Snow is actually in the forecast the entire day. At the moment, it’s not sticking much, but I’m guessing we will get a few inches later in the evening.
Snow meant a shortened school day and playing outside. However, last Winter the house across the street wasn’t occupied, so that meant Boy Wonder had free range to gather up as much snow as possible. This year? Not so much.
We warned him to stay out of our neighbors’ yards—did he listen? Of course not.
Now, on the one hand, I get it. Who wants kids traipsing through your yard willy nilly collecting snow? If they do this with snow, what’s to stop them from traipsing through your yard when your prized dahlias are in bloom? What’s to stop them from bringing their dog with them? What if that dog decides it wants to traipse through your yard on its own and dig up your prized dahlias? Well, you can see where this kind of hysteria thinking leads.
On the other hand, it’s SNOW! It rarely snows here. And when it does, it hardly snows enough in one yard for a decent snowman. So, I can understand how an enterprising 9 year old might consider filching a little of the white stuff from the neighbor’s yard. I mean, he’s the only kid on the block, it’s not like he’s taking something that will get used!
So, it came as NO surprise that even after we told him it was verboten to go traipsing in our neighbors’ yards–that he went and did it anyhow. Nor did it come as a surprise that a neighbor would bother to come outside and tell him to leave her snow alone. What was a surprise, was that it was the NICE neighbor who objected! Her reasons were too much not to share.
“Please don’t use the snow in my yard, as I like the uniform look of no footprints on the yard. And besides, leaving the snow the way it is now is better for the lawn.”
I mean, why not just tell the kid to get the hell out of your yard? THAT I get, it’s a privacy and property issue. But snow? Seriously? Begrudging the only kid on the block snow so he can make a snowman down on the sidewalk where you can enjoy it too–that’s just, well, petty.
As IZ was relaying the news that our son had once again been busted by the geriatric set, I couldn’t help but quip, “Do me a favor, if I ever tell the neighborhood kids that they can’t have the snow in my yard, smack me!—because that’s not the kind of old person I want to be!”
In fact, I want to be the old person who invites you to build snowmen in the yard and then joins you outside with hot cocoa to admire your work. Neighborhood children of my future listen up: Please, feel free to enjoy the snow, even the white stuff in my yard!
This made me laugh. out. loud. A uniform look? Tell him he has my permission to walk through that yard at every opportunity, take Sophie with him and encourage Sophie to … um … express herself in that yard at every opportunity.
Kat, if you wrote about snow-hoarding neighbors, I might read more often 😉
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What’s really sad, is this yard my kid watered this summer for this neighbor—she had bought the house but wasn’t able to move immediately and my kid was out there with a hose during a heatwave making sure her hydrangea was hydrated. 🙂 At least he’s on his way to becoming a cool old person. 🙂 ~W
Oh well. Life’s lessons are always immediate sometimes they are backassward things to remember when your time comes.
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With my neighbors, I’m going to be one rocking old person for all the lesson’s I’ve learned for the future. 🙂 ~W
I mean…aren’t always immediate…and I love the little snowman!
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😉 I didn’t even notice the missing word. ~W
Good job on the snowman–and your neighbor’s rationale is quite something. Uniform snow? Doesn’t she know that EVERY snowflake is unique? And it’s basically frozen rain. Does she want all the rain left in her yard too? HA HA
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I know, made me laugh. “NO SNOW FOR YOU.” I think she just didn’t want the kid in her yard, which is completely legit. But seriously, my kid’s way smarter than to fall for that logic. I’m quite surprised (and relieved) he didn’t make the points you did. ~W
I’m guessing our neighbor needs a zen-like space and having “perfect” snow helps her psyche. She just strikes me as someone who needs order. Sort of like Monk…
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Probably! ~W
Of course, I’m always looking for evidence for my theories, but I’ve many people that while Astoria is great for adults, it’s lousy for kids and it’s only going to get worse as the self-absorbed make up more and more of this town, this place will get less and less kid friendly.
I think you should put up a sign indicating that your snow can be used by kids.
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😉 I’m trying to keep peace with the neighbors for now. I’ll just lead by example. 🙂 ~W
BE that old woman!!! I was at my mom’s the other day, when the boy across the street came out of his house. Turns out he was an acquaintance of Sky’s. About the first thing he told Sky was, “Your grandma doesn’t like me.” He’s a gay kid who was once in rehab. People need to embrace our kids and make them feel welcome in this world…otherwise we are just a bunch of useless talk
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Hey, don’t age me yet! But, I’m working on being the essence of my future self. 🙂 ~W
I have to say. Your neighbors don’t know how lucky they were that we didn’t buy your house. Our household would have put them all in early graves!
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Heh… I can’t imagine you living in this house! 🙂 But, the neighbors would have learned to cope, wouldn’t they? Besides, your kids are angels. ~W
you know what, cap? wen and i decided our old age last april (6th to be exact) on my blog. just sayin.
tell young one that he can have any of my snow any time he likes. supposedly two years ago there was an accumulation of at least 18 feet of snow. he would have to use enginering (sp?) skills on that snowman. school project here we come.
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You’re not kidding, he’d have a blast with that much snow. Although, today he is complaining of being oh-so-sore from moving what little snow he transported yesterday. ~W
Uh! no she didn’t! How lousy…
His snowman rocks, if he wants to make more, you should totally come over, we’ve got plenty. 🙂
p.s. So fun reading your blog!
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You’re so sweet! As for blogs, it’s yours I turn to when I need to be reminded of beauty. 🙂 ~W
What a funny story ~in a whacko kind of way. (o; Aren’t people just incredible? Good grief lady, say what ya mean! Your son’s snowman is very cute and he can walk all over my yard any darn time he wants to! Thanks for visiting my site. Another Astoria blog-too fun!
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I know, it was such a hoot seeing Monica post a comment today! Then finding your blog mentioned on her site was a double bonus. And, I have a feeling we all live really close to each other. Who knew? ~WendeÂ
Pride in snow ownership! They deserve a prize of sorts- snowballs? You have a very nice place over here. I came by to thank you for visiting and your kind comment but I got too aw, shucks to say it on the post after this one. 🙂 Thanks, Wende. And if you don’t mind, I’ll linger in your archives a while. (If I remember correctly, writing the papers was the tail end worst part. The end is near! )
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No, thank you! Your post was amazing. As for my archives, I moved over to Word Press earlier this year, so everything before say, February, is a little wacky on the formatting side. And don’t bother reading the really OLD stuff. My goal in December is to weed out all the broken link/quizzes/goof-ball posts. You know, after graduation. 🙂 Thanks for visiting! ~W