Neighbor PatMy dear neighbor, Pat, is gone. They moved her into an assisted living apartment last week, after several trips to the hospital and to rehab for recurring pneumonia and C. Diff infections. It all began with her knee surgery, then a fall in her bathroom, on to being allergic to Bandit, her new dog. It just went downhill from there. We saw her today, and she was using a walker and had lost a lot of weight.
The family came in this weekend and cleaned out her house. I guess they are going to have an estate sale later, then put the house up for sale. It will seem odd not having Pat there, after living next to each other for over twenty years. Bandit has gone to Spokane to live with Pat's son. If they can't find him a good home, they will keep him. They have a large dog that Bandit loves and follows around, so I hope he can continue to live with them.
Pat seems pretty cheerful about her move. She has a small apartment, with kitchenette, living room, bedroom and bath. There's a small patio, and they took several of her large planters of flowers over for her to place there with her patio chairs. I will try to get over for a visit before we leave for Arizona. No, I won't try, I will visit. We need to sit on her patio and have a final iced coffee before the weather turns too cold.
There were a lot of things Pat can't have with her. She and her husband spent several years living in Thailand, and she had quite a collection of mementos, large and small, from that country. It will be difficult clearing out years of living in that large house and fitting even a small portion of it into a small apartment.
One thing she will have no use for are her empty canning jars, so she had them sent over to me. They came with a nice (large) wicker basket, that will be perfect for harvesting vegetables. I only wish I would be sharing them with her.
oh a bit sad but it's okay as long as she's happy. Well how nice of her to give you a bunch of jar. You can use that in the future swear! (jam, etc. . )take care and have a great day
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that your neighbor is moving. The same health problems are occurring with our uncle and he's moving to assisted living also. It's always a hard transition, we visited last week and he seems in good spirits. I hope you'll be able to visit her before and after your trip to Arizona.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer. It's hard when changes like that happen. At least she sounds okay with it. And you get to visit! And who knows, maybe you'll get some young gal moving in that might need a great gardening mentor!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when things like that change. Nice one on the jars though. I also hope that your next neighbour is a good one. You could end up living next door to a right bloody idiot. How much is the house up for?
ReplyDeleteIt is sad when you loose a neighbour that you get on so well with. My favourite neighbours moved last year, only just up the road but some how it is not the same!
ReplyDeleteYou did well getting all the jars, lots of work for next year. Diane
Oh my goodness, Granny, when I read the word "gone" I feared the worst. I'm happy that Pat is moving to where she gets the help she needs and you're there to see her before she moves.
ReplyDelete:( Sorry to hear you are losing your neighbor, I hope Pat is happy in her new place.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about you're losing a good neighbor but it sounds like the best thing for her. I hope you get some fantastic neighbors to move in, or perhaps the "commune" we were discussing? LOL... nice of her to send you all those jars!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about Pat. I feel like I've lost a neighbor as well. Tell her to keep her chin up for me.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're losing such a great neighbor! Hope your iced coffee visit is as sweet as ever.
ReplyDeleteGranny, I know you are going to miss your neighbor Pat. It's hard when things change like that. You can always visit with her..right? I know it won't be the same though.
ReplyDeleteOh how sad. I used to live in a neighborhood with two really good friends. I took one of them with me when I moved (she lives on the other side of my townhouse now). But we left one friend back in the old neighborhood. She says she is lonely without us there. We still see her mind you. I saw her twice last week, but it isn't the same when you've lived next door for so long.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear you are losing such a good neighbor. I feel for her family, having to pare her belongings down. My husband and I had to do the same for his mum about 5 years ago when she had a stroke and had to go into a nursing home. It was a difficult, thankless job.
ReplyDeleteIt was very nice of her to give you her canning jars. You've talked about Pat quite a bit in your blog, so I can understand you missing her. It's great that she is getting her own little apartment, and will get good care too. I hope when you come back next year you can still visit her in her new place.
Oh Pat! Maybe, since she has a kitchenette, you can bring her some canned jars of your harvested veggies... and some fresh beans and such next year when you're back from AZ. At least she's okay with the move.
ReplyDeleteOh Granny, I am so sad for you both. I hope you do go visit her often!
ReplyDeleteWith any luck you will get a wonderful new neighbor! Let's keep our fingers crossed!
Glad to hear Bandit has a new friend! I hope he gets to stay there as well!
Granny the saddest part of this is we all are headed in that direction. It won't be a happy day for me. Its all a mater of time for all of us. If I get that far I will have a SFG on the balcony. And be sending love overtures to you. :) John
ReplyDeletep.s. Don't tell MR. Granny
Sorry to hear that Pat is moving away. I second the use of the new jars as gifts for when you visit Pat in the new Assisted Living facility. We helped pack up, pare down and move my grandmom a few years back and it was a very difficult task. But she loves it there now since she doesn't has as much of a burden keeping up the house, garden, driving, etc and she has made some wonderful friends who are walking distance away. Have a wonderful iced coffee with a great friend before your trip.
ReplyDeletePat is so lucky to have had you for a neighbor all those years, and I'm sure she'll cherish your visits even more at her new place.
ReplyDeleteThat is really sad to read - but not unexpected. The last few posts where you discussed Pat, made it clear things were not going well for her. Good neighbors and friends are hard to come by. Her moving will be a real loss for you on both scores.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that you and Pat are losing each other as neighbors. It's a good thing, though, that Pat is okay with the move. That's going to make things easier for her.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you for your well wishes for Pat, and for understanding that I'm a bit depressed over losing my good neighbor. It won't be so bad right now, since we're always apart all winter. Next spring and summer is when it will really hit me that she's gone.
ReplyDeleteSigh....
ReplyDeleteOh, my dear friend, I am sorry you lost your friend and neighbor, Pat. You have had such a wonderful relationship with her. You are a good neighbor and friend to everyone you meet. Just remember I am always going to be your BFF. Have lots of fun in AZ. Check out your facebook site once in a while. You'll see me there.
ReplyDeleteLove you, N
My dearest BFF, I haven't looked at that Facebook page since I created it! I spend enough time on the computer without getting caught up in the social networks.
ReplyDeleteAre you coming for the class picnic next June? If we're attending, I'll have to start dieting and using that wrinkle cream more often ;-)