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Joshua, I Need Your Help
…I Hate My Nosey Neighbor!
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Dear Joshua:
My name is “Anna”. I’m 55 years old and I have an obnoxious neighbor, “Carol” who is about ten years older than me. Carol is always sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. She has a pair of binoculars which she frequently uses to spy on me.
It doesn’t matter if I’m indoors or outdoors, Carol’s always staring at me… at me and my boyfriend… at me and my nephews and nieces… at me… and whoever else I’m with.
Several times a month I’ll catch her leering at me from both her front porch, and the porch she has on the 2nd floor of her home (that overlooks my backyard and swimming pool). I sometimes even catch her poking her binoculars in my direction through her semi-transparent curtains.
I’ve confronted her several times about this, to which she always replies, “Oh you silly dear, I’m a life-long devotee of bird-watching!”
Joshua, that’s a crock of s%*&! 90% of her spying takes place after dark when birds have returned to their nests.
What do you suggest I do to put this voyeur in her place? I’d like some privacy for cryin’ out loud!
– “Anna Who’s Going Bananas!”
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From: Somewhere in the USA
Thursday, 4:27 a.m.
May 16, 2019
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Dear Anna:
Immediately after reading your comments about your neighbor, Curious Carol, I was reminded of Gladys Kravitz, the infamous nosey-body from the 70’s television show Bewitched… always in view of paranormal activity in Samantha’s house.
Amusing for a sitcom, perhaps, but definitely incentive for posting a “For Sale” sign on your front lawn. But let’s face it, Anna, it’d be more advantageous for you to help bubble wrap Carol’s crap and move her to a nice assisted living facility in a bird sanctuary where she can watch, stalk, and even photograph all the different species of feathered – friends she’d like without invading anybody’s personal space.
Sounds Like A Good Idea
… Doesn’t It ???
Yeah it does, but let’s face it… it’s not gonna happen! So, Anna, let’s come at this from a fresh angle… one that you may have never considered before. Truth be told, there may be more than one way to see your dilemma that just might change your mind about a meddlesome neighbor!
I recently read an article about a young couple whose neighbors were at work, when out of nowhere, some kids pulled up in front of their house, jumped out of the
U-Haul they were driving, and proceeded to remove some significant items from the neighbor’s house. Being mid-afternoon, neither the young couple nor any of the other neighbors thought much about it.
Burglars
In Disguise!!!
As a matter of fact, the couple, they greeted the “kids” with a wave and a smile. The kids offered unsolicited info by saying they were the neighbor’s kids who were just picking up a few of their things while their folks were at work. One neighbor even offered them lemonade!
When the people who owned the home returned from work, they were shocked to see that they had been robbed… MID-DAY! Yup, right under the noses of their not-so-nosey-neighbors!
Wait, hold that thought, there’s something else I wanna share with you that will help to put this whole thing into perspective.
The Devil
Incarnate???
In another incident, a gentleman was eating lunch on his deck within view of a neighbor’s home that always had its shades drawn and was always locked up like Fort Knox.
“Eh,” he thought to himself, “The guy who lives there is a bit odd, but at least he shows up to the neighborhood barbeques. He’s probably just a private kind-of-guy.”
Anyway, mid-bite of his Italian hero, the gentleman witnessed a woman struggling to get out the door of the “private guy’s” house, which oddly had been locked from the outside.
To make a long story longer… he quickly sprung into action and freed the woman who was desperately trying to escape.
And shortly after he learned from the Police that…
There Were 3 Women Inside That Home Who Had Been Held Captive There
… For Almost 10 Years !!!
… probably due much in part because none of the neighbors had been “nosey” enough to notice!
Needless to say Anna, these are extreme cases; however, in the spirit of optimism, let’s call your little buddy Carol, “The Neighborhood Watch”… a neighbor who has eyes on every side of her head and a pair of binoculars to boot… a neighbor who would be considered a valuable asset to anybody who wants a safe community!
But Seriously Folks…
In all seriousness, Anna, did you ever consider for a moment that maybe Carol is lonely? Maybe Carol peeks because she’d love an invitation. You mentioned that she was obnoxious, but maybe if you marched right over to her house after you caught her prying and said, “Carol, join us for an iced tea!” maybe, just maybe, she’d be so shocked (even embarrassed) that it would curb her obsession with your personal life.
You know, this reminds me of a scripture in the Bible that could apply to your circumstance. Zacchaeus was a despised chief tax collector in Jericho… Extremely wealthy due to the cream he scraped off the top of his fellow Jews’ tax payments.
When Jesus passed through town, Zacchaeus wanted to make sure he saw Him, so he climbed to the top of a sycamore tree and peered down upon Him. When Jesus passed, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down here! I’m coming to your house for lunch today.”
People Have Been
Known To Change!!!
At that meal, Zacchaeus made a transformation! He pledged to give half of his goods to the poor and restore fourfold anything he ever took dishonestly from his fellow citizens. Is it possible that a lunch date can transform a person’s behavior?
Anna, it might be worth a shot!
Sometimes God allows an abrasive trial in our lives to soften our rough edges. He may call us to take uncomfortable action, knowing that growth is possible. To some degree, we all want our privacy respected, but Anna, did you ever think to pray about Carol… or… maybe even pray for Carol?
I know you were hoping I had a resolution to fix her wagon, but maybe this is an opportunity for you to put a fresh coat of paint on yours.
Just some food for thought.
Sincerely yours,
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P.S. A friendly little request here to all my friends & subscribers out there: Enjoy this advice column? If so… please be sure to share it with everyone you know. Thanks.
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