Gone for a long walk

We said good-bye to a really great neighbour, close friend and super person.  Whenever I needed help.  He came over to help. Never asked me for anything in return for all those times I came over to ask for his assistance.  More importantly he never got irritated.  That surprised me the most!   Sam, Jesse and the girls, they always made us feel part of the family. 

On the odd morning after dropping K off at school, I'd head over to chit chat with Sam & Jesse, drink my coffee and maybe eat a piping hot pastizzi (if I lucked out as it was coming out of the oven).  I'd often be dropping by to borrow or return tools, or let them know what I was working on or stuff that was going on in our lives,  and they'd often give me a taste of something from the oven/stove to try. I'd never had artichoke except at their place.

I have learned a lot from Sam in all the years we've lived here.  He showed me how to tape and mud drywall, how to mix cement like a Euro, and how to remove rounded off bolts.  That was an oh-shit-i'm-screwed moment that I remember fondly as I watched him look at it, and assess the situation, and come back with the tools he needed to remove it.  A hammer and cold chisel.  Not my first choice on tools.  But he undid that bolt.  My eyes widened and Wow'd as it started to unthread after a few hits at the groove he made.  I thought - that was clever.  It was also from years of experience.

He granted me unlimited access to his shed and tools.  He told me what to look for in tools when buying my own.  He taught me how to be resourceful, clever and look at a problem from different angles.  There was very little he could not do.  He even was computer savvy.  I was impressed.  He showed me that a thirst for knowledge and desire for learning are a gift.  He even showed me how to make bread. 

I was amazed at his go-go non-stop tinkering, moving and doing something everyday life.  This is why we clicked.  We were very similar.  We both like working with our hands, and always willing to learn something new and had fun while we were at it.  We always had a laugh while repairing something either in his driveway or mine.  

I'd always call him over to check my work.  I respected his feedback.  If I was able to repair something and he couldn't see the patch.  It meant I did it well.  He was always so supportive and was quick to point out things I could do while I had things opened up.  He made me think down the road.  I can hear him say "Better do it now...you'll kick yourself later". Then I got to work and did it, cuz he was right.

His helpful generosity was contagious.  I can even tell from the knock on my door it was him needing me.  I'd come and help out if he was working on one of the cars.  I'd lug over my air compressor and jack.  These were the only tools he didn't have.  So I offered to bring them over whenever he needed.   And when I made bread, I'd bring over a loaf for him to try.   When he needed computer help, I'd be his personal IT support.  It made me glad to be able to reciprocate a little after everything he had done for me.

I don't know when this funny hide and seek game thing we used to do started.  But whenever he or Jesse would come home from somewhere, as soon as they'd get out of their car,  I'd call their names - "Hey Sam, hey Jesse!"  and hide.

They'd turn around and yell back across the street - "Hi Ray, where are you? you bugger!"  I wouldn't exactly be hiding.  I'd be in plain sight just slightly obstructed by a tree or light pole.  Then he'd see my feet up on the railing as I sat on the porch partially hidden by parked cars and the tree.

Pretty soon Sam would be doing this back to me too, calling me from the driveway out of my line of sight, or inside the front living room window.  Then I'd be looking hard seeing his face poke out from the corner of the house or in the window under the shadow of the porch.  It was a game that always generated a smile. 

I'll miss the chats and kidding around for sure, I'll always turn to my inner Sam to solve a repair problem around the house.  I was glad he was able to know that knowing him enriched my life in a big way in the moments before he passed on.  That meant a lot to me.

I would sometimes run into Sam, Jesse and Buddy on my bike and ride beside them a bit to keep them company as they went out for their daily walk around the paths.   I figure I'll think he's just be out for an extended walk with the dog or out at the Woodbine Race Track watching the horses.