To my parent’s neighbour,
Today, Sunday August 9th, you came over around
5PM to let us know that the sound of our work was disturbing your family
dinner. Now, you COULD have said the sound of our blade cutting brick was
making it hard to enjoy a special family time and politely asked if we could
stop. But that is not what you did. No, what you did was storm out of your
family dinner to round the corner and pound on my parent’s front door and ring
the bell repeatedly. We are sorry we did not hear you but we were all out back
working. My son heard and ran to get the door but was so frightened by your
behaviour that he ran back to get a grown up (which was the right thing to do).
You then stormed over to the side gate to take a piece out of me.
“It’s very loud…………”
“There’s a Sunday bylaw…………….”
“You’re disturbing our dinner……………”
I mumbled something about trying to finish my parent’s
patio. I let you say your piece. I watched you storm off. And we stopped. We
had worked very hard for many days and we were almost, at long last, finished. Many kind neighbours had been by over the days to help. It had become a neighbourhood project, and we were almost done. But
of course we stopped. My parents felt bad. Then they, we all, felt hurt. Then
angry.
And now? Now I just feel sad for you. You missed one heck of
a chance to be a good neighbour, and to meet about the best neighbours a person
could have. They ARE loud neighbours. Not just while relaying a backyard patio
but all the time. They, my parents, have a big loud noisy life. And YOU could
have been invited into it. See, my parents invite everybody IN. Into their
home, and into their big LOUD messy busy noisy life. Over their 38 years in
that house they have toiled to turn it into the home everyone can go to.
Growing up I hardly remember a time we didn’t have "company".
Friends, family, even strangers have always found a welcoming roof over their
heads, a warm bed, and full bellies when at my parent’s home. Sometimes they
stayed a day …….. sometimes a year. They have hosted travelers from all around
the world; weary strangers pointed in the direction of my parent’s home have
found welcome and left as friends. They have always been a safe refuge for
anyone needing a little support. They have a way of making everyone feel safe,
supported, and welcome.
I think you really missed out on meeting them. Those noisy
neighbours of yours. My parents. If you met them you would know that there is
always room for one more at their table. That my Mom can roll out an amazing meal for
50 and make it feel like a small family dinner. That my parents can turn neighbours
into family. That my parents have participated actively in the lives of the
people of this community for 38 years. That my Dad has every tool and if you
need to borrow it he will often follow you back home to help you use it. That
my Mom bakes the best banana muffins. That my Dad knows more about the history of popular
music than anyone I’ve ever met. That my Dad’s list of organizations he has
volunteered his financial expertise for is very very long and still growing.
That my Mom has the most beautiful and wild garden. That my Mom takes more
people to the hospital than most ambulance drivers, because SHE is who people call
first. That their home, for 38 years, is ALWAYS full of children. That dozens
and dozens (and probably dozens more) of neighbourhood children have learned to
swim in their pool. That my parents have this wonderful weird way of becoming surrogate
parents anytime it’s needed. That they get back every good thing they put out
and have this wonderful grateful, happy outlook on life. That they have great neighbours all around them. That they always think
things can be made better for others and they are willing to help. They have
joyfully shared in the ‘growing up’ of so many neighbourhood families and my parents always feel so honoured and blessed by it. That everyone in the neighbourhood
knows they can call my parents at 3AM and find help if they need it. That they
have been present in the lives of their neighbours through illnesses, births,
tragedies, weddings, divorces, and deaths. That my Mom’s nursing background and
exceptionally intuitive skills have been called into action, more times than
anyone can remember, for everything from cuts to breaks to strokes. That my Mom
and Dad have sat by and with neighbours on their death beds. That they have
made sure the best care was given and the families felt safe and loved …………
because neighbours can be family too.
You should have come over and just asked ………….. because then
you could have MET them. And they could have MET you. They are great
neighbours. They are noisy GREAT neighbours.
*And for the record. The local Sunday noise bylaw and construction
bylaw both say 7PM. We checked with 3 Police officers and a bylaw expert. One
lives across the street from my parents. He’s their neighbour.
