At about the same time everyday in our neighborhood, the dogs begin their chorus of barking, tails wagging, and mouths salivating because they've just heard the sound they live for. Smack! The sound of our neighbor's screen door closing. Our neighbor, Ed, is the all-around caretaker for every dog in the neighborhood (or at least in the 4 block radius where he walks everyday). He knows all their names, knows who likes to be scratched behind the ears, and has a pocket-full of treats on him at all times.
Our dog Charlie is convinced he's the favorite. And secretly he probably is, though Ed would never admit to playing favorites with 'his' dogs. Charlie gets the first treat on Ed's walk and then eagerly sits outside by the fence until Ed returns to give him another. When someone finds a dog that has escaped, we all call Ed to describe the dog and ask which house it belongs to. Ed knows everytime, of course and says, "Oh that's Molly, she lives at the second house from the corner, just say 'Molly, go home' and she'll go back on her own."
Not only is he a dog-whisperer, but he can fix and do about anything. He's the Ed of all trades! He has every tool we'd ever need and knows how to MacGyver any strange house project we ask about. He knows the history of every home on our block because he's lived in his house since the early 70's, when he retired. Every day in the summer, we meet by the fence and talk about the past. He was born in Boston and has the thick accent to prove it. We know he was once in the Navy because he has the worn tattoos on his arm. He drove a truck for many years, and retired to St. Louis because his daughter lives here. His wife, Jean, comes out to the fence too from time-to-time and visits with Charlie, but can't get around well due to her health.
They are the epitome of the cute old couple. Every Saturday night they do date night at Old Country Buffet. At about 4:30, he starts up the car, then goes inside and brings Jean out on his arm, helps her down the stairs and into the car. There is a lot we can learn from their marriage.
I love all of these things about Ed and Jean, but my favorite part of our friendship has to be the coupons. Shortly after we moved in three years ago, I mentioned in passing that I had used a coupon at a fast food restaurant for lunch. Well, since that day, Ed and Jean have been coupon hunters for us. Each week when the paper comes, they gather all of their restaurant coupons for places like Arby's, Steak and Shake, and KFC to give to us. They wrap them up in a grocery bag (in case it rains) and tie them to our fence for us to pick up when we get home. This has been a tradition for three years. Now, we've never had the heart to tell them that we could never use all those coupons, and we don't eat enough fast food to make it worth their while. So, whenever we see them, we thank them for the coupons and use them when we can and wait for the next batch on the fence.
Now, since Mark's graduation is looming and we're probably moving out of this house sometime this summer, it makes us sad to think about not living next to Ed and Jean. However, we know that our relationship won't end even if we move. We have become like family, just like the neighbors who lived here before us did. They talk at least once a month. I'm sure that will be the case with us as well. And of course we'll have to bring Charlie by since he will go through Ed withdrawals when we move. Come to think of it, we'll have to start buying Charlie treats for the first time in years.
I guess I wrote this post more to log some of our memories with Ed before we have to move, and I would love to add a picture, but I've realized that we've never taken a picture of Ed. So, that is now my goal, to get one before we go, maybe of Ed and Charlie. Only then will this blog post be complete.
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