STEVE HARTMAN:
00:01:48
Which is why he was already thinking about scaling back the display when the last note arrived.
BILL PYLES:
00:01:55
I stopped dead in my tracks in the driveway looking at that letter.
STEVE HARTMAN:
00:02:00
Tammy Weihe wrote that note. Tammy has breast cancer, and to get her daily radiation treatments, she had to travel this country road in Oxford, Ohio, right past Bill's house. Given her situation, it's understandable how this diorama of death could be unsettling. But the tone of her letter was more "humerus" than "sternum." Tammy wrote, "The bone family and what they are up to is a highlight of my journey." She went on to explain how her last day of cancer treatment was coming up and how grateful she was for this daily diversion. And when Bill read that-- Tears came to my eyes. It really touched my heart.
STEVE HARTMAN:
00:02:45
And right then, he knew what he had to do. Another skeleton.
STEVE HARTMAN:
00:02:49
He worked through the night so that when that letter writer made her final trip past his house in the morning, this is what she saw, a whole skeleton crew cheering her on. It was very touching to think that somebody would go to that effort for a stranger.
STEVE HARTMAN:
00:03:08
Former stranger. Good seeing you again. We talk all the time now. You want to take a walk out and see these guys? Yeah.
STEVE HARTMAN:
00:03:13
Bill says Tammy's letter and now friendship have completely negated all the hate mail, inspiring him to not only keep his display but to grow it.
BILL PYLES:
00:03:24
Things are going to stay up, and they're going to stay active. There's more letters to come? There were definitely. [LAUGHTER] There will be.
STEVE HARTMAN:
00:03:30
Good and bad. Yeah. Joining us now, Bill Pyles. Welcome. Thank you. It's great to be here. Have you stayed in touch with Tammy? Yes. We still talk at least once a week. I assume your decorations are back up?
BILL PYLES:
00:03:48
Yes, they are. We've got a record number of skeletons out there this year. Like world record? I don't know if it's a world record, but it's definitely a record for my area. We have almost 70, and we change the display on a weekly basis. They stay up all year long now. How's the mail? About 45 to 1 of love it. Don't stop it. That's got to feel good. It feels really good when the neighbors come over. You're starting to change things up, and they're in a panic that you're taking things down. Really? Yes. Generally speaking, what can people do to be better neighbors? First off, talk to your neighbors. New person moves in, introduce yourself to them, and be that neighbor that says, hey, if you ever need anything, give me a call, and be the guy that shows up when they make that call. That's nice. All right, thanks so much. I really appreciate you giving us the time. Thanks for having me on here. Neighbors aren't friends or family, but they do look out for us all the same. And it's important to appreciate them, especially when they hand out those giant candy bars. Oh yeah.
STEVE HARTMAN:
00:04:55
We'll see you next time. And don't forget to stay kind.
