Lisa Mason
February 3, 2020
It was early 2000s when Steve became my family’s next-door neighbor.
We became fast friends.
I loved Steve’s loud laugh, his funny jokes and stories also admired his hard work ethic.
Our homes shared a common six-foot fence between yards that set the perfect stage for Steve to mimic the character Wilson from the sitcom Home Improvement with Tim the Tool Man Taylor.
I was comforted listening to Steve’s pearls of wisdom while seeing only his eyes and top of head when he stopped at the fence to chat on his way to work in his garage.
I instantly loved nearly everything about Steve's big personality,
Nearly everything!
Steven Douglas Aldred made it his everyday duty to challenge my overtly structured “new mom” schedule!
Our conversations went something like this...
“Steve, Douglas (nicknamed Bear) Bear cannot have ice cream or goodies before dinner.
“No problem Lisa! " within a few minutes, Bear would return from Uncle Steve's house next door with either an Ice cream bar or a popsicle.
‘Steve, no cookies for Liberty before bed please. “No problem Lisa! “
In a flash, one way or another Liberty would give a huge smile, grinning with remnants of black and white Oreo crumbs around the outside corners of her mouth. “Uncle Steve stuck again ehhh?” I’d inquire. Liberty would happily nod yes back up to me!
“Hey Steve-O, Kids have to be in Bed by 7:45”, he'd agree and keep playing and hanging out hours later past curfew. You see the Pattern?
I knew I met my match with Steve! His friendship taught me and our family of four how to relax, enjoy life more and reminded us to remember rules were made to be broken!
Fast Forward to one Sunday Easter morning when the kids were about 4 and 2 years old.
I checked my structured mom to do list; back yard bunny trail decorated, check.
Baskets hidden, check! Liberty’s elegant Easter dress and fancy Easter shoes laid out, check!
The perfect Easter holiday was about to unfold, but first a cup of Joe!
Proud of myself as everything was on schedule, I began taking a celebratory sip of morning coffee quietly envisioning the perfect day when I was disrupted by loud bursts of laughter and squeals of excitement coming from our front yard.
I rushed to the door, stood on the front porch in time to watch Steve orchestrating an egg hunt. Douglas & Liberty still in their pajamas and bare feet were collecting hidden colorful eggs, they found baskets overflowing with candy and clutched in their tiny hands were big fluffy stuffed bunny animals!
Steve was the candy man, Easter bunny and the epitome of a fun-loving family man all wrapped up and disguised as our next-door neighbor!
My belief is Steven Douglas Alred was brought into my family’s lives to teach us Love, Laughter and Living in the moment is the only structure that’s needed.
Rest in Peace Steve!
Love,
Lisa, Doug, Liberty and Douglas
