My Neighbor

Over a year ago a man about my age moved in with his 11 year old daughter. I pretty much keep to myself here (I have been here for about 10 years). We would always say "Hi" in passing and the little girl would sometimes tell me about school or what she likes to do, if I were outside.

Once when she had her appendix removed I gave her one of my children's books to read. Later, I find out that likes the blood and guts kind of stories. Oh well. My books are simple Christian based. She is a sweet kid though, and hopefully she will grow out of the gorier stuff.



Anyway, before the holidays, I noticed at times the father would sit outside with his head down. Not being any of my business I would just say "Hi" and not get involved in too much conversation. After Thanksgiving, I noticed that he was always outside smoking and just very depressed, so I asked him if he was okay and he just said that he wanted to die. This "wanting to die" went on for a few weeks and I became worried, especially since he started giving some of his favorite things away to his daughter. Thinking of the child first, I decided to see if there was a way that I could talk him into getting some help. He was very angry about a situation (health) and couldn't seem to shake his feelings. Having a friend that is a counselor I asked him if he would talk to her. He said "yes" and so one night he came over to my place and I went to his hometo watch his little girl as he spoke to my counselor friend.



My friend and I kept an eye on them and we would have dinner or coffee at my home for all of us after the first meeting with my friend. It was a really nice family atmosphere and he finally went to a doctor to get some meds and I believe there was some therapy as well. The meetings at my place every few weeks actually did us all good. The little girl looked forward to coming over too.

Life started getting better for my neighbor. He had been divorced two years and was looking for someone. I was really happy for him. The thing is he was going to Craig's List and looking for young women (of age in their 20's) to date. Okay, different strokes for different folks, I know--he just seemed kind of oversexed to me. That's all he started to talk about if he came over to borrow something (coffee, milk, sugar, stamps, help with his computer) It was almost an every day thing and he started to sound kind of inapropriate. So I backed off. He is taking meds for depression and drinking which really makes me uncomfortable too.

I told him about another FREE dating site online that was pretty good and they had local gatherings etc. I mentioned that a picnic was coming up and seemed very interested and signed up. He even mentioned just going to the picnic together.
When the day came by for the picnic, I actually forgot about it. That Saturday morning he was acting strange and when I was walking my dog, he came out him home to say he was again having problems with his computer. I asked some questions and offered to see the problem, but he said that he had to go out with his daughter. What he didn't want me to see or know was that he was going to the picnic and didn't want me to know. This came to my attention later that day when I went to the site to see what was going on and remembered the picnic--too late. Later that evening when I was walking my dog, he came out of his home to tell me that he went to the picnic and how nice everyone was, and bragged about what a great time him and his young daughter had. Funny, it didn't surprize me.
I am not jealous or interested in this guy. It just perplexed me that after all of the times I have given him and his daughter food, and dinners and my time when the door was knocked on because he was so depressed, that he could of at least mentioned it to me. He was AFRAID that he would have to take me. Even though I am disabled, I could have driven myself. It really put me into a deep depression. I have known this group for about a year-I would have loved to have gone to the picnic (they usaully have night time outings and I don't/can't drive at night). It would have been nice to have met them. As mentioned earlier this guy isn't my type. He brags about having threesomes and how hot he is lately. It's a real turn off for me and I am not into that stuff. I was only a friend (or neighbor) concerned about his depression and especially for his child who I knew was having a tough time in school and was in therapy. All I did was be a good neighbor, but boy was he slamming me lately.
Please be advised, that I am usually a very UP person. My blogs are normally happy and talk about what I do. Lately, though life has been kind of overwhelming, and this helps me to vent some when I am hurting so deeply when I see how people treat others or their children.
I hope that my neighbor finds what he is looking for. He still knocks on my door needing coffee or asking if the squatters have left. Today when resting there was knocking on my door and I just didn't bother or care who was there.
Being the caretaker in my family, I have always enjoyed seeing others succeed or be happy. I never looked at expectations or if someone owed me something. It just hurts when people NEED me and then are ashamed to know me around others. So I am not a twenty something any more. I am not beautiful and have to deal with illness. I still pray for others, keep a possitive attitude and ask God to help those that can not help themself.
Nor do I request pity or for someone to be my friend. It is just irratating when people lie to me or attempt to make believe they care, when all they want is their needs fulfilled and to hell with another's feelings. Any way it feel s good to be able to write about this. It has been really bothering me for months...With the squatters and my best friend once again stabbing me in the back, it a blessing that there is a blog to write in.
It's really a shame that there are so many sick individuals out there who take whatever they can and just find another victim. I am a very strong person and feel blessed that I am not like any of these sad people. I do have feelings though and it does help to write about them.
Now I can get on with my upbeat posts about my writing and life. I can't wait for the GOOD stuff to get out here!