I got the page as I was leaving home, following lunch to return to the office. "Unattended death on Coquina Ave. Waiting for ME." I drove by on the way to town to see which house, and I saw the patrol car in front of your house, the house of the friendly man with the toy collie. We'd waved and Lauren had spoken to you, pausing to greet your companion. In after-work conversation I mentioned your passing and she said "The man with the dog?" and showed remorse with pause and quiet.
But you and I could have had a grand relationship, separated by only a few degrees, a few names. Mountain City was small when I lived there 30 years ago. You were probably gone by then, but you would have known names. We would have known the same people and perhaps traded a story or two. We could have event talked about Elvis.
But we didn't because even though you lived right around the corner I did not know how close we were....until you were gone away.
