Neighbors' Bonfire Is A Trigger

[nycowboy]

Last night one of the neighbors was out mowing, briefly. She just mowed the front yard so it didn't last long. But it triggered me. I got really "short" with my family.

I hate hate hate when stuff like this happens. At least I'm aware that this is happening.

 

[nycowboy]

Last night, Helga (not her real name) was out mowing again. Instead of getting all worked up, I took my son on a car trip to Walmart. It was raining when we returned, so no more lawn mower.

The leaves are starting to fall here (finally). I told myself that the weekend is coming and it will be RAKE THE LEAF time. At first I freaked out because I told myself there will be a conflict with the neighbors because they will trespass in my yard again as they rake... There will be NOISE and CHAOS and it will be HORRIBLE in our neighborhood.

And then I told myself: just expect people to be raking this weekend. It is OK that people will be raking. Soon it will be over and winter will arrive and people will be cooped up in their houses. And I felt better, just because I acknowledged that yes, people will be raking this weekend.

 

[Silver.]

good for you! you should be really proud of your thinking process overcoming your instinct emotions.
(and hey, if they accidentally rake leaves from your yard, that's less work for you)!

(by the way, my neighbors started to burn at 4am this morning, like wtf?? made me think of you when I wanted to go over there and tell them the am and pm burnings was a bit much. where are they getting all this wood from? lol)
x

 

[nycowboy]

I am sorry that they were burning at 4am. wtf! indeed. You should check your local code book and see if there are any regulations, then print and snail-mail the pertinent pages to them anonymously.

It scares me sometimes how much of my life I WASTE thinking of them and what they are up to. Why did they park their car there instead of in the normal spot? That one can keep me "going" for 30 minutes or so....

 

[nycowboy]

And this morning it was... uh oh. They are still home at 7:30. They have been going to work all week. Maybe they are off. Maybe they'll be gone this weekend :) maybe they will rake all their leaves when I am away....

it's like I want to have control over the situation. And I can't have control. And that really really bothers me. I have to just let it go, and trust that they won't do anything heinous (they haven't trespassed since last year to my knowledge). But BOY, is it hard just to let go!