a passing

Lester Nelson May died yesterday at the age of 86. Les and his wife Harriet and their boys John and Nelson have lived catty-corner across the street from my family's home for over 50 years. I had a crush on John when he was in high school; my first 'older man'! John gave me my start in the travel business back in 1981 and Les was our delivery driver after he had retired from his architecture career. Les had gray hair for as long as I can remember.....but he never seemed old. He had a wonderful smile and everytime I saw him I got a big hug. When I moved back to Gainesville in 1996 after my dad died I joined the local gym and used to go at 6am to workout....Harriet and Les would just be finishing as they would go at 5am! We used to laugh about being the 'early birds.' I can clearly remember the twinkle in Les' eye as he would take Harriet by the hand as the left the gym. Now Harriet and my mom are the last two 'originals' left on 20th Place, two widowed ladies who have raised their families together. It'll be a rough transition but hopefully they will see each other through, as they always do.