm brewing. I wasn’t quite sure what to do. I just hoped it would all blow over. But then the day I saw the big u haul backed up to the front door I knew the storm had hit and in its wake the young family were left devastated. It broke my heart to see only certain items being taken out of this young families home and packed away for travel to its new destination. When the u haul was full and finally closed out came the two dogs and two cats. Two dogs were loaded up and one cat was secured. Another young cat climbed onto the car curious as to what was going on. Apparently there wasn’t room for one more cat. Young girl picked it up and took it back up to the porch. In no time young cat was back on the car again. Once again young girl took it backup to the porch. Then the time came for drivers and passengers to take their place in the u haul and the cars The u haul pulled out first followed by the cars. To me it might as well have been a funeral procession because it felt like a death. The life of this young family is now gone for me and I couldn’t hold back tears any longer.
Young cat thinking it had just been let out for some sun and play time stopped for a moment and sat in the middle of the now empty drive way. It is sadly unaware how much his and this young families world has now been forever changed. The splitting of a family is so heart wrenching. Now there won’t be any sparkling Christmas decorations for me to enjoy across the street this year. The once young families home will now just be a cold, dark and lifeless house. I really wanted to keep watching this young family grow and took for granted they would just always be right across the street.
Sitting on my front porch just got a whole lot lonelier.
That's what I thought 