iwant2beaskinnybitch

I am not a big fan of my neighborhood.  It is snooty and antisocial. But even though I do not care for the people, I consider myself a good neighbor. Or at least I did. Today, I change my tune. I turn over a new leaf. I give people a taste of their own medicine.

Hubs and I have lived here since 1996 when the subdivision was brand new and there were very few houses. It has built up significantly over the years but you wouldn’t know it by the comaradarie around here.

Even so, I smile at everyone as they pass by.  I buy SOMEthing from every kid that wanders to my door. I keep an eye on the neighborhood kids when they wander near our house.  I stick the sprinkler under the trampoline for the kids to jump and I take out popsicles and chips on hot days when the kids are having long spells of fun.

I should clarify, I am being neighborly, not trying to build relationships.  I love watching my kids have fun and I enjoy (some of) the neighborhood kids.  I have already determined I don’t have anything in common with the folks around me.  I am not nosy and don’t wish to know what is going on behind closed fences.  But I would like to be on smiling/helpful terms.

Anyway.  Here is what is gnawing at me today.  When big snow hits, my hubby snow blows as many houses around us as he can get to.  Even the ones who keep their heads down to avoid contact with others.  He starts with the old folks and the ones he knows do not have snow blowers and works his way around.  He doesn’t wait for acknowledgement. He just takes care of business and moves on.

My Husband has been gone for ten days now.  We are on our third big snow and not a person has been by to see if I need help.  Although not neighborly, my neighbors are nosy so there is no question that they have noticed his truck missing for over a week.  They have no trouble noticing every time he is laid off and cannot wait to come find out the latest news of the Big Three Automakers.  You can actually see their excitement die away when he informs them that it is just a temporary lay off and that he’ll be back making trucks in a few weeks time.  So I’m certain they know he’s gone.

My Father in Law came over to snow blow on Monday, thank goodness. I would do it myself but there is something broken on the snow blower and Hubs says it will get away from me. After I pick up the kids today I think we will all be shoveling.

I don’t mean to be princess-ish.  My point is not a complaint that I have to shovel.  And I’m not keeping score between me and my neighbors.  But for all the cookies, candles, and Boyscout peanuts I have bought over the years, the help my Hubby has given the neighbors with their snow and lawn care, and the child care-like facility that is my back yard in the summer on my days off, we have received very little.  My Daughter will put on her Brownie vest and trounce the whole neighborhood for about 3 cookie orders. My Son will be sent home from the neighbors for a drink of water if he is thirsty.  And when I get home from work tonight it will be difficult to tell the driveway from the lawn thanks to the snow accumulation.

Princess-ish NO.  Bad attitude yes.  But it’s temporary.  It’s really not in me to be UN neighborly but I do intend to alter my ways.  Next summer I am handing out GENERIC Doritos to the kids who come over and play.  Hmph!