I live in your average middle-class neighbourhood where people take care of their lawns and most people on my street have 1.5 kids and a puppy. Most people are pretty friendly and say “hello” when they pass by—everybody except my neighbours that is.
For the past year and a half since we moved here, our next-door neighbours have barely acknowledged our existence. The family consists of a mom, dad and two teenage daughters. On many an occasion when we both happen to be passing each other as we head out the door, my husband and I call out a simple “hi” to them. Silence.
Hmm…maybe they didn’t hear us, I thought. So the next time we said “hello” a little louder. Still no response. Their coldness made me feel self-conscious. Did we do something wrong? Perhaps I didn’t wear enough deodorant that day? Or maybe they just don’t like my face.
I chalked it up to the strong possibility that they are just the type of people that like to keep to themselves. Fine, we don’t need to be on speaking terms, I thought to myself.
Well, the other day when I was doing some spring cleaning in our front yard, I noticed the Cold Ones had erected a small metal fence between our postage-stamp sized lawns. This miniscule fence between our properties is no higher than two feet tall yet sends a massive message to us which screams, “Stay the f%*@ off our lawn!”
Wow, they must really hate us.
Who knew this tiny structure could conjure up such strong feelings? It reminds me of two bickering siblings who divide up their shared room with a piece of masking tape and say, “Don’t cross this line.”
I now have the strong urge to dance on their front lawn with our dog. But no, I must be grown-up about this. I mean, what’s the point of putting a fence between our front yards? Backyards, yes, but front yards are meant to be open.
Luckily our neighbour on the other side is a super-friendly man in his 80’s who more than makes up for the Cold Ones’ coldness. I guess the days are gone where you actually know your neighbours, and *gasp* are friends with them. I suppose my rosy ideal of being able to knock on your neighbour’s door to borrow a cup of sugar is outdated.
It could be worse though. At least their behaviour is just passive-aggressive—they haven’t thrown over any stink bombs our way…yet. It does make me a bit sad though that we can’t all just get along.
