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By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
Mood:
Disconcerted!
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Disconcerting Encounter
The house next door to us to the west has been vacant for going on seven months now, apparently left unoccupied as a result of a marital dispute between the young couple who lived there. We miss them and their children, they were very good neighbors - brightening the neighborhood with bike riding lessons, salsa music, waves and smiles as they and we came and went, and an inate sense of courtesy toward the rest of the block.
Someone living nearby has a set of keys, and on occasion, a small group of people shows up, pokes around for awhile, goes in and out carrying various items, gets back in their vehicle and leaves again. The situation is filled with questions.
This afternoon was pleasant and breezy and I had the screen panel on the front door lifted to let in some fresh air. I heard a young woman's voice calling "hello?" and went to answer the door. Two young women were on the stoop and before I could say anything to them, began the conversation by saying "we just came from next door, and would like to meet the rest of the neighborhood." I jumped to the conclusion that they were connected somehow to that house, perhaps new residents, and wishing to be polite joined them outside to chat.
Well, unfortunately, I was wrong, they were involved in some kind of panhandling scheme "to get money to go snowboarding." I immediately excused myself, and was promptly accused of being rude and stuck up! Looking back, I should have just let the situation end at that point, but I tried to explain that I thought they were new neighbors, but since they were not, I was busy indoors and needed to return to my tasks. THEN I was confronted with the statement that "I had a lot of nerve, to wish only to speak to someone from the neighborhood, and not to offer courtesy to a stranger!"
By that point, I was back inside, the door was closed and locked. But the encounter has stayed on my mind. Had they begun their greeting to me with any other comment other than "coming from next door" I would have dismissed them immediately.
I still think about our former neighbors on a daily basis, wonder how they are and how long it took the middle kid, a little boy, to master his two wheeler without training wheels.
Someone living nearby has a set of keys, and on occasion, a small group of people shows up, pokes around for awhile, goes in and out carrying various items, gets back in their vehicle and leaves again. The situation is filled with questions.
This afternoon was pleasant and breezy and I had the screen panel on the front door lifted to let in some fresh air. I heard a young woman's voice calling "hello?" and went to answer the door. Two young women were on the stoop and before I could say anything to them, began the conversation by saying "we just came from next door, and would like to meet the rest of the neighborhood." I jumped to the conclusion that they were connected somehow to that house, perhaps new residents, and wishing to be polite joined them outside to chat.
Well, unfortunately, I was wrong, they were involved in some kind of panhandling scheme "to get money to go snowboarding." I immediately excused myself, and was promptly accused of being rude and stuck up! Looking back, I should have just let the situation end at that point, but I tried to explain that I thought they were new neighbors, but since they were not, I was busy indoors and needed to return to my tasks. THEN I was confronted with the statement that "I had a lot of nerve, to wish only to speak to someone from the neighborhood, and not to offer courtesy to a stranger!"
By that point, I was back inside, the door was closed and locked. But the encounter has stayed on my mind. Had they begun their greeting to me with any other comment other than "coming from next door" I would have dismissed them immediately.
I still think about our former neighbors on a daily basis, wonder how they are and how long it took the middle kid, a little boy, to master his two wheeler without training wheels.
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