The people that live across the street, moved in about 5 years ago.  They are the ONLY people in this part of the park that have a double lot and set up their home, across both lots, facing the street.  Their son was the park manager at the time.

The fact that they took away my entire view of the service drive and the woods beyond did not endear them to me.  I used to see deer and Sand Cranes and such almost daily--until they obstructed my view.

They were never the friendliest.  Not ones to call out a "Hi" when they see you outside.  I did take them warm chocolate chip cookies the day they moved in and if I see her while I am out, I will walk over and chat for awhile.

Bob and Marilyn, in their mid-70's.  Their younger son (40ish) and his son, Tristan (17) live there.  Bob went out every morning at precisely 8:00 to go into Brighton to have breakfast with friends.  Marilyn went out every other morning to shop at Meijer.  I have never seen any of the men come out to help her carry in groceries.

A few months ago, Bob had an infection in one of the tracts in his gall bladder.  He nearly died.  Then he was in rehab for two weeks.  He came home and was once again into his routine of "breakfast with the boys".

Then I noticed that he was walking with a cane and Marilyn drove him into town every morning.

Then he used a walker and only went to breakfast a couple of times a week.  Last week, I saw her and her son struggle to get Bob out of the car and into a walker with a seat on it and try to get him into the house.

Last weekend, there were a lot of cars parked out in front of their house.   This past Monday, there was a hospital bed brought into their house.

Tuesday, I saw their son out mowing the lawn.  I walked over and asked, "Dad's in bad shape?"

He nodded.

"I noticed you had a lot of visitors and no place for them to park."

"Yeah, my sister was here."

"Well...I just wanted to tell you and you can tell your Mom, anyone of your visitors can use my extra parking space."

He actually smiled.

"You can move one of your cars over, or have anyone park there."

"Thanks.  I will come and knock on your door when we need it."

"Nope.  You don't have to do that.  Just park there whenever you need it.  Night or day--several days--just use it whenever."

"Thanks."

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We all have space to park two cars in our drive/parking pads.  I only have one car.  Maybe having that extra space for them to park, right across the street, will help them out.

Meanwhile, I know what's going on inside that house and it makes me sad.  I especially feel for the teenager.  Coming home from school every day, wondering, when you walk in, if Grandpa is still alive or on his way out.  Is he going to die while you're there?  It's kind of hard to ignore the hospital bed set up in the middle of the living room.

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Yesterday I met Karen in Brighton to go to the round-about mall to find me a pair of shoes for the wedding.  I knew what I wanted.  Comfortable flats in navy blue.  We were going to check out 3-4 stores.

First, because we were right in front of the Kohl's store, we checked there.  Neither one of us likes that store.  Everything is "on sale".  Inflated prices, with a nice sale ticket which is probably the original price anyway.

We walked WAAAAAY back to the shoe department.  Karen picked up a pair of shoes and said, "What about these, Mom?"

I tried them on.  They fit perfectly and felt like comfy slippers.

"They look really nice," Karen said.

"Yeah but...they are black.  I know with my long skirt, they won't show much, but I really want a dark navy blue."

So my resourceful daughter leads me up to the customer service desk, presents the shoe and says, "Can you check to see if there are any shoes like this, in the back?  We need this size only in navy."

Then she tells me to go sit on the bench while she does the run back to the shoe department.

About 20 minutes later she appears.  "They don't have them here, but I had them call the Howell store.  They have them and are going to hold them for us.  Plus, I have a 30% off coupon."

YAY!!!

We get in our cars.  She is going up the expressway and I am going the back way home.  "I'll meet you at your house.  You can hop in my car and we'll drive up to Howell and get them.  Follow me."

"I can't drive on the expressway, Honey."  I said.  "I don't think this car can go 75, without something dropping off."

So off we go and I arrive home before her.  Which makes me kind of worried.  Did she get in an accident or a slow down on the expressway, because there is no way--me driving the back way and through Brighton, that I could have beat her.

Just as I was pondering all this, in she drives.  Gets out with a shoe box in her hand.

"I figured as long as I was flying up the expressway, just to keep on going up to Howell."

Took us less than an hour.  I hate walking all around shopping, so it was a win for me.  Karen has school exams she has to grade this weekend and the wedding next weekend, she doesn't need the whole "hauling Mom around" scenario.

Even then, she offered to haul out my pots from the shed so I can plant annuals.  She offered to vacuum if I needed it.  She took the bedding out of the dryer and turned the mattress and made my bed for me.

I knew when she was born, she was special.  I know that even more today.  What a blessing she is.

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This week I have PT Monday and Wednesday.  Hair trim on Tuesday.  Finish up the coordination of how I am going to get to the wedding and home from the reception and the wedding on Saturday.

Because Jennifer's whole family is coming in for the wedding, she decided to have a surprise graduation open house for her oldest, Andrew on Sunday, in Brighton.  Thankfully I can make it there all by myself!!!

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This sounds terrible, but personally?  I can't wait for it all to be over, including PT.

I just want to get back to my quiet, uncomplicated, peaceful way of life.