Woman in her thirties is best friends with her 74-year-old neighbor

By Ben Barry

A woman is best friends with her 74-year-old neighbor despite a 41-year age gap - and the pair go out for food once a week and text every day.

Brooke McNelis, 33, moved next door to Tom S, 74, in August 2019 in San Diego, California, US.

Two years later, in July 2021, Brooke was on her balcony when she heard someone shouting for help.

She ran to the noise and found Tom on the floor - having fallen over three hours earlier. She called the medical and got him to the emergency room.

Brooke asked to visit Tom in the hospital while he was recovering from the tumble and, despite him saying no at first, she started doing house visits when he got back.

From there, the pair's bond grew, and they text every day, go out for food once a week - and Tom spent Christmas and Thanksgiving with Brooke and her fiancé, Patrick Daly, 55, a chief financial officer.

Brooke, a medical salesperson, from San Diego, Calif., said: "When I met him [Tom], my brother had just passed away.

"I was in a dark place, he was going through it and we leaned on each other.

"I love hearing his stories - I learn so much from him.

"There is never an awkward moment when we are not speaking to each other.

"We are always chatting and my fiancé is great friends with him too."

On July 11, 2021, Brooke was out on her balcony when she heard someone calling out for help.

She ran downstairs, following the noise, and discovered Tom lying on the floor in his garden - having taken a tumble.

Brooke said: "I ran down, popped his gate and found Tom on the floor.

"Tom had fallen three hours earlier and was on the floor since I found him."

After calling an ambulance, Tom spent three days in the hospital recovering.

"I couldn't sleep so I decided to reach out to him," Brooke said.

"I asked him if he was up for visitors, he said no, but once he was home I went down there.

"We started spending more time together and our relationship kicked off."

From there, Brooke started taking Tom out once a week for lunch or dinner.

They bonded over skiing, politics and love to cook together.

Since their friendship started, the pair have kept up tradition and will speak once a day.

Brooke said: "He calls me his angel, we have spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together.

"I go for lunch or dinner with him once a week, and I make sure we chat once a day.

"I love that I can go to Tom with any issue, and he gives me the best advice.

"He has been through a lot of life and he has great wisdom.

"I will go to him with anything from job advice to relationship advice and he will have the answer."