Crazy Love

Our neighbor who gardens in her underwear died.

A cantankerous woman with wild white hair ... she'd stroll outside in her bra and panties to care for Cherry Tomatoes she was forever growing.

She sang to herself in a sweet low voice.

She was quick to anger and loathed our dogs.

I don't think she was fond of the girls either scowling at them rushing inside or out in the loud flurry only little girls can create.

She called the Police a lot ... for most anything ... and somehow managed to put clothes on before they arrived.

She'd keep the poor officer captive on her stoop of a front porch to the point I'd feel sorry for the guy who never got a word in edgewise.

She made her living as a midwife and would often be gone a month at a time ... lulling us into a false sense of peacefulness ... then returning full of furry ... softly singing while gardening in her underwear.

The last time we spoke she was yelling at me for something ... standing in the middle of the street ... and it made Sarah so mad she came out to yell back.

A few days later the girls and I left pumpkins on the tiny stoop of a porch as gifts of peace.

They are still there.

She died before ever acknowledging them.

Johnny O tells me she was a beauty in her day though I can't see it.

He also tells me she was crazy in her day too and I can see that.

She drove her lover to work naked he tells me ... from Tybee Island to Port Wentworth which is a far drive ... before being pulled over by the Police ... and I'm sure she talked his ears off before he let her go.

As crazy as she was ... and she was crazy ... there's a sense of loss rumbling around inside of me.

It's been a year of death ... Matt Wilkerson inexpiably killed driving home to be with his wife and kids ... my cousin Sherry ... my Mom's dear friend Betty who always made me laugh ... our other neighbor Karen who loved to sit in her yard weeding for hours on end ... my Cousin Sherry's Step-Dad who was the nicest person I've ever met.

"Ob-la-di ... Ob-la-da ... life goes on ..." and it does ... just not in the same way.

I'll miss her craziness ... though God knows there's enough craziness in the world already.

Cars occupy her yard and I suppose her children, family or friends are dividing her possessions and dealing with the headaches and heartbreaks of dying.

I'm glad she was here though and raise a glass to her craziness ... though I won't miss her anger.

But it's good she was here ... birthing babies and loving them to life.

It's a  shame she was so selective about it because ... God knows ... this crazy world could use more love in life.