Barbara J. Hamby

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Our Neighbor

Today Al becomes the same age I am. Since April, his official age has been one year less than mine, but now he has caught up, so to speak.

A couple of days ago, he gave our little neighbor, Ada, a ride to her doctor’s office. He can barely understand anything she says because of his poor hearing and her soft, fast speech. But somehow they manage to communicate to a degree.

As I’ve mentioned before, I think Ada’s age and her weight are nearly the same, somewhere in the mid eighties. That was the reason for the doctor’s visit. He wanted to weigh her and apparently was upset that she’d lost six pounds. She probably explained that to him in as much detail as she did to me. She told me, when she was working, her left leg was swollen due to varicose veins. After she finally retired late last year, the swelling went down and the excess water drained off. Ada believes that’s where the six pounds went. She said she eats all the time and can’t button her pants any more.

Ada’s dark Italian eyes flash and her hands flutter when she talks. She is still trying to find another job with the help of the State of Oregon Employment office. She thinks she could be the cleaning lady for a coffee shop. She would enjoy doing that. She has to be busy and moving most of the time. She sweeps her driveway and carport every day. I imagine she cleans her whole house, also. It always looks tidy

Somehow I can picture her sitting up in her coffin to dust the top off before she goes. That’s a picture that could make me smile through my sadness, if I outlive her.