Block Watch

April 15, 2009

Our block has changed significantly in the past few years, dramatically in the last few months. After my kids grew up there were not any little kids on the block for a very long time, a very quiet block for sure. Then Jeff and Reiko brought us Umi and a young family moved in down the block. It still wasn't really a very lively "kid" block.

The Paradisos moved out and Cathy's father moved into their house. Both of the Bellochios passed away and their young granddaughter and her boyfriend moved into the house. The mom, who grew up in this house, now lives down the block. One of the women across the street has developed dementia. Alice Payne passed away at the age of 94. Her daughter now lives in her house. Vinnie has a boarder. The Peraglias moved in. The 50 year old nurse was let go of her job because she has early onset dementia. Mrs. Lake passed away and they are redoing her house to sell it. Cathy Duffy permanently moved into her mother's house. Mrs. Scotto was hospitalized and is not back home but her daughter has moved into the house permanently to care for her. Bill Mitchell lives most of the time with his friend. This has all pretty much happened in the last couple of years.

What I think about most is the older women on the block.

#1 lives all alone in her house with a picture of her husband in the living room. She is constantly asking her daughter who that man in the picture is. A couple of days ago I noticed that she had Christmas decorations in her yard. On Easter her daughter pulled up and got out of the car, "Ma! It's Easter, not Christmas!" I think about her cooking. She still walks to the market to grocery shop. I found her wandering one day and when I asked her if she wanted to walk home with me she got very upset and said that she didn't know me, why would she go with me?

#2 is probably only in her 70s and has just moved in permanently into her mother's home. Neighbors who knew her years ago describe her as "eccentric". I suspect there is an alcohol problem and a couple of near misses with cars on the block have pretty much confirmed it. That's fine if she stays in the house but please stop driving those two cars you have.

#3 lives next door but I don't have to worry about her so much any more as her daughter has moved in.

#4 I met one the avenue a couple days ago, crying. I walked home with her. She is 52 years old, also lives alone and was recently worked up for early onset dementia. She was let go from her job. Her brother and sister stop by frequently to see if she is OK.

Very sad to watch all of this going on although I know it is very natural, just the way life is.