Goodbye My Friend…

February 2007 my wife and I purchased our first home. After weeks of looking we finally came across a house that matched ALL the criteria she wanted, and almost met all the criteria I wanted…when her criteria was opposite of my criteria, you can guess whose won. We came across a house that had just fallen into our price range, so we took a look. By that evening we had a contract on it, this is where the story just begins.

We did not know how this house would end up being a blessing for not just our family, but for others. Since we have bought this house, we have now had two different families live with us while they were in need, we have hosted holidays and birthdays. But what sticks out to me, and what I always tell people, I love my neighbors, I couldn’t have picked better ones. Well that leads me to today…

Over these years I have got to know most of them, but none as much as I have Willie. Here is the strange part, Willie is 40 years older than me! But that didn’t matter, Willie and me would have endless talks out in the driveway, in his garage, over the fence and in his front room. If Dawn was trying to find me, and couldn’t, first place to look was always over at Willie’s. What did we talk about all the time, nothing that solved world hunger, nothing that would get anyone an award or any sort, we just talked. Anything and everything. Willie and his family made us feel like a part of their family, from dropping off smoked meats that were extra, to birthday and Christmas gifts for my kids, even getting Ephrem a life jacket to be used so he could swim in the pool and be safe. When Willie bought a new lawn mower, guess what he did with his old one, he gave it to my family. Didn’t ask for anything in return, just wanted to help us out. That is who Willie is, was and will always be. That’s why Friday was so hard, see my friend lost his battle, lost his hard fight. He gave everything he had till the end.

No more driveway chit chats, no more looking out the window to see him just standing there looking out over his driveway, no more seeing his caring smile…

Willie was just a neighbor, right? No, Willie was a great friend, from a different generation, who had great stories, stories that I won’t be able to hear anymore…

Goodbye my friend………

Willie Whitener 9/16/39 to 8/17/12