A Cautionary Tale About Our Crazy Neighbor Experience
Written on
Chapter 1: The Strange Encounter
Recently, I came across a story that brought back memories of you.
I read about a parent concerned for their child attending a gathering with satanists, which made me think of our interactions. I recall our first meeting when you discovered that the builders had inadvertently programmed your garage door to respond to our remote. You had assumed someone had broken into your home since our door closing triggered yours. This mishap occurred on a Friday night before a holiday weekend, adding to the chaos. At that time, you had two kids, one of whom was the same age as our youngest.
So, what does this story have to do with you? Well, you're a committed Christian, and I remember the first time you allowed your kids into our home. You spotted my son's Yu-Gi-Oh poster—something we viewed merely as a TV show. In disbelief, you took your child aside and lectured them about how they should have left immediately, assuming they were exposed to something inappropriate. You mentioned that their father would be upset when he got home. We were utterly taken aback.
From that point on, during our years as neighbors, we felt like outcasts. You treated us as if we were the devil worshippers you believed we were. I doubt you realized that not only were we Catholic, but our children were also enrolled in a private Catholic school at that time. To add to the humor, we would intentionally leave items around that we thought might bother you, such as science books. We even set up outdoor movie nights with a projector, screening films that I can only imagine were on your "do not watch" list.
Our relationship didn't improve when you reported our wandering cat to animal control, claiming he was preventing you from entering your home. He was an indoor cat who simply couldn’t find his way back. Additionally, you refused to return a rocket that landed on your roof and showed no willingness to repair the gutter damage caused by your trampoline. You opted not to secure your trampoline, reasoning that it would hinder your ability to move it for mowing.
When you erected an eight-foot section of fence that only obstructed your view of our yard from your porch, I couldn’t help but wonder how far you would go. Eventually, the new owners who purchased your home turned out to be incredibly friendly; amusingly, the husband was a local youth minister, and we remain friends to this day. However, our children didn’t interact much since they had twin daughters older than my youngest son, while my older kids were significantly older than theirs.
Over time, another friendly neighbor moved in, but she traveled frequently and was rarely seen. We lived on that street for 16 years, being the first family as the homes were constructed. Occasionally, I find myself missing some of the wonderful friends I made there. As for you, your family serves as a cautionary reminder to me not to judge others based solely on appearances. I also ponder the impact of harsh punishments on children for actions they don’t fully understand.