my inflateable leopard print chair...

Yes, I do own one. Maybe I should take a second and let that soak in...

An item such as that doesn't really fit into my personality, furniture decor, nor perferred seating. Plush, stretch out, and feet up are all words I like to describe my furniture wants. But, yes, an inflateable, leopard print chair is within my possession. This ownership came to be a few years back, thanks for a neighbor family friend back home in San Diego. It greeted me one Christmas and has remained unopened since then.

As somewhate of a rare experience, I grew up on the same street, same house, with nearly the same exact neighbors for over 20 years. Out of the houses around us with whom we could call friends, only one changed in my 20 years. This kind of situation lets you get to know, trust, and love ones in the walls outside your own home.

One of these neighbors were a married couple of many years - Bob and Marcella. To give you a little history, Bob is the man that fed me a pigeon sandwhich one day, only explaining to me, "Just eat it... you should like it!" Just incase you're curious, yes it did taste like chicken, and I'm pretty sure he killed it in his own hands.

Bob was also the man that my father would drink morning cups of coffee with, stand out in the rain to enjoy a conversation, or head out into the street together when a strange noise was heard in the neighborhood.

Marcella, his wife, was a woman who absolutely loved God's creation. Her yard, front and back (of which included a large canyon) contained the most gorgeous and exotic plants, and many aviaries of some of the most lovely birds. It definately felt like a trek through the jungle when you were down there - which is what gave so much appeal to me playing down there with her nephew Justin during my early days of youth.

Sadly, Bob passed away a few years back. Without knowing what the love of a marriage is, I can only assume her heart was broken into the most millions of pieces. As the years went by, it seemed noone, not even family, could help those pieces to fit once again. Sadly, she turned to years of continued smoking and an alcohol addiction.

My parents saw the most of this beautiful woman, once filled with jubilee then become a dazed and dillusion woman aged by her daily health destruction. Sadly, Marcella passed away this weekend. Thankfully her body has been released of pain, and been given new life beside Christ.

Besides childhood memories of exploration, and a life lesson in dealing constructively with life's sadness, I will remember fondly this gift she gave me - the leopard print, inflateable chair. It only seems appropriate, whether it suits my relaxing needs or not, this chair needs to make an appearance in my home.