“Be kind, unless you can be fantatsic. Then be fantastically kind.” ~ Unknown
reflection
This is the man from whom we bought Hero and Shero’s house, which is next to mine. It is because of him that I was able to have supper with my dad every night for three years before he died. It is because of him that I am still able to have supper with my mom every night before she leaves, too. It is because of him that both of my parents survived the lockdown of COVID, because I promise you, they would not have survived if they had remained in Morgan County (not because of COVID, but the many illnesses they both suffered during lockdown). This, my friends, is Craig Timmerman and his daughter, Claire. They happened to stop by today while she was in town, and we both just happened to be home.
inside
Craig’s story, and Claire’s story with him, is theirs to tell, so I will only say that today we learned we all have much more in common than the house, including the love of music. Shero and I were thrilled to show Craig and Claire the house. He was shocked when he walked in the back door, and rightfully so. It looks like an entirely different place from when he lived there. Claire, too, was stunned at the transformation. The best part came when I told him we still had his piano, the one he had given us with the house, the one he used to help teach his violin students in his studio, which is now Shero’s bedroom. I think both Claire and I were beaming when the two traded seats at the ivories. Mom plays entirely by ear, and Craig can only play the notes on the page with one finger, but between the two, we had a good time. Shero asked him if he wanted to race rollators! (he declined – smart guy)
players one and all
If you’ve known me for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about “Chainsaw Charlie.” This is the man, the myth, the legend. This is the man I affectionately called “Chainsaw Charlie” when we were neighbors, and sometimes not so affectionately when he revved up that chainsaw at 7 am on a Saturday. But we worked it out and lived peacefully side by side for twelve years, and when he was ready to move on, he gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I was to see him today, so I could thank him in person for that gift. I doubt he fully understood in 2019 what was at stake in my life, or how badly my family needed to be together to get through these passing years. Thank you seems woefully insufficient, but it’s all I have. I am also eternally grateful to Claire for bringing him by and being such a good daughter to him. It is important to usher your elders through their aging. I couldn’t have asked for a bigger blessing than the one I got today. I hope they come back again.
good gathering
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