Neighbors

I grew up in the small town of Orting, it was the type of town in which everyone knew everyone else, no one locked their doors, parents and children had the same teachers (just 30 years apart), and a kid couldn't get away with anything without their parents being called before they even made it home. In my neighborhood, we spent the Summers sleeping outside in our yard and playing tag and riding our bikes through the streets. My whole family lived within five miles of me and I went to school with the same kids from kindergarten up.

Across the street from my house lived two very special people, Ann and Les Spangler. For as long as I can remember, I have had a strong connection to them. Tiffany and I used to trot over to their house at least once a day, we would bypass the front door and go straight to the kitchen door. We were always greeted with a snack (purchased just for us) and were invited in. For many years we spent a lot of time with Ann and Les. They introduced us to kiwi fruit, The Price is Right, and bowling. Through my childhood, teenage years, and even as a young adult, I remained close with Ann and Les. 

I moved back to my childhood town in April of 2007, however it is not the same small town that it once was. Our family lives outside of town now which doesn't allow my boys to have the same type of neighborhood that I once had. I never would have guessed that our only neighbors would provide my boys with the same love and memories that I shared with Ann and Les. Liam and Landon's Ann and Les are Elmer and Elaine Clark. Elmer and Elaine are high school sweethearts that went seperate ways after high school, both married others but were reunited at a high school reunion after becoming widowed. With no children of thier own, Elmer and Elaine have claimed my boys as theirs. Though Liam and Landon are only seventeen months old, they have already begun to build forever memories with their Grammy and Grampy. Elmer and Elaine have loved my boys from the moment that they met them. They call to check on them and will find any excuse possible to come over to visit. Even though they are both into their 80's, they are the first to call and ask if they can babysit or if they can take our whole family out. Scott and I know that they only invite us so that our feelings aren't hurt, they really just want to show the boys off to their friends. 

This last weekend, Scott and I decided to have a small garage sale. As soon as Grammy and Grampy saw that the boys were outside in their stroller they came to visit. Grammy took the boys for a walk while Grampy did some work in the yard. After a few minutes I noticed that I couldn't see Grammy and the twins, I wasn't sure if I should go try to find them or not but just as I was going to go track them down, they appeared. Grammy had taken the boys to meet some of the other people that live on our street, she said "I wanted Gene to meet my boys." As I watch Liam and Landon with Grammy and Grampy, I can't help but think of Ann and Les and it makes me happy to know that Liam and Landon will one day have the same love and memories with Grammy and Grampy that I shared with Ann and Les.

Ann and Les have been gone for quite a few years now but I still think of them often and am forever grateful that so many years ago God made them my neighbors.