This is my 707th post in the journey of writing about life after 60, on the backside of a small mountain in the southwestern corner of New Hampshire. I was mentally reviewing my day and realized my normal is probably anything but normal to most reading this…
I was headed home between hospice and going to work at the store. As I drove along enjoying the balmy November weather, I was mentally organizing what I could do in the two hours between those activities. Our country road is recently repaved, which has turned a winding two-lane track into a NASCAR speedway, particularly during commuting hours for the local Millipore factory. As I drove the exact speed-limit back between jobs, the cars piled up behind me. It’s a small way I torture the rest of the world and make them slow down.
I walk Alice every morning and am becoming quite well-known as the road rage police of West Road. Coffee cups have been thrown at me, rude gestures and blaring horns are frequent responses to my suggestions to slow down, and one day some nutcase chased me up my driveway. At the time, I thought, “Damn, why did I go up MY driveway???” Choosing a neighbor’s drive wouldn’t have made much difference as we don’t interact much beyond the classic Yankee Nod to courtesy when we meet. The woods between us shield our houses for most of the year. Block parties are not part of our culture.
A nice family came into the store later that day. As they were paying for their purchases we discovered they live a mile down the road from me. We waxed poetic about our sense of outrage at the speeding drivers. He suggested I wear a shirt/vest proclaiming “SPEED LIMIT 30 MPH” and I laughed, then thought GENIUS!
And then there is my neighbor and her animals. I have no doubt she is a hoarder, but so far the animals have always come first in her life as her home imploded around her. Several of the windows on the house are covered in plywood, those that remain reveal overly excited, small, yapping dogs through the smeary haze.
Wilson called to report one of her four horses had escaped during rush hour and it had taken a small crowd of onlookers to get the beast back in its squalid pen. “It’s time to do something about the animals.” he said. I agreed with a heavy heart. With winter coming the shelters are already overflowing with chickens, goats, ponies and horses. Spring brings out the farmer in some folks, then the thought of feeding all those mouths through the winter looms.
We are a “Live Free or Die!” kind of place so when does a neighbor step over that line-in-the-sand of minding your own business? I did the first thing I could. I warned her, in no uncertain terms that she was about to be taken down if she didn’t make immediate changes. I offered what help I could but took none of her excuses. “Now, Cecilia! What if there is a car accident because of your horse! If someone chooses to see this as neglect you will lose everything!”
Yes, my day is probably different from most, but the root of it all is probably the same; dealing with the human condition…
Therapeutic Misadventures 
I often joke about what “normal” is and isn’t. I’ve come to the conclusion everything is “normal” under the right circumstances. I hope your neighbor takes you words to heart. Hoarding can be such a dangerous thing.
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We found a safe place for the horse who was escaping, now working on the other three horses, the numerous goats, and chickens. But as we all know, a hoarder will just find more…
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Living free is a fine line. Your heart and eyes are in the right place.
Animals can all of a sudden get overwhelming. The “what if you are injured and in the hospital” approach is the best – and kindest one. WInter is coming. Hope there’s room in the shelters/foster homes for a creature in need.
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So true Phil.I will always find room for a creature in need. I think your suggestion is brilliant and will make use of that line of reasoning. Thank you.
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Indeed. We are all living with the ‘human condition’. Problem is, some don’t recognize it as such and believe they are above the rest!
Happy Thursday, Martha. 🙂
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Thank you Julie, happy Thanksgiving right back to you! Those who wish to be above it, never learn the lessons, right?
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Oh yes.You’ve got the snow going again, not a virus on my computer!!!..in town at the moment we are trying to keep the – what the little children call – the sound cushions from being taken out. It is the best description. The children jump/step from one to another and create sort of tunes pan pipe sound. Someone complained of the noise – in a town!!! I’ll have to get a photo on.
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Yes, Cheryl! Photos please! I didn’t turn the snow on so it must have remembered from last year…a little too early to match our weather here.
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I think you did your neighbor a favor and once she sits and thinks about it she’ll probably agree.
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I hope so. The animals are not in need, yet…
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As the POWER OF NOW said [you eliminate suffering on the level of cause ..you eliminate unconsciousness from the world.]
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And that my friend, is practiced daily because total elimination is a lofty goal. Thank You Wilson!!
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My mother was a hoarder, as was my father in law. Thankfully neither hoarded animals but the clearing out after they passed away was a nightmare. Hopefully she will have taken note but I think it’s hard for people who hoard to change.
Like you I drive at the speed limit and it’s surprising how annoying some people find that. In fact Commando always moans at me to go faster when I’m driving with him. Then again, he’s the one with the speeding tickets.
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Ha! You will never get a speeding ticket! I don’t know why driving the limit irritates people but especially if I am walking the roads it makes me crazy when race past with no regard.
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