Mary Did You Know

Our sweet little neighbor Mary - what a treasure! Mary has been our neighbor for the past 21 years. She and her husband Everett welcomed us, as the wonderful neighbors they were then and continued to be throughout the years.

For years, Everett had a huge strawberry patch behind their house. For several years at the end of strawberry season, he would invite the boys and I to come pick the small berries that were left. We had some amazing tasting homemade strawberry ice cream and strawberry pies from these small berries he allowed us to gather.

In December, a few years after we moved into the neighborhood, our 8 month old daughter Lydia Grace died. Mary & Everett were in FL for the winter at the time, but reached out from FL, and when they returned. Everett stopped by our mailbox on his tractor one day that next Spring when I went to get the mail. We spoke of Lydia Grace's passing, as he shared his story of his young daughter who also passed away as a child. Everett and I both shared the same experience of holding our child as the last breath left their tiny bodies. Later, Mary and I would discuss this also, and how The Lord had planted us all in this neighborhood as neighbors, for such a time as this.

When we first began Christmas Caroling, Mary & Everett were already in FL by Christmas Caroling Season. After Everett passed is when we began to catch Mary at home to Christmas Carol to. She was always so encouraging to the boys, and often she was our first stop of the season, so for many years she probably didn't get the best caroling experience. That didn't bother Mary though, she always showed so much appreciation, excitement and didn't mind if the boys started over on a few carols. We could always count on Mary for encouragement, smiles and lots of laughter.

Mary also had her serious side though. When the boys would ride the 4 wheeler or dirt bikes in the field, I noticed Mary would come out to the end of her driveway or onto the bike path on her scooter. I assumed she was just enjoying watching the boys. When I mentioned this to her one day, she said "Yes, I watch them. I have my phone right there with me just in case, to call the squad. They get a little wild out there." And that was our Mary. She loved her neighbors and was always watching out for us. As we were for her. Most days, I would watch out the window as she went to get her mail, to make sure she made it back up to her house. I was always leery of her scooter battery dying and getting stranded in the driveway, though it never happened. One time, I did notice her car at the end of the driveway with the door open. I went down, and she was having an issue and had passed out for a second. So we got her back to the house, into her chair, where she rested and I waited to make sure she was fine. Neighbors being neighbors.

Mary was so excited for her 90th Birthday party this past year. It had been planned right after her 89th birthday. She would tell me that no one on her side of the family has lived to be 90. Then she would laugh and ponder at why her daughter began an entire year ahead to plan for her 90th birthday. I told Mary it's because she wanted her to have something to look forward to, that she didn't want her to kick the bucket before then! Mary just laughed and agreed. She was beaming at her 90th Birthday Party.

As we were traveling home after Thanksgiving, I was notified that Mary had passed. I knew it was coming at some point, but the tears just flowed, as did the memories. Mary loved people. I wished I loved people with the zest that she did. And Mary loved to talk, and fortunately, I like to listen. We've had some wonderful conversations over the past few years; some where she listened to me and gave her wisdom of years of living life. From all of Mary's stories and current situations, no matter what the obstacle, Mary still kept her joy and encouraged me to as well.

These past few years, Mary would call me, or I her, several times a week if we didn't see each other, just to check in. This past year after she stopped driving, she began scootering up the bike trail to hang out if I was doing something outside, or many times I would just walk back to her house and we'd sit on her porch for a while. As she wasn't feeling the best these last few months this Fall, I really began to miss those calls, conversations and visits.

I never took photos of Christmas Caroling when the boys were really young. I guess we were just too busy with the process. But I'm glad I clicked a few photos as we went on, and a few with Mary. Even though she seemed to shrink over the years as the boys began to tower over her... she was one of their biggest supporters during their Christmas Caroling years... and beyond. We couldn't have asked for a better neighbor. She is truly missed.