I remember a wonderful..zany neighbor..Joan!

By far and away the craziest and best neighbor I ever had was a woman named Joanne who was referred to by her 80 plus year old mother as Joan-nee. I seriously think I could write a TV comedy show about her.

Joan was different; she had a sick nervous cough, crunched continually on ice, and had an interest in coupons.  As a matter of fact I labeled her a “Coup-a-holic”.  She worked a full time job,  clipping coupons, free offers and refunds in her spare time.  One room in her house was devoted to this hobby and I would help her. 

Sometimes she would arrange coupon rides where a group of us would take the family’s motorhome to the grocery store and go shopping.  Grandma and Joan however would lag behind having to cross every aisle while diligently souring her coupons.  We on the other hand would retreat to the motorhome to play music, sip beer, and eat popcorn while waiting. I thought it was a wonderful way to shop.

One night I took Joan and grandma to the Williams Store in North Syracuse, which at that time was the largest store in the area.  I purchased what I needed and then I sat outside waiting and waiting for them to come out.  Finally the lights went out.  I was mystified. Had I missed something?  It seems I hadn’t, Joan and grandma were in the back of the store and missed to closing announcements so when the lights went out they got locked in - in the complete dark.  Luckily the store had security lasers that went off and a short time later they were escorted out of the store…but alas, with no groceries.

Joan also had great credit and had purchased their house on a credit card from the church up the street.  The rectory was being changed and Joan bought it and had it moved next to her mother’s, which is how she ended up next to me!

The company Joan worked for was a credit and collection company that went through workers continually.  Joan had worked there for years and explained that she felt sorry for people and would try to help them with their problems encouraging them to pay her something, calling them back to talk to them about problems…a kind person who was stuck in a horrible job.  Joan claimed the only way she could keep doing it was because she could listen to country music to calm her. Country music that was banned from her workplace I might add.

So to get around this music ban she had a transistor radio strapped to her leg or where -ever and an earphone that was in one ear hidden by her long hair.  I remember many a morning when she would run over to my house so I could tape the wire to her with flesh colored tape so no one would see it through her cloths.

One morning she broke her short ear wire and had to tape a 25 foot long one to her, so she tucked the cord in her underwear.  Grandma had gone to breakfast with her at the dinner next to where she worked and noticed that after Joan came out of the ladies room she was dragging a tail.  That tail turned out to be the cord.  Then that very week she was informed that the big boss was coming to town and wanted to speak to her…she was sure she was going to be fired…. found-out because of the wire!