The Love Diva

I have been thinking about naming my bicycle to honor the friend who made its purchase possible. This is a love story.
Way back when my daughter was 2 or 3 years old, I took a part time job in Ridgewood, NJ. While the project was underway the next door neighbor would spend his days watching the progess. Retired for a number of years and a widower since 1988, Mr. Brown enjoyed the activity next door and watching the workmen create a new bridge near his home. Bud as everyone called him did not have children but, would talk about kids from the neighborhood and nieces and/or nephews. The funny thing was he couldn't understand what the attraction was in having children. This intrigued me.
Each day I was on the job I would bring my faithful dog Wende along for company. I had been working daily on landscape jobs with Wende for several years and she was very well behaved. Mostly she was obsessed with chasing tennis balls. This could go on for hours, and often did as just a tap of the foot would send the ball into the brook below. Needless to say Wende was great entertainment for Mr. Brown.
Once the job was complete I was at a loss as to what to do. Over the six month period I had become close to Bud, always calling him Mr. Brown as it seemed proper to do so because he was old enough to be my grandfather. I didn't want to presume he would miss me as much as I would miss him yet, not wanting to pass up the chance I asked him if I could drop in on him from time to time. With tears threatening to reveal my heart, Mr. Brown appeared to be relieved I would keep in touch.
We never phoned, we never wrote, I would always just pop in and surprise him over the years.
I lived less than ten miles away. He watched my children grow, we shared pleasant stories of his childhood, his marriage and love for his late wife, and their trips to Cape Cod before she become terminally ill. We shared a day in common, his birthday was my wedding anniversary. This would be one of the rare times we would send each other cards in the mail. Mr. Brown always had brand new five dollar bills to give each of my children at Christmas. It was at Christmastime that I was informed of his death.
Several weeks or months could pass between visits so it wasn't a surprise to find out he passed away in my absence. I always knew it would be so but, it was still a shock to my heart to hear his house was empty. When my husband informed me a lawyer from Ridgewood had left a message for me, I knew what it meant.
Bless him, Mr. Brown left me an inheritance in his will. That I was worthy as his friend for this kindness has meant the world to me. I truly loved this man and he knew it too. He didn't have to name me to receive this gift but, he did. I knew our friendship was special and he made sure I would have no doubts about it. Kind of like Jesus isn't it? He didn't have to die on the cross but, he did it for me. I have no doubts that Jesus loves me because of what he did for me.
I name my bike Love in memory of Mr. Brown.