MIDNIGHT STROLL WITH MY CRAZY NEIGHBOR

The time: midnight-ish.
The place: my street, 2 short blocks from my building.

I turned the corner to head home, sleepiness in my eyes and urgency in my bladder, when...clomp-shhhhh, clomp-shhhh.

"WELL HELLO."

"Hey what's up."

"ARE YOU HEADED HOME?"

"Yup."

"GOOD. ME TOO," he shout-said. "NOW I HAVE SOMEONE TO WALK WITH."

Great.

So we walked. I tried to walk that slow, but I literally couldn't move at his pace without wobbling around. So I'd take a few steps, and stop and wait.

"IT'S SUCH A NICE NIGHT."

"Yes it is."

"AT NIGHT IT'S NOT AS HOT."

"No, it's much nicer."

"ARE YOU GOING TO WORK IN THE GARDEN TONIGHT?"

We have a bright street lamp in front of our building, which illuminates the entire yard. So to avoid the heat, I work on things at night, digging weeds and planting new plants and watering, etc. Since I work at night, I usually start outside by 12:30 or 1. And yes, that's a.m. time.

"I don't know," I said. "Maybe."

"YOU'RE ALWAYS OUT THERE, DIGGING AWAY," he said. And he was silent. "I LIKE YOUR NEW FLOWERS."

"Oh, good."

"THEY'RE BLUE."

"Yes." I didn't tell him they were blue because I bought the wrong seeds. The flowers were supposed to be red. The blue matched...nothing.

"THEY'RE VERY PRETTY."

"Yes they are."

clomp-shhhh, clomp-shhh...

"DID YOU SEE THE OLD MAN TODAY?"

(Um, this is Miami Beach.) "Which one?"

"NEXT DOOR. HE SITS IN THE CHAIR."

"Oh. No."

"SOMEONE COLORED HIS HAIR," he said. "IT'S BLUE."

"Really?"

"HE LOOKS LIKE AN OLD LADY." And he laughed. "HE WAS WALKING AROUND IN CIRCLES IN HIS YARD. I TRIED TO SAY 'HI' BUT HE JUST SAID 'GO AWAY.'"

"That was rude."

"I DON'T THINK THE ELEVATOR GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP FLOOR." He shook his head. "I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIM."

"Oh."

"AT LEAST I ADMIT WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME."

At last! I was going to finally find out... "What do you mean?"

"I HAVE PARKINSON'S."

"What is Parkinson's?"

"IT DETERIORIATES THE NERVOUS SYSTEM," he said. "AND IT MESSES WITH THE FLUID IN YOUR BRAIN."

"Oh." Oh.

"SO IT MAKES IT HARD FOR ME TO WALK. THERE'S NO CURE FOR IT."

"Jeez."

"BUT I'M ON MEDICATION SO IT'S OKAY FOR NOW. I HAVE A GOOD DOCTOR."

clomp-shhh, clomp-shhh.

"MY WIFE USED TO HELP ME WITH THINGS, WITH HER IT WASN'T SO BAD. BUT SHE DIED."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were married."

"I WAS." He paused. "SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN."

"If she married you, I bet she was," I said. "You seem to have a way with the ladies."

"I STILL HAVE SOME TRICKS."

clomp-shhh, clomp-shhh.

Fifteen minutes along a three-minute walk, and we arrived at our building. "Here we are," I said, as I prepared to dart into the bathroom.

"THANK YOU FOR WALKING WITH ME."

"Sure, my pleasure."

"I'M SORRY IF I SLOWED YOU DOWN."

"That's okay," I said as I shrugged. "I need a reason to slow down once in a while."

"LOOK AT THIS GARDEN. SO BEAUTIFUL."

"It's alright, it's getting better."

"ARE YOU GOING TO WORK ON IT TONIGHT?"

"I don't know," I said. And I looked at the errant blue flowers. I still had some seeds..."Y'know, I think maybe, I will."

And he chuckled. "IT'S FUNNY," he said. "YOU'RE OUT HERE AT ONE IN THE MORNING DIGGING IN THE DIRT. AND PEOPLE THINK I'M THE ONE WHO IS CRAZY."

Comments

[Haim]

Sweet story, Dan.
Parkinsons is an absolute bitch, it robs people of their physical abilities.
You did a good thing.

