Time for another neighbor story…
Virginia is my across-the-street neighbor. Also an original owner. She raised four kids in that house. Was married to her husband for more than fifty years. He was a shop teacher, built most of the furniture in their house. He passed away a few weeks before we moved in. He’d been sick for a couple years.
I think they had a good marraige. The kind that makes other people long for that in their own lives. One time, when Dave was working out in the garage on some project (crown molding, I believe), Virginia came over and asked if she could hang out there for a bit. She said she really missed the smell of sawdust.
She and her daughter and a couple friends often go on Saturday drives. In a convertible. With RESPECT blaring on the radio. It’s so Ya-Ya I can’t believe it. And I love it. They were even singing along. I want so badly to ask them if I can join them on a little girl-power drive. It sounds like so much fun.
Now, Virginia has a gentleman suitor. (maybe more, I’m not paying THAT close attention). I like to imagine it was one of her husband’s friends. One that has been admiring her for a long time, thinking how wonderful she is, and how he’d like to have a marraige like she had. I imagine it’s very nice for both of them to find companionship at this point in their lives, an exciting new love in the autumn of their life. I saw her kiss him once. And it surprised me and made me happy for her.
She’s a spunky lady. One who is still having fun and adventures. A widow, but not closed up. I love her. I want to be like her someday.
16 Comments
shannon that is too cute that you are doing this. i know way too much about my neighbors (close quarters) and i wouldn’t want to share it with anyone. isn’t meet virginia a song?
Great story… love it.
She sounds amazing, Shannon! The ya-ya moment is so great! Love your title, too!
that sounds like such a neat lady.
I found your blog from One Scrappy Site and I had to comment on this story. Love it! She truly sounds amazing!
i love these neighbors of yours! i wish my neighborhood had more “spice”!
hi shannon,
what a great lady and you are such a wonderful storyteller–you have a true gift my friend!
i hope all is well!
hi shannon,
what a great lady and you are such a wonderful storyteller–you have a true gift my friend!
i hope all is well!
I love hearing about your neighbors!
Love these neighborhood stories!!! Definately perfect character sketches!
Great story, Shannon! I want to be fun and spunky as I get older. My friend, Susan, has an aunt who is her late 80s and is one of the spunkiest people I’ve ever met. She is a widow and at Susan’s wedding when she was tossing her bouquet her aunt was calling out, “Throw it to me, Susan! Throw it to me!”
I’m loving these stories!!!!! Love that about the convertible!
Great story. If ever I had to go through losing a spouse I hope I could keep it together like she is.
Ah, what an awesome story. Love that she wanted to be around the sawdust smell and love your theory about her gentleman friend. I know nothing about my neighbors and judging by their yards I don’t want to, lol. Maybe I need to not be so judgemental though.
OK now she sounds like one cool lady! Lovin your stories Shannon! Your a great writer.
What a cool story!! And what a cool neighbor!