Contentious Neighbors
April 1, 2008 at 9:34 pm (Uncategorized)
In the seven years since we’ve been on this mountain, no one has lived close by. Last summer, a young couple moved in to the house at the bottom. I have spoken to them on several occasions and made every effort to establish a friendly rapport. Silly me.
Yesterday J and I hiked down to our mailbox (which is right by their house), and while we were retrieving our mail, S(the guy) came by in his car and stopped. He doesn’t want my sheep around. Since the gate which used to be on their porch has somehow been disabled, my animals go there. I’m not so sure it happened more than once, but he was agitated and demanding that I fix it.
Granted, he is in the right, legally and ethically. But he is so angry.
In my desire to be communicative and have peace with these people, I tried to engage in an exchange concerning possible solutions. But because his only concern was righteous anger (finding fault, placing blame), adult communication was not an option. John tried to coerce me off up the hill, but I got sucked in. Even though he’s right, I wanted him to be nice about it, and because he couldn’t be, I reverted back to my old self. I can be oh so self righteous as well. Told him he was being a dick after he threatened to take a shit on my porch.
I finally left promising to sweep off any sheep turds I see until we can figure something else out. This morning I put them a baby gate up where their broken one used to be. (I’m trying to make a vague reference here to the fact that they destroyed the thing that kept the sheep off). When we returned from S-ville, the gate was on the ground by our mailbox. A feeble attempt at resolution, but nonetheless an attempt.
After J and I talked about it, we think that S (the guy) might just really need something to control. Then J saw another neighbor who indicated that S wants to control everything and everybody, and is not getting along with anyone around here.
I do not want to have enemies for my nearest neighbors. And I do not want to be consumed with anxiety over this contention (or any). Whatever will unfold in regard to this situation, I’m trusting the universe to guide me when action is needed, and send love and blessings the rest of the time it occurs to me.
I’m so different than I used to be.
Stephanie said,
May 6, 2008 at 1:56 am
I like this story. This has been happening to me considerably a lot lately. Well, not with sheep and a gate and my neighbors in W.V., but in the sense that I have bee comfronted with a lot of angry people. The more peaceful and loving that I feel the more that I have been tested by angry people. I think I have a sign on my forehead that reads, Please Let out all your Fear and Anger on Me” I have been responding with love instead of Anger. It sure isn’t easy though. It makes me feel more alone, then loving. It is a pattern that I am suppose to learn from. I just hope I passed the test and can move on to the next lesson, because I wan’t to be around positive people.