So I've got this neighbor - Dave - that lives four houses down and around the corner. Things are spread out a bit so he is about a quarter mile away door-to-door. You would think we wouldn't run into each other much, but you would be wrong.
He lurks. Or at least it seems that way. We can't leave our driveway without seeing him somewhere on the street, trying to flag us down. Same thing when heading home. Some examples:
1. He dropped off two jars of homemade pickles at 7:15 in the morning last month, on a workday. In the MORNING. Then when I drive out of the driveway, he flags me down and says "Art, I dropped off some jars of pickles this morning and knocked on your door but no one answered" (!). I said "yeah Annie is away and I was probably in the shower" His polish accent probably makes him sound more accusatory than he means to be, but there is always that earnestness in his voice.
- Who knocks on a door that early and expects to be answered? And then who is surprised that no one answered?!
2. Last weekend Annie and I went for a walk Sunday afternoon before I left for Vegas. I said to her "I bet Dave is waiting for us". We get about a hundred feet out of the driveway and he is walking towards us with his dog. We stop and chat along with another neighbor and then I say "Annie we have to get going, I need to leave for the airport at 3:30". They acknowledge and we say our goodbyes and continue our loop walk. when we get around to heading back, here comes Dave with his dog trying to catch up with us - I say to her - let's keep going. Five seconds later from behind us "Hey you guys are walking fast!". Without turning around I say "I've got to get to the airport to get to Vegas" with an little edge in my voice. Then I look back at him to avoid coming across as too much of a dick. He still follows for a bit then turns around, saying he will see us when I get back.
Earlier that same morning at 7:25 AM I drove heading to church and there he was trying to flag me down.
He is a nice, smart retired guy (65ish?), married, who apparently likes being social and he has chosen us to be social with. But we just ain't feeling it. What's more is he seems to be upset that he can't catch up with us more. This summer he said pointedly that he never sees us. Sorry dude, but we are pretty busy. We are not going to feel bad about that.
There are many other encounters, it's become something of a joke. I wonder if he has cameras in the woods to see if we are on the move?
How are your neighbors?
