I lived next door to my best friend for 20 years.
Jack was a really good guy.
We met one year during a Fourth of July party that was hosted by another neighbor. A couple of years later, Jack and his wife moved to the neighborhood and bought that house right next door to mine. Jack and I spent a lot of time together. We watched all of the hockey, basketball, and baseball games together. During the NFL season, we watched all of the games and cheered for separate teams. I have always been a Tampa Bay fan, but Jack grew up in Cincinnati. The two of us got into a number of conversations about whether or not Tampa is the best place to live. I have to admit that Tampa was a lot nicer when Jack was living next door. I miss having a good neighbor across the street. Jack was always the best guy to call when I had problems with the air conditioner. Jack was a contractor by trade and a certified HVAC specialist. The guy always had an answer when I had issues with the air conditioner. I had a lot of problems with the air conditioner and Jack probably saved me $1,000 or more because he helped with repairs. I was heartbroken and sad when Jack’s wife informed me that he passed away in his sleep. A couple of months after he died, his wife moved away from the neighborhood. Everyday I walk outside and look at that house and think about my best friend and how much I miss the guy.