Neighbors

I posted this on my old blog this summer….still makes me laugh.
So, I get home this afternoon from a whirlwind morning(whole other post) to find a box of baby clothes on my doorstep.

The note attached says,

“Thought you may be able to use these as my daughter outgrew them pretty fast.

Betty (Linda’s daughter – **insert address from across the street**)”

Linda, Linda, Linda…. Not ringing a bell. Betty – hum isn’t that Karen’s daughters name…didn’t she have a baby in February? look across the street…oh, Karens address is XX. OM W, is Karen’s name really Linda??

Hot sweeps over me. Have called this lady the wrong name for THREE years?!? She’s outside, should I say something??? No wonder she never hears me when I say her name in public….AK!!!

I ran over and said, “Tell B thank you so much for the clothes they are the perfect size and season. By the way, your name is Linda?? For three years I’ve been calling you Karen!” She laughed, “It’s okay honey no big deal.”

What, that’s it?!?! You never corrected me?? Of course, I don’t say that just smile back, finish my small talk and rush back home.

I’m an idiot!

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In July there was a huge storm that took out part of our fence. Our insurance paid to have the fence replaced. I decided that I wanted the fence flush with the back of the house so that I could see the kids at all times. To do this, we had to remove a portion of our fence that was in front of the kitchen window.

We had talked to the neighbors prior to removal and they said it was fine, but once the fence was down I realized we see right into the back of the house. The kitchen sink window is the only window on that side of the house. It wasn’t long after the fence was removed that I noticed we may have just violated their privacy. Maybe I shouldn’t say “their” because really, its just one guy (out of the three and their mom) that I feel like I violating.

Apparently, the youngest son smokes (well, actually I see them all smoking) and he likes to smoke and play on the computer and read and who knows. This guy is ALWAYS outside. Seriously, last night is was, what, 20 degrees and he’s huddled up next to a chiminea smoking and reading. Seriously??

Really its none of my business. He isn’t bothering me at all. But I feel like I’m spying. I’m NOT spying, but every time I go to the sink I have to see if he’s out there. I’m not intentionally looking, but it just happens…okay, well sometimes its intentional because I’m like, “surely he isn’t there.” Every now and then I think the movement gets his attention and he’ll look up and I feel like “that” neighbor staring. But in my defense, what would you look at while running water, washing dishes, filling the coffee pot….I used to just stare out the window it just so happens now that I have someone to stare at.

Last night, Kai and I made cookies and I didn’t want to eat them and poor neighbor boy was out in the cold. I wanted to take some to him, but decided it may be weird seeing as though we’ve never been introduced, and it was dark, and technically that would mean me walking into his back yard.

I wonder if he’s been there all of these years and we never knew it.

Go ahead and laugh…I know its weird. But really, what can I do?  I guess I could close the window, but….??