All right I admit it, it's become an absolute obsession what with me and my spying on my neighbors, particularly the Sanford and Son situation next door.
When we last left off in this saga you'll remember, I wondered what happened to Doreen since I hadn't seen her in many days. Her and her boyfriend are not the type that seem to be enjoying their retirement galivanting around traveling to and fro. In fact, Doreen admitted to me as I was leaving for my cruise that she and Dan don't particularly like to go traveling too often. She said she doesn't like to fly, not sure if it's fear of flying or just the hassle, and Dan stated that the last time he had ever gone on a cruise was on a cruise line called The Admiral line. I hadn't heard of it, but when I looked it up, it turns out that it ceased operating back in the early 1990s, so, yeah, I wouldn't call these guys wanderlusts at all which makes any prolonged absence all that much more mysterious.
I had noticed that Dan had made periodic stops by the house to pick up stuff and place it into his truck and then to drive off leaving the house vacant for much of the day and night. Where is he spending his nights? Where is Doreen? These are questions still unanswered.
But today around noon, I noticed he and the Lamonts were again picking up more stuff. This time it seems an entire recliner being hauled out of the house and thrown into the back of the pickup truck. And then, rather unceremoniously, the Lamonts detached and hauled away Doreen's "Happy Tree."
Back when Doreen had designed the menagerie of her Versailles-like gardens of her front lawn, she explained the story about this 7 ft. tall ornamental multi-colored LED tree that was propped up to the corner of their house. She said she fell in love with it the day she saw it while she was shopping with a friend at Home Depot. It's not a Christmas tree, but I guess she associates it with the same joyous feelings of the holiday season since she loves it as it brings her those warm and fuzzies so she named it her "Happy Tree." She says Dan thinks it's tacky but she doesn't care, she likes it and she wouldn't be without it. And ever since it's been illuminated pretty much 24/7. During the day, of course, you can't really tell, but oh at night, boy does it cast a ton of light. Just take a look at it here waking up this stray cat that constantly prowls around my carport in the wee hours of the morning. (By the way, look at that dawn over the lake yonder down the road. One of the perks of having a security cam, catching hidden glimpses like this of otherwise unnoticed scenery around the hood.)
So now the Happy Tree is gone.
Did they take the recliner and the Happy Tree to bring it to where Doreen is? Is she laid up somewhere and maybe needs some comfort like her favorite recliner and her Happy Tree? Are they staying at the other house at Francis 1 (their other mobile home)? Or is she at some hospice? Or worse, are Dan and the Lamonts sadly taking away these reminders of Doreen since they are painful memories? Is she no longer with us?
Maybe the Happy Tree will be erected over her grave like a trailer park version of an eternal flame. Just needs a pink flamingo with a halo to go with it.
EDIT: I just imagined the above but wouldn't you know, a quick Google Images search later and, yes dear Doreen, RIP, your Florida Trailer Park Memorial Pink Flamingo Angel does exist:
EDIT #2: Okay, now it's 4pm and they're back hauling an entire couch, bookcases, a vacuum cleaner and other assorted things I can't make out. It looks like they're moving out! WHAT?! They just moved in?! They just did all that work, inside and out! I feel bad for these kids! Now I'm really thinking it's something serious. All still without any sign of Doreen. If she was well, there's no way she wouldn't be a part of all this. She's just too much a busy body type to let the men handle it all. She'd have to be in the thick of it. So she must either be really sick, or really dead. I'll keep an electronic eye out. Oh, I also have my kitchen window blinds open so I can physically watch the goings on. Of course I dare not approach them to ask them what's going on. I'll just munch my metaphorical popcorn from the sidelines as I watch the drama unfold. Stay tuned...