A New

I left the White House with the black shutters six years ago. It was perched on a corner with only one adjacent neighbor.

I also left Ken, who lived there with his wife and two sons. He was an interesting gregarious young man, always available to visit in the years after my children had departed to follow their own stars.

We often spent time sharing coffee along with our diverse views on mundane subjects. Sometimes Ken stayed too late, and I had to explain I had an early morning appointment. Since Ken was employed in the construction industry, his work schedule was more flexible than mine. Although my kind neighbor was the age of my youngest son, he always seemed to be a contemporary.

There were many occasions when Ken came to my aid during the long days and years my husband was slowly departing this world. . Our own devoted children were then scattered far from the White House with the black shutters and unable to be there for all the seemingly constant health crises.

I recall Ken was there the first morning my husband fell. He arrived to help seconds after the 911 call had been answered

Four years later when my husband had said his final goodbye, Ken remained with me in the driveway when a gas leak came close to taking my life. He waited patiently until the deadly fumes had been cleared by the emergency workers and I could return home.

For now incomprehensible reasons, I lost contact with Ken after I packed my belongings and drove far away from my beloved home, its comforting memories and the loss of my once secure world.

By then, Ken’s world had shattered; far more than I can describe. While repairing a client’s roof, the ladder fell backwards shattering his spine, and leaving him paralyzed for life.

The still young Father and husband spent countless hours in medical facilities but the damage was done. When he returned home, he was welcomed by a devoted family, as well as the many friends he had made with his good humor, and strong religious beliefs.

Oh yes, in the beginning, many visited and remembered my kind neighbor. However, as life took its toll on those he once called friends, some (including me) began to slowly forget the man and friend Ken had once been.

Possibly we didn’t like seeing what could happen to another human being or watch in awe the incredible strength Ken displayed despite the tragedy. There were a lot of reasons (some justifiable; others not so) for my lack of contact when I last locked the door on the white house with the black shutters.

Today is the beginning of spring in the Northeast. Perhaps that is why I thought I’d see if there was any recent news about Ken on the internet. I thought I might drop him a note.

If I do now I will address it to Heaven. That’s where he moved two weeks ago.