Nancy opened her blinds and smiled as she gazed out her bedroom window at the stately redwoods in her neighbor’s backyard. “I’m so glad Terri planted the trees so many years ago,” she thought. She winced in pain as she turned back to her bed and gingerly lay down, propping her pillow to continue witnessing the view.
Nancy was tired of feeling so blah. She longed to get outside to her own front-yard garden that had been neglected for the last two weeks. She and her husband cut their annual Disneyland trip short because of the constant dull pain in her back and slight, shortness of breath she started feeling two days ago. She was scheduled for a doctor’s appointment today in three hours.
I took this photo of my own backyard from her backyard…at her memorial service today.
Sadly, Nancy was admitted to the hospital after seeing her doctor. She contracted a serious case of walking pneumonia, after battling a head cold over the holidays. After a month-long stay in the hospital, she succumbed to complications of the virus.
While this is a fictional account of the thoughts she may have had looking at the view of my backyard, I would like to believe that she derived pleasure looking at the pine trees planted from seedlings. Little did she know that the view of my backyard would be her last.
May she rest in peace.
I was invited by Terry, from Through the Lens of My Life to participate in the Five Days Challenge, which asks us to post five photos, one per day for five days, and to write a story to go with each photo. For each day that we post we are supposed to invite one person to participate.
Today I’m inviting Adrianne from Thoughts of a Woman in Sport. If you would like to participate, post a photo every day for five days and write a story to go along with each photo. Your story can be fiction or non-fiction. It can be a short paragraph, a page, or a poem. Each day, please select one person to carry on the challenge. The challenge is not mandatory and can be refused. I hope you accept and have fun!
What a lovely view you helped to provide for your neighbor. Very sad, but an important reminder of how precious life – and our health – is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really had no idea until I literally stood in her backyard today. Her death was untimely and sudden and her husband, friends with mine, is grieving. I knew her for 27 years!
LikeLike
I am so very sorry, Terri. My condolences, which seems like such a small thing in the midst of such a tragedy, go out to you, her husband, your husband, your neighborhood. A friendship of that many years needs to be sung. Always remember.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Janet. She became very reclusive as she got older and I felt that this could be a small tribute to her memory.
LikeLike
What a beautiful commemorative for your neighbor. It seems to me that the trees grew along with your relationship.
Thank you for participating in the five day challenge and for including this beautiful narrative as part of it.
My deepest condolences on the loss of your friend.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Terry!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful post Terri. My deepest condolences for the loss of your friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lucile!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Terri.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely expression of your neighborhood. I’m so sorry you had to go through this loss – but glad you could see a perspective most of us don’t think of.
cate
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Cate! I appreciate it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m terribly sorry to hear about your dear neighbor but your tribute to her and your trees was very touching. Thanks for sharing your emotions with us…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lia, I hope I did her proud!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed you did!
LikeLiked by 1 person