Nellie

Nellie and I have a bond.  It all began when I moved into the apartment in the fall of '04.  Well, we didn't bond at that point but our cars did.  For you see they kept each other company right next to each other under the carport.  Spring came and I met the woman of the white car.  Nellie is her name and she turned 90 years old last month.  She still drives but only once a day and it's to the local KMart.  She gets a cart and walks the perimeter of the store.  The cart helps her keep her balance.  I know this about her because we've become friends and I've walked the perimeter with her a few times.  One time last summer we chatted before getting in our respective cars and low and behold several minutes later (I had to go back in the apartment because I forgot something.  That's not anything unusual) I noticed her cane next to where her car was.  In talking to me she forgot to put her cane in the car.  I knew where she'd gone so I drove to KMart and I located her.  She somehow got in the store without her cane.

But to back up, I lived there for quite awhile before we really talked much.  She actually lives in the building adjacent to where I lived with the carport between.  I really didn't know exactly where she lived though.  The garbage container is right next to the carport area and has a fence around it to hide it's unattractiveness.  But one evening I was out there taking my trash when a garbage bag came over the fence and missed the container.  I told the person, "Hey, you missed!"  I was thinking it was a lazy teenager grudgingly taking the trash out and I wanted them to know they missed.  I heard this old voice apologize and I went around the other side and it was Nellie!   Of course, I got the trash for her and she didn't need to explain a thing!  That was our first true interaction.  A few months passed and I noticed her car had not moved from the carport and I was concerned about her.  So I asked the maintenance worker, Patrick, if he knew anything.  She had had a back injury and had been in the hospital.  When she was home I stopped by and introduced myself.  I reminded her our cars are parked next to eachother and I also reminded her about our garbage throw encounter.  We both had a good laugh on that one.  We visited and got acquainted with each other.  Her son travels two-hours every Thursday to spend a good part of the day with her but otherwise, she doesn't get too many visitors.  So I gave her my telephone number and told her to call me anytime.  A few weeks later she called me about 11 p.m. and asked if I could help her with the thermastat.  I went right over and she was apologetic but I told her it was no problem and that I was glad she called me.  

This past Spring I told her I would be moving from the apartment into a house but I asked her if could still stop by to visit every once in awhile.  And that's what I do.  I know when I get a message on my machine with her saying, "I want you to know you can visit anytime, Honey, and don't need me to call you for an invitation", I know it's time to pay her a visit. 

I just stopped by this evening and we had a good chat.  When I left she told me she loved me as we hugged one another.  I told her I loved her too.