I really hope that the public that I deal with is not a good representation of our society; if so, we are going to hell in a hand basket so to speak. I had a call this morning from a woman who was madder than a wet hen…she was mad because she works the overnight shift and was trying to get to sleep but the “85 year old – old man” next door was running his leaf blower. Now I am not criticizing this woman in the least bit…sleeping days and working nights can be a challenge but here was my ah-ha moment…when I explained that it wasn’t illegal to run his leaf blower after 7am and asked if she had explained to her neighbor..she interupted me and said..WELL DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING WITH THE LEAF BLOWER…HE IS DRYING HIS CAR WITH IT…HE DOES IT EVERY MORNING..WASHES HIS CAR AND DRIES IT WITH THE LEAF BLOWER, I YELLED AT HIM THE OTHER DAY BUT HE SAID HE COULD DO WHATEVER HE WANTED TO DO. Judging from the fact that she wigged out on me so early in the conversation, and her description of what she said to him and, here I am just guessing, but probably HOW she said it to him, what does she expect really…now this 85 year old – old man could be a horses’ ass and really doesn’t care..but what if she had a calm conversation with him using a nice, calm voice with a neighborly attitude, would he have said…oh yes, of course I will wait to blow dry my car with the leaf blower until a more reasonable moment..or perhaps he would say..Oh, of course I can let the car air dry…but my guess is the leaf blower at 0700 every morning is for her benefit and her benefit only….AND IT WORKS!!!
Seems we have lost the art of neighborlyness or, quite frankly, just respect and kindness. People, in general, are just not nice…the attitude I get on a regular basis is unbelievable..and I”m not just talking about how many times I hear the “F” word….I’m talking about downright bad manners..and to go one step further, I’m not talking about anything that is important to life and limb….I’m talking about adults acting like children with he said this and she said that… don’t answer the phone if you are getting harassing phone calls…don’t you think the harasser will get tired of the game if it is just him/her playing it…speak, wave and treat your neighbor kindly and perhaps he will sell the leaf blower, where did this us against them mentality come from? Where did this martyr or defensive attitude come from. Who is really out to get you… kindess begats kindness and agression begats agression…we are in trouble….
Until next time….