“Be a good neighbor. If you have a neighbor that breaks their daily routine, go knock on their door and make sure they're okay. Even if you don't know them very well, all you have to ask is "are you okay?" It could make all the difference in the world.” – My wife Evelyn via her Facebook page.
This post is for my next door neighbor Mark.
Here’s what I know about Mark.
He is in his mid 60’s, retired, friendly, extremely intelligent, works his ass off and is probably the best neighbor anyone could hope to have.
I first met Mark when he knocked on our door not too long after we moved in and let me know that he needed to put in a double wide gate so he could get his new boat in the backyard but in order to do that he would need to replace the front panels between our houses.
“No problem” I said “just let me know when you start so I can help.”
The next Saturday morning I heard some hammering and went to investigate. Mark had already pulled up all the old posts, reset new ones and had most of the fence panels up.
I noticed that the gate post at the fence line and the one next to his house were not in line and mentioned it to him. He launched into a detailed explanation of the angle the gate needed to swing in order to allow for a wider opening so the boat would go through, etc..
I knew then that I was out of my league so I just gave him money for half the materials and let him have at it.
I did the same thing when he let me know our shared mailbox post was beginning to rot and needed to be replaced. So for about $80 dollars I got a custom built mailbox post reinforced with flat iron running down each side. Oh yeah, it is also perfectly level which is something I would never have been able to accomplish.
Mark continues to work diligently around his house and is even remodeling the inside.
Mark is a very private person. I mean we talk whenever we see each other but it is never about anything personal. I have no idea if he is divorced, widowed, or has any family.
Mark is very routine oriented. I may not see him for a couple of weeks at a time but I know he is around. His trashcan is always right next to the mailbox on Wednesday afternoon even though the pickup is not until Thursday morning and he never brings it back up to the house until Thursday afternoon.
That was my first sign.
I came home from school on Wednesday night and the trashcan wasn’t out. I thought maybe he had forgot which hasn’t happened in 5 years or maybe he wasn’t home.
When I went to work on Thursday morning there was a package on his front porch. It was still there Friday morning. It was still there Friday evening when I got home.
I knew then.
I called his house. No answer.
I checked his mailbox. Crammed full.
Evelyn and I knocked on his door. No answer.
I talked to the neighbor on the other side of Mark. He hadn’t seen Mark in about a week or so.
Damn it!
We called the police.
Here’s something else I know about Mark.
He died sometime between last Thursday afternoon when he pulled his trashcan in and last night when the police entered his house via the garage and found him in bed with the TV on.
He died alone.
No family or friends around.
I now know he has a son in Texas, a sister in California, a brother and mother in Illinois.
I should have knocked on his door when his trash wasn’t out. I should have…
Rest in peace Mark.
Thank you for being a great neighbor.
