Dear Eric: I have a kind, retired neighbor who I infrequently see, but who is always warm and friendly when we cross paths. Nearly a month ago, my wife received a sympathy card from her expressing condolences on my passing, appreciation for what a good neighbor I was and hoping that my memory would be a blessing.

It was a lovely card, but as you can tell from this inquiry, a bit premature.

While we do not know why she thought I was dead, the note came to my wife the week I had some additional surgery for stage IV renal cell cancer with which I was diagnosed six years ago. But the fight goes on!

I pushed away the temptation to ring her doorbell at night in zombie makeup, figuring I would soon drive past her while she was in her driveway or yard and at that time make contact with her and

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