Scorched Earth

I've written before about the neighbor that likes to burn things in his firepit using lots and lots of gasoline.  Tuesday he was back, and must have really missed his firepit, because he spent the day ripping out bird houses and burning them, after dousing them with gas.  Then he took down a lattice fence that hid his yard tools from sight and threw that in too.  Now that the fire was going swell, he threw in his yard tools, including two gas-powered weed eaters!  I'm pretty sure I saw some metal chairs on the heap as well.

After the bonfire cooled down the next morning, a large patch of grass around the firepit was gone, and even more of it has been scorched and won't come back.  The old man shoveled the contents of the firepit into 2 trash bags and threw them away.

I have a suspicion that this man is getting ready to leave for good.  He pulled up concrete stepping stones (I was afraid they were going into the fire too), and I saw him pack some lawn games into the trunk of his car. 

I didn't see his wife, but rarely ever do.  I heard two years ago that she was suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia (they must be close to 80).  They live in Minneapolis (about 3 1/2 hour drive from here), but used to spend most of the summer in their camper. 

They've build a screened in porch the whole length of the camper, and painted it in Florida pastels.  The old man used to get up early every day and build things, like the bird houses that he so recently burned.  Their yard is full of gnomes and signs, and bird houses, and owl statues and other things he's made.  I've never been in their camper, but their porch has windchimes hanging from every possible spot.

I imagine that the old man is dismantling their summer life bit by bit, destroying anything that he can't carry home in his sedan car.  Just like losing someone you love, leaving nothing but scorched earth behind.