Last Updated on: 9th April 2014, 03:25 pm
Well, I’ve babbled about my neighbour a fair bit on here, so I figure I should probably say this. Yesterday I found out that my neighbour, after fighting cancer on and off for a few years, passed away on Thursday. It was a shock to me, because when I came back from guide dog school, he seemed really up and said he felt awesome. I really thought, “boy you are one tough dude, you’re going to beat it down again.” But unfortunately complications because of chemo came suddenly, and it all happened so fast. I only wish I had been able to say goodbye.
He was the best neighbour I could ever ask for. If I mentioned that I needed something, by the end of the day, I think he would have had four of those somethings in my hands if he could. Because he knew the snow made it hard to come home, he got a shovel and salt and would shovel the walk to our door, sometimes several times a day. He always wanted to have a chat, was always giving me stuff, would walk places with me if I wanted, and was generally a very friendly neighbour.
He had the most positive attitude I’ve ever seen. It didn’t matter what was going on in his life, he said that things would look up soon, and there was no need to be sad. He’s the only person I’ve met who said he loved the winter because he found the cold invigorating and it made him feel alive. He had a very simple philosophy, and what mattered to him were the people he loved, not money or material things. I don’t think I’ve met a kinder, more generous man.
When he heard someone died, he used to always say, “I don’t think we should be sad for them, I believe in the hereafter.” I hope that wherever he is now is wonderful and he is at peace. Goodbye Cameron, you’ll be missed.