Mike in Seattle
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,027
- Location
- Renton (Seattle), WA
We had, for the first five or six years here, the stereotypical Gladys Kravitz. I tried to be nice & neighborly and say "Hello" but she'd always dash for cover. After I realized she wasn't ever going to allow any sort of contact, I turned it into a game. We have loads of stories - I had it written up on my web site for friends & family to keep updated on her latest antics. Life was never dull with her next door trying to keep up with us. My favorite - we'd put in a raised flowerbed and stone walkway along the fence separating us. I was fixing dinner one night and had put something on the kitchen table and glanced out - she had hoisted herself up (she was short & pudgy and early to mid 60's) on the fence and was holding on for dear life trying to look over into our yard to see what we'd done. She looked like the old "Kilroy Was Here" graffiti. I stood there, I guess with a "What is this loon doing now?" look on my face, she glanced over, sees me, she goes deer-in-the-headlights, lets go of the fence and splats into her own muddy yard. Took her awhile to roll around, get up and hobble inside with the help of "Abner" who was giving her a tongue-lashing all the way across the yard and into the house.
Another time we had a power failure. I walked into the darkened den and there's light from a flashlight shining around the floor. She was in their 2nd floor bedroom, peering out through the blinds with the flashlight, trying to see in our den window. I got my heavy-duty flashlight and shined it up at her. From that angle, about all she could see was the floor and end table.
And with nice neighbors next door who we can actually have conversations with, I must admit at times I do miss Gladys' antics.
Another time we had a power failure. I walked into the darkened den and there's light from a flashlight shining around the floor. She was in their 2nd floor bedroom, peering out through the blinds with the flashlight, trying to see in our den window. I got my heavy-duty flashlight and shined it up at her. From that angle, about all she could see was the floor and end table.
And with nice neighbors next door who we can actually have conversations with, I must admit at times I do miss Gladys' antics.