Sunday, August 24, 2008

Friendly Neighbors--NOT!



These are the houses across the street from our house. See those cars? Those belong to me and to Bill who lives with us. We have lived in our house for 34 years and for all of those 34 years we have parked our cars out in front. We would park them in front of our house but that is a fire lane so that is impossible. And we can only park one car in the barn so that is where Mr. Snowbird parks his car. When the kids lived at home, we actually had 3 cars that needed to be parked on the street. All has been well for 34 years. The house where the cars are parked has passed through many owners since we have live here. As I said, all has been well for 34 years.

This spring a new owner bought the house. During my first garage sale in June, she came over and introduced herself. She seemed very nice. She is a single mom who does a lot of babysitting. I haven't seen a lot of her all summer since we never seem to be outside at the same time.

I have to admit that we have had all three cars parked out front most of the summer due to the barn being full of my garage sale stuff and because the contractors needed to get into the back yard much of the summer. And I will also admit that there is a city ordinance that you can't leave a car parked in one spot for longer that 2 or 3 days without moving it and I did tend to forget that. But, as I said, all has been well for 34 years. No complaints from any of the previous owners in any of the 3 houses that we park in front of. Until last Friday!!

Bill came home from work and found a note on my windshield. When he brought it in to me, I was astonished to say the least. I'm afraid a few choice words escaped my lips.

Just curious, what would you think if you found the following note on your car???

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder if your words were as choice as mine would have been? Pam needs to unclench her fanny and learn to get along! Another good reason to sell the homestead?

MariBy said...

I don't think much of your neighbor and don't think you should either. Why waste minutes of your valuable life over such a boorish note?

I'd find out the exact wording of the city ordinance re: how long cars can be parked on the street. If you follow it, Ms. "I Got A Broomstick Up My A**" can take a hike.

Tink *~*~* said...

As long as you are not breaking the law, Pam can go scratch. I think leaving a note instead of talking to you in person is chickens**ttery. People have a way of writing things that they would NEVER say face to face. Can you picture her coming up to you and SAYING all that? Me neither!

As long as you have the cars all swap places every couple of days, what can she do? I mean, really! Had the request been polite and based on something a bit more valid than "it looks hideous", I might have been inclined to cooperate, but if you want to know what I think - the heck with her and her assaulted aesthetic senses.

So there. :p

Tink *~*~*

The Farmer Files said...

So how did the Snowbirds handle this???? Do tell!

Very disappointing she left a note and didn't say anything to you directly. Also, I think it a bit abrasive to ask you to park your car back on your property, rather than just not in front of her house. Hideous is a pretty inflammatory word. Boo.

Snowbird said...

Gee, I'm glad everyone agrees with me. I thought maybe I was the bad neighbor. Farmer Files asked how we handled it. You see that picture of our cars in front of her house. Well, we are still parking our cars in front of her house.

Gayle said...

I so would have marched over there and had some big ole confrontation because I'm hot-headed like that. My hubby would have ignored her completely. I hope this doesn't turn into some kind of war. If it does, let me know, I've got some ideas! :)("Hideous" seems pretty drastic for the cars/situation. It isn't a million dollar home or anything like that!).

Anonymous said...

I'm more passive/aggressive than the rest of you - I'd drop off a card with a big smiley face on my way south, reminding her that to have a friend you have to be a friend, wishing her a long happy winter, and promising to see her next summer.

Unknown said...

Gail may be the nice one here,but me,I would take a box of dog doo-doo,wrap it up like a swell present and leave it on her doorstep.And a card with,"Welcome to the neighborhood."
But that's just me.....

Mare said...

I think you handled it perfectly. Your cars *still* parked on the street are surely sending your message-LOL!

And don't tell my neighbors, but I am tucking away all these wonderful ideas just in case I ever need them. ;)