When we officially moved into our Californian abode, we had neighbors on both sides of us. The neighbors on the left side had a little boy, one year younger than The Redhead, and they became fast friends. Too fast. Our doorbell was ringing constantly. The poor cat was being tortured now by two children, and we had just gotten her. We didn't even have furniture yet. We looked like squatters in this empty house. A card table, some folding chairs, sleeping bags, brand new mattresses, and boxes of Overstock.com purchases were all we seemed to own. Yet, he still rang that doorbell. All day long. I was overwhelmed by the changes and had errands to run, but he just wouldn't leave. And if he did, he quickly came back. Like a stray cat. And The Redhead was so happy to have a playmate, she didn't want him to stay away either. Even though they argued and he annoyed her, she had her first friend. And apparently that meant something.
And then as quickly as we met him, he was gone.
We discovered shortly after moving in July (technically we bought the house in June) that they would also be moving. By the end of July. We had one month of him. And then just like that, they moved away. I didn't have anything against the boy. They seemed like nice enough people, but they couldn't afford their house, and renting was seeming like a better option. Next thing you know, we had a vacant house to our left with a little white paper taped in the window.
And although men have been by over the months to lock it up, mow, clean it out, and whatever else they do over there, it's just existed. Like a lonely house with no one to love it. But finally, we saw some progress being made. There it was. A post in the front yard with a Realtor sign dangling from it and on top of the post the words, "Coming Soon."
So perhaps at some point, we'll be getting a new neighbor. The Redhead and Mister Man are ready to start the screening process. She's hoping for a nice child her age. He has a bigger list.
And just as soon as we say, "it took them long enough," I remember the house behind our house in Kansas and how it was vacant for years. It had been abandoned by its owners and remained bank-owned for years before we ever saw anyone from the bank come by to lock it up or anything. It had mold growing in the windows, and according to a few people that had peeked inside, it was incredibly nasty. I took their word for it. Finally, after what felt like forever, it finally went for sale and was scooped up quickly by a nearby landlord. Unfortunately, he died while working on it and his family then was selling it too. I've heard it has since sold. The point I was trying to make though, before I went off on another tangent, is I know full well these things take time. But it doesn't mean those houses aren't lonely. And it doesn't mean I'm not in a hurry to see who will be living beside us.
Maybe it won't be lonely for long. Because a new horizon is coming soon for it. And I hear their neighbors on the right aren't so bad, aside from the slightly neurotic wife.
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