Neighborly relations

Our neighbor Judy, who lived across the street, and is the mother of Tommy who had the run in with our dog, drove our kids crazy. She was always on their case. One week she stopped me to explain that while Martha and I were out of town for the weekend, our kids had a beer party and threw bottles in their yard. Bob her husband had cut his hand on one of the broken bottles. I told her that Bob should be more careful. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that our kids were in Indianapolis that weekend with their grandparents and Martha and I were home alone.

However, my favorite story about her involves a new neighbor moving in next door to her. The house next door was purchased by a guy named Iggy. Iggy owned a downtown restaurant and bar, and a small construction company. Shortly after moving in all kinds of equipment showed up in his back yard. Judy asked me if I knew what was going on.

I told her that he was putting a vineyard to grow grapes so that he could put out his personal brand of wine. He could then sell it through his restaurant. She wasn’t too thrilled to hear that. In addition, I told her that he was going to put a small grotto to the Blessed Virgin which would be lit 24/7. While she wasn’t excited about it, I reminded her that her parents owned a local religious goods store, and it might help their business.

It turned out that he was just landscaping the backyard and putting in a new deck. Judy and I had many more encounters which I will share over time.