[Aidan]

Could you please put a warning label at the beginning of posts saying "Warning: Contents may may make sensitive people blubber like idiots."

You, Dan Renzi, live in a world that is larger than just yourself. That is one of the things I like about you. You are a good boy.

How is HP going? Have you finished yet? My favorite line is "She's nuttier than squirrel poo."

[Richard]

I am in the middle of being pissed at my dad for being old and forgetful and making me soo mad I want to yell( and I never yell). You allowed me to mull for a moment. I'm still pissed at him, but I may now take a differnt approach in my speaking with him tomorrow morning. Thank you for reminding me of the need to breath before passing judgement.

[Yummsh]

Dan, I read three chapters in a row last night that thoroughly kicked my ass. Give yourself about 100-150 pages, and be ready. Sorry to post this here, but there are no comments on the other entries.

I think we all need a reason to slow down, too.

[Jayne]

"Could you please put a warning label at the beginning of posts saying "Warning: Contents may may make sensitive people blubber like idiots."

I second this request. What a sweet guy you are, Dan. I really enjoyed that story. =)

[no name slob]

Awww. Very sweet, in the good, refreshing way, like caffé freddo. Thanks for the story.

[Leo]

Yay! I was missing him!
And I like him now!! And you were sweet (shockers! lol)

[John]

I love gardening by moonlight..

[Jen]

You are a great person Dan!

[misscrankypants]

"Could you please put a warning label at the beginning of posts saying "Warning: Contents may may make sensitive people blubber like idiots."

Thirded. What a nice story. I tend to get impatient with our elderly citizens, but they have so much to share. I need to remember that more often.

[Bill H]

Dan, thanks for reminding us that we all need to slow down and admire the blue flowers that don't match anything. They are still beautiful, despite their errant color. As well, you remind us that people are just that, people. We all have stories and flaws and beauty and eccentricities. The key to life is to admire them all, the good and the bad. They make us who and what we are.

Oh, and Richard in the comment above, it is not your place to pass judgement. You have right to be angry, but passing judgement does not belong to anyone. Tell your father that you are angry with him and why, but do not judge him for being old and forgetful. It will get you nowhere and one day you will be in the same place.

[The Aitch]

Awesome, awesome. I am glad you slowed down for him. I was a CNA for 5 years and one of my most favorite patients was a man w/ Parkinsons and it was awful. People would just think he was being crazy or trying to be an ass when he really just could not help what his body was doing to him physically. The worst part? It does not affect the mind. Just the body, but people don't bother to take the time to understand that. I am proud that you did.

[erik]

that is such a great story. this is exactly the reason we need to get married!

[Peter]

Thanks for sharing Dan.

I think it's a good lesson to all of us. Look past someone's outside and see what's inside. It was great and very brave of him to share his truths! Can I assume you'll stop calling him your crazy neighbor?

[Amanda]

That is so sweet. Even though you had to pee, I'm glad you took the time to walk with your neighbor. You're a very good person, Dan.

[Kindra]

I am a lurker who looks like an idiot at the Phili airport bar waiting for my flight. That warmed my heart!!! It's nice to slow down sometimes isn't it.

[meg]

You always have the best stories. Thanks Dan :)

[jules]

Dan, I love your neighbor stories and your mom stories and ALL of your stories. You rock.
xo, Jules
www.bigpikchur.blogspot.com

[Lora]

Dan, what a great story! Thank you for sharing!

Parkinson's is the disease that Michael J Fox has. He is fighting for stem cell research to someday find a cure for this horrible disease. The current administration has vetoed any additional stem cell research....ugh!

Okay...won't ruin a lovely story with my political thoughts!

Lora

[art]

i think i'm going to go buy some blue flowers.

[Richard]

Thank you Bill H for the qualification.. I , in retrospect, didn't mean judgement... but more.. wanted to express my uncensored feelings to my dad.. rather than temper them with a few hours of thought before I responded to him doing things that worry and anger me. p.s. we had a good conversation this morning...we disagreed, but a good conversation. this is a long phase that will test and enrich me.. i know.. but right now... oy.

[magickat]

THIS is why I read your blog. You have a wonderful way of re-telling the stories of things that happen in your life day to day.

That old man probably takes great joy in your garden. Keep it up for him. And plant more blue flowers.

[David]

That was incredibly sweet. Stories like these are why I love you.