Bittersweet

We have been richly blessed to have wonderful neighbors, especially Mrs. Parker.

Her granddaughter told me recently that she really doesn't like children but she finds ours delightful.  We've swapped stories and cups of sugar; neighborhood news and gardening advice.

About a month ago she moved to a townhouse a stone's throw away.  Today an estate company came to remove the remainder of her belongings.  I watched, feeling that it was somehow wrong to have so many collected treasures carted away by oversized men who'll sell them for a pittance to gawking Saturday shoppers.

Bringing treats to the boys, her eyes filled with tears, saying it was just so hard to watch, even worse than moving.  So many memories filled the home that she had shared with her husband for over 40 years and in a matter of hours it was reduced to a bare house, merely walls and a roof.

It leaves me hungry for those treasures which can't be carted away.