The Red House Over Yonder

I live next door to John Lee Hooker. That's what I used to call him actually. Well, either that or Mr. Pipe because he's always walking around with one clamped in his teeth. But I found out that his name is really Mr. Wilderson, and his wife just passed away.
Yesterday the kids and the dog and I were out playing frisbee with Susie, Larry, and Julia, and he came over and told me that his wife had died on Tuesday. I didn't even know he was married. I just thought he was this amazing 90 + years man living alone, still driving, and cleaning out his own gutters. His wife had apparently been in a nursing home for over a year. He was crying when he told me, and I don't know what to do. I'm assuming that there aren't that many people coming to the services and at this point I feel obligated to go. The only problem is that I didn't know the lady at all, and barely know Mr. Pipe properly.
The other neighbor's husband died last week. It's odd, the two deaths so close to each other. The hellians and I were headed for the bus stop one morning and there was an ambulance and firetruck in front of the Taylor's. I found out later that Mr. Taylor had been taken to the hospital. He never got out alive.
Tuesday was also the day the power went out. Since it was cold and dark, and my neighbors on both sides are elderly, I went to check on them. I thought that Mrs. Taylor would be alone but two of her 'kids' were still with her. They came to the door and talked a while. But when I went to Mr. Pipe's he never answered. Now I can kinda guess why. Poor Mr. Pipe. I guess Sage and I can take flowers to the funeral on Friday, at the very least. And make him some dinner.