A Hole In Our Fence

The fence that surrounds our back yard is old and rickety…some of its boards we’ve long ago misplaced…for many years it’s been way past repair and probably should have been replaced.

But even though that old fence is leaning here and there..and in one section there’s a hole…that old fence has a history…it has a past…that old fence has a soul.

It’s the fence that has surrounded our back yard since our children and grandchildren were kids…we haven’t had the heart to replace it…and today…I’m glad we never did.

The young couple who live on the other side of our fence a young couple we’re just getting to know…who were pregnant when they moved next door…had their baby a week ago.

We were in our back yard yesterday…taking a little break…when we heard those distinctive sounds a newborn baby makes.

Joe, the father, was in his back yard holding Oliver, his baby, and Deborah and I were stunned…when he asked from over the fence if we’d like to see his son.

If you know anything about Deborah and I you know babies…we adore…
“Yes we would!” We shouted….like two kids in a candy store.

But in the midst of this pandemic we weren’t sure how this would commence…until Joe said, not to worry…I’ll meet you at the hole in your fence.”

So through the hole, that wonderful old hole, that years of weathering has produced…Oliver…Deborah…and I were formally introduced.

Oliver is beautiful baby…I say this with no pretense…and his beauty was framed perfectly by that hole in our old fence.

That hole in the fence that surrounds our back yard…where a few boards we've long ago misplaced….that old fence that surrounds our backyard…that we never will replace.

Because as we’ve grown old together….as our years unfold….
we find we’re less likely to get rid of something just because it’s gotten old.

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