Kristen Davis

This one's called Lovable Slash Crazy Neighbor Story. It starts, all y'all. All y'all. That's right. There's a saying in the South, we don't hide our crazy, we parade it out on the front porch and give it a cocktail. Hell yeah. In that vein, life gave us our elderly neighbor, Camellia, a true Southern character.

This one's called Lovable Slash Crazy Neighbor Story. It starts, all y'all. All y'all. That's right. There's a saying in the South, we don't hide our crazy, we parade it out on the front porch and give it a cocktail. Hell yeah. In that vein, life gave us our elderly neighbor, Camellia, a true Southern character.

For their entire married lives, Camelia and her husband Bill live like paupers at home, then use the money they save to travel the globe. Growing up with that example right next door, my own four kids are spending their 20s traveling and living all over the world as well. Nice. Amazing. Camelia has no filter, never did.

For their entire married lives, Camelia and her husband Bill live like paupers at home, then use the money they save to travel the globe. Growing up with that example right next door, my own four kids are spending their 20s traveling and living all over the world as well. Nice. Amazing. Camelia has no filter, never did.

She will love you like nobody else and flat put you in your place when you need it. And at 90 now, if she wants to walk to the mailbox in her underwear, she absolutely does. Why not? The freedoms. My hands-down favorite Camellia story was one day when I arranged for a group of boys from the local Baptist church to volunteer doing chores in her yard.

She will love you like nobody else and flat put you in your place when you need it. And at 90 now, if she wants to walk to the mailbox in her underwear, she absolutely does. Why not? The freedoms. My hands-down favorite Camellia story was one day when I arranged for a group of boys from the local Baptist church to volunteer doing chores in her yard.

The boys showed up, as did their pastor and assistant pastor. As the boys worked, we stood in the yard and chatted with the pastors, and I asked Camellia for permission to tell them the sweet story of how she and Bill met. The story goes that they were both in Colorado skiing in the early 70s, her from Louisiana, him from Florida.

The boys showed up, as did their pastor and assistant pastor. As the boys worked, we stood in the yard and chatted with the pastors, and I asked Camellia for permission to tell them the sweet story of how she and Bill met. The story goes that they were both in Colorado skiing in the early 70s, her from Louisiana, him from Florida.

A big snow fell, airports were closed, and the only way out was by bus where the two of them were seated together and talked for hours. When she got back to Louisiana, Camelia called the bus line, lied, and said that she'd sat next to a man named Bill and their suitcases had gotten switched. Yeah. It says it absolutely had not. She asked for his phone number to call him and rectify the situation.

A big snow fell, airports were closed, and the only way out was by bus where the two of them were seated together and talked for hours. When she got back to Louisiana, Camelia called the bus line, lied, and said that she'd sat next to a man named Bill and their suitcases had gotten switched. Yeah. It says it absolutely had not. She asked for his phone number to call him and rectify the situation.

Wow. Going for it. This being the 70s, they didn't give it a second thought.

Wow. Going for it. This being the 70s, they didn't give it a second thought.

She called, they connected, started dating, got married, and were absolute soulmates until Bill died in 2018. As I retold this charming, if a bit impish, tale, Camelia added, of course, we were both married to other people at the time. Lady. All bold, all caps. What? Right in front of the pastors, too. Oh, that's right. Yeah. She's at church?

She called, they connected, started dating, got married, and were absolute soulmates until Bill died in 2018. As I retold this charming, if a bit impish, tale, Camelia added, of course, we were both married to other people at the time. Lady. All bold, all caps. What? Right in front of the pastors, too. Oh, that's right. Yeah. She's at church?

No, they're in the front yard with the boys doing the work at the yard. Oh, that's right. That's a completely different story and not one I've necessarily related to the local Baptist preachers. Classic camellia, though. I have no doubt she'd set up that little booby trap and was just waiting to spring it on me. She's like, go ahead, tell the story. Yeah, sure. I'd love for you to.

No, they're in the front yard with the boys doing the work at the yard. Oh, that's right. That's a completely different story and not one I've necessarily related to the local Baptist preachers. Classic camellia, though. I have no doubt she'd set up that little booby trap and was just waiting to spring it on me. She's like, go ahead, tell the story. Yeah, sure. I'd love for you to.

Thanks for all you two lovelies do, not the least of which is offering me a way to connect with my 30-something daughter. Oh. And then her name is Mimi. Mimi.

Thanks for all you two lovelies do, not the least of which is offering me a way to connect with my 30-something daughter. Oh. And then her name is Mimi. Mimi.

Right.

Right.