Fast friends: Las Cruces teen lends helping hand to neighbor in need
LAS CRUCES – A Las Cruces teen took the phrase “being neighborly” above and beyond these past several months “adopting” his neighbor as a best friend and grandmother.
Karen Johnson, 73, retired in the Las Cruces area with her husband, Dennis, of 35 years. She said they’re known during Christmas time as the North Valley Drive-area house with 25 inflatable decorations in their front yard.
Dennis passed away during the summer of 2021 at the age of 75. The next day or so, her 17-year-old neighbor, Samuel McGillivray, was out mowing her lawn.
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They quickly became close, seeing each other just about every day. They both agree that they’ve “adopted” each other.
“I mowed her lawn then I ended up just staying. So, I just come over and eat, or we watch TV or fix whatever she breaks,” he joked.
“We’re a tight neighborhood, but he just stepped up and decided to adopt me, I guess,” Johnson said.
She explained that she and her husband started inviting neighbors to dinner years back and since then — but before the COVID-19 pandemic — the neighborhood would get together every few months.
McGillivray moved to the Las Cruces area with his parents a few years ago. He’s originally from Las Vegas, Nevada. He said the Johnsons had not interacted with them much before this summer.
To continue the traditions celebrated by the Johnsons over the Christmas season this past year, McGillivray helped his friend set up her eight-tier, 15-foot-tall tree display. The hand-made tree stand displays her collection of holiday village vignettes which includes over 600 pieces. Johnson said she has been collecting for about 40 years — she added that most of the pieces are at least 25 years old.
Several years ago, the couple realized they had more collectables than space to put them. Dennis took to his workshop and built the multi-level platform out of PVC pipe and plywood.
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Each tier is covered in small vignettes, including an old-time town, log cabins, a train set and much more. McGillivray said it took about two weeks to completely set up — between his time spent at school and recovering from a football-related injury. The tree stands as a nod to cherished memories between a married couple, and holds the promise of new ones between a grandmother and grandson.
The two joke and banter among themselves. Those who didn’t know would likely believe the two had shared a long familial relationship.
“I’ll claim him,” Johnson laughed. “He’s been my salvation.”
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces teen lends helping hand to neighbor in need
