A Neighbor Across the Street,

via my children, invited me over for ice cream tonight after their dinner. He and his wife and I sat out in lawn chairs in their front yard, facing my house and others, chatting about kids and work and animals and economics and other things. It was just an all-around pleasant evening. I was once again impressed with the fragility of life and the simultaneous quality of it, the death that everything seems to funnel toward, and the gentle hints of the fantastic purpose hoped for. These neighbors have had health issues. Very serious issues, as I found out only by the meandering paths of conversation. You'd never know it from their smiles and mild ways, their enjoyment of the outdoors and ice cream and their young son.