"I'm so happy you came!"

-         Joy Gearo

What I Thought I Knew

There was a little girl living next door to me who would come over to visit my girls and horses. Her love for horses was clear and she began to ride with my girls.  I'll never forget when she got her first horse.  She was so excited.  Now I look out of my windows and see more than one horse next door and more than a little girl.

I received a high school graduation announcement from this same girl not long ago.  I had to look and look at the photos because I recognized the name but not the photos.  And, when I went to her family's graduation ceremony a couple of days ago, I watched more photos up on the big screen.  I saw places I recognized in the pictures.  They hadn't changed much.

The changes in the photos were more than just poses.  I watched the little girl I knew grow up in mere minutes right before my eyes.  Then it dawned on me that I hadn't seen any of these pictures being taken in real life.  It made me wonder.

During the rest of the graduation program I sat with my hand slowly stroking my chin in awe.  I listened to those closest to my friend Joy describe her accomplishments.  They told stories of which I was unaware.  They described a young woman I only thought I knew.  The little girl I had once known was gone and there was a delightful stranger standing in front of me.

She displayed a personality of zest and animation.  She exhibited skills of grace, caring and humor.  I, on the other hand, sat in a silent daze.  What I thought I knew?  I didn't know.

How could I have lived next door to this young woman all these years and keep her trapped at the age of eight?  Wait, I didn't keep her trapped; she had grown and become more than I imagined.  I have kept myself trapped.  I have kept my vision fixed in the past.  Look what I have missed!

While I have been out living my life I have missed the life being lived all around me.  I've missed my chance.  Joy is going off to college in a far away land now.  I won't have the chance to see her grow up ever again. Luckily, she isn't the last of the Gearo family still living next door to me.

Her young brother Paul still has some growing up to do.  I didn't want to make the same mistake so I took some time to speak with Paul during his sister's graduation party.

"How's your hamster?" I asked.  "Why haven't you brought him over for me to watch while you go out of town?"

"He died!" Paul replied.

"Oh, I didn't know!" I whispered.

We spent a few minutes talking about his hamster and what he was doing with his soccer team.  It was time well spent.  And, you know?  It took only a few short minutes for me to catch up with his perpetual movement life. I felt connected again.  I felt as if I were a neighbor again.