Neighbors
Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 1:20 pm
Bud and Russ's generous offer to finish rebuilding my cub for me has gotten me started remembering things other neighbors have done over the years. I've lived in the Missouri hills practically all my life, and have always tried to be a good neighbor, and always had great neighbors, even when I lived where people warned me to watch the neighbors.
When I was about 5 years old (approx. 1953), I had to have my tonsils removed. At that time you spent 2 or 3 days in the hospital rather than it being outpatient surgery as it is now. On the way home the first day after my surgery my parents were involved in a car accident. No one was hurt, but our only vehicle was totaled. The next day my Father came down with the mumps. We lived 30 miles from the hospital, 5 miles from the closest town, and a mile off the road, and the same distance from the closest neighbor with a car or phone. The only telephone we had was an old crank phone that we and 3 other families maintained so we could communicate with each other.
The next day after Dad got sick Lawrence Proctor pulled up in front of the house in his 2 year old pickup, handed Mom the keys to his only vehicle, and said, "Let me know when you are through with it". Mom was pleasantly surprised, and asked him why he was doing that. He replied, " Your man is sick, your son is in the hospital, and you don't have either a phone or a way to get around. I live on the highway and can always catch a ride from someone, or I can ride my horse down and get the truck if I need it". With that he turned around and walked home. You don't forget neighbors like that, or ones like Bud and Russ.
When I was about 5 years old (approx. 1953), I had to have my tonsils removed. At that time you spent 2 or 3 days in the hospital rather than it being outpatient surgery as it is now. On the way home the first day after my surgery my parents were involved in a car accident. No one was hurt, but our only vehicle was totaled. The next day my Father came down with the mumps. We lived 30 miles from the hospital, 5 miles from the closest town, and a mile off the road, and the same distance from the closest neighbor with a car or phone. The only telephone we had was an old crank phone that we and 3 other families maintained so we could communicate with each other.
The next day after Dad got sick Lawrence Proctor pulled up in front of the house in his 2 year old pickup, handed Mom the keys to his only vehicle, and said, "Let me know when you are through with it". Mom was pleasantly surprised, and asked him why he was doing that. He replied, " Your man is sick, your son is in the hospital, and you don't have either a phone or a way to get around. I live on the highway and can always catch a ride from someone, or I can ride my horse down and get the truck if I need it". With that he turned around and walked home. You don't forget neighbors like that, or ones like Bud and Russ.