I'm OVER it!
There is a rental property across the street, and over one, where there is frequently a big crowd of people hanging out. Cars come and go, they have house parties a lot, even during Covid.
It appears that the person who rents the house is an older woman, and that she has a constantly changing cast of characters staying with her. It seems that there always are different people hanging out on the porch with her, and walking around in the yard. Sometimes, they stay with her for a long time, but then they are gone, and someone different is there.
If you pay attention to what's going on around you, which I was raised to do, you can't help but notice, because they are outside a lot, and they tend to speak loudly.
At first, we thought she was running a day care, too, because people drop their kids off and pick them up, every day. But now, we think she's just babysitting myriad grand children, nieces, and nephews.
It's always been quiet by bedtime, though, which is good.
Well, when we got back into town last weekend, I noticed that there was a different young man out in the yard, and on the porch, that I didn't remember seeing before.
NOW, a week later, we suspect he was with a gang, and came to stay with Grandma to try to hide from rivals, but they found him,
Sunday night, after we went to bed, there was a HUGE fight, with people screaming and milling about in the street of our quiet, peaceful, mixed ethnicity neighborhood.
When I got up to look outside, I couldn't see much because of the huge pile of storm debris that is still piled at the curb, and what's left of the willow tree is still green, and in full leaf, and is at just the right angle to mostly block the view of that house.
All I could see was that there were two or three cars parked in the street, and I could see that there were several people out there...possibly ten to twelve. The sound of them screaming was enough evidence that there was a crowd.
Our neighbor directly across was standing in his door way, lights on, phone in hand. Dave called the cops, too, and within minutes, 6 squad cars arrived, and the crowd disbursed.
The rest of the night was quiet.
Then, on Monday, I had an appointment with my injury doc again, and Dave drove me.
When we got home, there were two cars in the street in front of that house. They were parked up against a car parked on our side, so that they were three across, and were completely blocking the street.
They were honking their horns incessantly.
Now, we are not usually afraid to step outside. We've never had cause to be in this area. So, Dave stepped out onto the porch, where he was blocked from their view by the debris and willow tree, and he yelled "knock it off!"
The second he was back in the house, they started shooting.
We found out later, from our neighbors next door, that the shots had been fired into the air...but that is also dangerous, as the bullets have to come back down somewhere.
We don't know if they were shooting to warn Dave to stay out of their business, or if they were shooting to warn the gang banger that they'd found him. We will never know. Chances are they never even heard Dave...that's what we hope.
Anyway, the instant we heard the shots, we both went down.... There we were, in our own home... lying flat on the floor, to avoid being shot.
Dave was petrified...I'd never seen his face like that before. I was wierdly silent, and calm.
Dave crawled to get his phone, and called 9-1-1 again, for the second time in about 18 hours.
8 squad cars arrived this time, but, of course, by the time they did, the cars had all sped away.
After the police came, Dave allowed us to get up off the floor, and we could hear the old lady talking to the cops.
Dave said that he heard her give the police an address, so apparently, she knew the person who fired the gun.
We also heard, again from our next door neighbors, that there had been a jogger in the neighborhood, and he had gotten the car's license plate information and given it to the police as well.
Apparently, we were the only neighbors, who were home at the time, who stayed inside after the shots were fired.
The guy directly across from us wasn't home, but it seems that several others were outside, watching the excitement, and learning stuff like that...
Ever since then, it has been eerily quiet over there. No one on the porch, No cars coming and going. No kids in the yard -- until yesterday.
Again, yesterday, one of the usual cars that comes and goes came and went, but no more sign of that young man, or of the older model spray-painted sedan that the shooter was driving.
We contacted the neighborhood association president, and made sure he knew what was happening. He was to contact the property owner and alert them, and perhaps advise them to end the lease. He informed us that the property owner actually lives on the other side of the rental house.
If she was home Sunday night, or Monday evening, surely she knew what was going on.
We also assume the association president has activated the Neighborhood Watch people to start keeping an eye on activities there a little more closely.
I just feel bad for that Grandma. She obviously has her hands full.
We have a new policy of NOT looking out the windows, or stepping outside, if we hear any kind of disturbance from over there. Our new policy will be to go to the back of the house, sit on the floor, and call 9-1-1.
SO....between Covid, the life changes it has brought to us, months of isolation, Pop dying, Eric cutting us out of his life, Dave's eldest brother and best friend alienating him, the horrible ice storm and 2 week power outage, the car accident, and now this.... I have had it up to HERE with drama.
2020 can SUCK IT.
I want to win a lottery and move back home!
IN other news...this past week, I FINALLY got to start physical therapy for my minor neck injury from the car accident. It's been very nice to have some neck massage, and to learn some new self care exercises.
Next week, I have two more sessions scheduled, and then see the injury doc again. Maybe I can be done with it after that.
Dave is still needing more treatment, though. He was hurt worse than I was, and his chiropractor has not been available since before our cabin trip.
We also have the other person's claim number now, so the car will hopefully get fixed this coming week, too.
Today, the weather should be nice, and we are going to do a little more clean up in the back yard. There are dead plants, and damaged shrubs, that need to be dealt with.
I am making a slow cooker meal, working on my course, doing my exercises, and maybe some yoga, and trying to get back to a calm center.
Yesterday, Dave got our packages shipped off, and I got our cards ready to go. I also ordered some on- line items to be shipped directly to friends. My shopping is done, except for Dave.
We are getting a "Soda Stream" for the house, so we can stop buying so much sparkling water. We don't drink pop, unless it's as a treat when we get carry out, but we do drink sparkling water every day.
We generate a LOT of empty cans and bottles, between Dave's Perrier and my Topo Chico!! The Soda Stream will eliminate all of that recycling, and will pay for itself quite rapidly!
SO - other than that, we will get each other some little things. Stocking stuffers, maybe a book or two.
I had decided not to decorate this year, but now I have completely changed my mind. I need some cheer and brightness!!
Our isolated, Christmas Eve feast-for-two will be complete, too, as my brother sent me a "petite" Virginia ham. It's pre cooked, and boneless...so all we have to do is warm and slice it.
It won't be the same, with no huge pig leg boiling away on the stove all day on Christmas Eve, and no crowd around my table....but it will still be wonderful anyway!
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