Anyway, I was starting to get worried that someone was going to complain. So, I asked Pete if he could mow it...I'd asked him like 2 or 3 times. I even asked him to show ME how to do it so that he wouldn't have to worry about it. In fact, I was THIS close to dragging that mower out and make a fool out of myself trying to start it. The lawn was bad. I'm talking 10 inch long blades of grass...at least.
Have I mentioned that I live in a real snooty neighborhood? I'm talking Desperate Housewives, Wisteria Lane, snooty. Every one's yards are perfectly manicured and gorgeous. So you know...10 inch long grass sticks out like a sore thumb around here. That is why I was worried.
So yesterday Pete came home and mowed the lawn. Hallelujah!
But today, we got this in the mail:
Now, I realize that this neighbor was probably trying to be considerate by not identifying his/herself. And I KNOW my yard was pretty despicable. BUT I still can't help but be a teensy bit offended by this letter. I mean, do you think I would have received this letter 20 years ago? It seems that people don't really seem neighborly anymore. It seems to me that 20, 30 years ago someone might have said "I wonder if Mrs. Wilcox is ok?....I know Mr. Wilcox has been real busy...and didn't Mrs. Wilcox lose her job recently? Maybe I should stop by and see if there's anything she needs?"
But alas, it seems times have changed and instead I get an anonymous letter in the mail.
So, here is my response that I plan on posting on a stick in my front yard:
What? Too harsh?
EDITED: What I find humorous about this whole thing is...if you notice the envelope was post marked March 20th...which was yesterday....The day the lawn finally got mowed. If they just would of waited one more day. And I bet they felt kinda bad after they saw Mr. Wilcox mowing...knowing full well they couldn't take back the letter they just sent. I'm just saying.
6 comments:
Oh. my. goodness. I'm laughing over the humorous spin you put on it, but I know{b/c you're just like me} that it's probably really bugging you. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that we live in 2008 and some people are just mean. What did Pete say about it? Did he laugh? Did he show you how to start the mower?
I love that the letter was obviously addressed by a woman. You should set up a video camera in your front yard, aimed at your mailbox. lol! Or maybe you should put Megan on your hip and try to start the mower, be really dramatic about it too. Maybe kick the mower and then just collapse into a fit of tears right in the front yard. Do it multiple times throughout the day, just so ALL your neighbors see since you aren't positive who sent it.
Okay, enough out of me. I hope today goes better for you. Happy Easter! I hope the grass isn't too short to hide eggs.
:)
Seriously, I can't believe that.
I remember when my dad died, neighbors crawled out of the woodwork to see how we were doing. Shoveled our snow, put down salt for ice, helped to remove snow from our cars, and brought us another casserole.
This was only 9 years ago.
Man how things have changed. I hope that the neighbor who sent you that letter rethinks things before sending another one out.
And comes over instead of just hiding in thier house...
Oh my word... that is crazy. If there was that big a concern, be man (or woman) enough to come and talk to you! There are so many "what if's" about what could have been wrong, and without bothering to ask, this is so out of line.
I think my sign would say
"Dear Neighbor, and I use that term loosely, since it implies some level of KINDNESS which you have clearly shown you do not possess. How can I thank you enough for asking what was going on that our lawn was so neglected? I mean,it could have been anything... sick kids, a death in the family, a job loss, or simply a broken mower... but I guess you will never know since you didn't bother to ask, but rather left an anonymous note in my mailbox. Congratulations, your kind of cowardice and obnoxious behavior are just the reason why people keep their blinds shut and play inside."
Yeah, its a little wordy for the front lawn sign, but ugh, this kind of crap makes me ill...
hang in there, and I am so sending you some obnoxious lawn art when I find it, like those grannys with their butts in the air, or a dog holding a metallic globe!! hahahahaha... :)
I don't live in Desperate Housewives land but we get letters sent out like that as well..when we first moved in we got one about a shed in the back yard that looked precarious...we had already taken it down when the letter came in the mail so I wrote back telling them so...I too was a little ticked by the letter also.
We have landscapers come and cut the grass now and the $400 lawnmower we bought just sits like an antique in the shed...but it sure is nice to come home to a freshly cut lawn, but we've decided to save the money this year and cut it ourselves...so lets so how soon we get the same letter from our friendly neighbors!!!
Oh and how did that sign work out for you...if you're still alive I'll borrow it...if you're repairing the glass in your front window you can keep it!! LOL
Wow ... that's quite the letter! Love your responce (and Jude's too!) Kim
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