I M Perfect lady

Remembering Jack and Art.  When we first moved to this house, our neighbors were a couple of bachelor brothers, Jack and Art.   It is like they came with the house. They owned an old green Chevy pickup….one that had a wooden plank for the tailgate.  Their home was without running water, and they made almost daily trips to the Spring on the corner, just beyond our property line.  Our kids loved to hop in the back of the old Chevy and hand them their 'water jugs' one gallon milk containers, fighting to help them.  Even though there were two brothers, usually only one would be in the truck at one time….rarely did you see the two of them together.  The kids would see Jack and say "hi JackandArt….one word.  Then the next time, Art would be driving, he too was called "JacknArt"!  It actually took them awhile to know there were two of them….and for sure could not tell them apart.

The two brothers lived together in their family home, with very little changes up and until Jack had to be placed in a Nursing Home.  It was then that both experienced great changes in their worlds.

Jack was now in a place that gave you three meals a day, running water, no more walks outside at night,and cable TV….He kicked back and allowed someone to take care of the details.  Art, for the first time in 75 years had his own money.  He was so excited to purchase food that he wanted, imagine HE could decide what he would eat!  Art was living alone, he was a free man.  He never had it so good! Imagine living 75 years and rarely making choices!

This past weekend Jack died.  His obituary is not in the paper yet, so no details.  It seems weird that neither one of them will not arrive at the house announcing we need to take them to the Doctors, or ask/tell Paul that their tractor tire needs fixing.  One Christmas, Art ran out of fuel for heat,it was below zero, and being Christmas no way of getting fuel.  We offered our couch, he gladly accepted.  He arrived with his cardboard suitcase and a smile.  We thought he would be uncomfortable in our home, but he took over a lazy-boy, the TV control….and seemed to feel right at home. He told us he would shut the lights when he went to sleep.

Neighbors like that are a dying breed.  We can no longer assume that the folks who live closest to you will be there in times of need.   JacknArt always felt that their emergency was ours, that their problem was ours. They didn't have the please and thank you down all the time, but we knew that by trusting us, we were treasured.

Their life long home was struck by lightening a few summers ago.  The fire destroyed most of what they had.  Art then lived in a couple of homes along the river, both offered to him so that he could remain on the river.  He spent one winter in a 'old folks' home in Calumet, but he was bored.  He had been so used to doing things for himself, he couldn't stand just sitting around.  He died while gathering wood one winter morning a few years ago…near 80 years old.

You have to wonder how it is that you get stuck in the same spot for 75 plus years, and then by an event that is beyond your control, you are set into a place you never have been before!  And then find out just what part of life you were missing.  Jack lived in the lap of luxury, all needs taken care of.  Art was able to be the captain of his ship.  It isn't the size of the choice but the choice itself that is important.

JacknArt added flavor to our neighborhood.  We are left wondering how this will now change our world.  You can rest assured the new ones will not have such character.  What imprint are you leaving in this world?