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Birthday: January 26
Gender: Female
Location:
MODESTO, California
United States
MODESTO, California
United States
Hometown(s):
Madison Wisconsin
Madison Wisconsin
Inheriting my Mother?s Kitchen CollectionTHE NEW NEIGHBOR PUT TWO CARS IN HIS DINING ROOM (HONEST)
The house across the street fell victim to foreclosure and has been vacant for over a year. Guess that’s not quite accurate--there were those three guys who moved in with a cooler; but, they were not there legally and did not last long. The situation made me sad. I was friends with the last two sets of people who lived there--didn’t like to see all the problems house was having. Weeds grew 5 feet high last summer, mosquitoes decided to use the pool as a breeding ground, most plants and flowers died, a window was broken, and a screen removed. The roof started leaking and much of the tile in the great room was damaged. I wasn’t working so I used to pick up the trash in front of the house and sweep the leaves out of the gutter before rains. When the auction sign went up and people started stopping to view it, I would scamper across the street and extol the virtues (and a few of the negatives) of my neighborhood.
I think it was about two weeks ago that I was taking out a bag of garbage and espied two young men up on the roof. Yes! They were fixing it. “Did it sell?” I asked. I got an affirmative. Feeling happy! During the next few days pick up trucks came and went, supplies were delivered, and more repairs were made. My front living room window faces this house, so, as I was moving around doing things I noticed the activity. If I miss anything, Dakota Dog alerts me. He thinks he is Protector of the Neighborhood and it is his job to bark at unknowns. The house had been empty ever since he moved in with me; so, he regarded it as an extension of his property. A silver SUV with very sparkly rims is there more often than the other vehicles. The lights in the garage are usually left on at night. I often get up at 4:30 A.M. and the lights are visible from my bedroom window.
For this next bit, you must be able to visualize the house across the street. It is on a corner lot and comes with a swimming pool, pool house, and pond. The pool area is behind a 6’ stucco wall. Jeff had a waterfall descending to the pond when he lived there--when my window was open I could go to sleep to the sound of a waterfall. To the left of this area is the 2 car garage shop area. Going further to the left is the side door and the 2 story stucco house. The main door faces the corner diagonally--this door is rarely used. The main house is surrounded by a 4’ stucco wall. There are wrought iron gates that can be opened to the main and side doors. There is no alley access. To enter this house you must go through one of the doors or the garage.
One morning I walked out my front door and noticed that there was an immaculate, shiny red car in the driveway over there. It seemed to be a 1930’s Model A. How nice, I thought. They will be able to fit both that and the silver SUV in the 2-car garage. A couple of days later when I was taking Dakota for his walk I noticed that the red car was inside the walled area next to the front of the house. It was covered with a tarp. I thought it odd the car wasn’t in the garage; but, I thought maybe they were using the garage to work on projects.
A few days later I am returning from another dog walk--the garage door is open. I decide to introduce my myself to the new neighbor and welcome him to the neighborhood. As I am standing there talking to the guy, his wife opens the door from what was once the dining room and comes out to the garage/shop area. Through the door I note that there are two Model A’s parked in the dining area facing the big fireplace. My mouth fell open, my eyes got big, and my head fell back a bit. The new neighbor noted my reaction. He looked at me with a proud beam on his face and said: I have always wanted a showroom.
My feeling is that if you buy a house and start fixing it, you get to decorate whatever way you please. I’m a bit of an eclectic decorator myself. I have a flying pterodactyl in my front yard and a unicorn I can sit on in my back bedroom--he has one red eye and one green one. My major concern was: How did he get his cars into the dining room. I now know how he did it. ; but, I’m not going to tell you right now. Readers, do you have any ideas how the event transpired? 
Rose1955 says:
I have to go with the roof theory. And just so you know, I would love to have a neighbor like you. When I was a child, anytime a new family moved into our neighborhood, my mother always baked a cake and she would always let one of us kids go with her to welcome the newest addition to our street. Now, neighbors are too busy, or too suspicious to get involved in each other's lives. I think it very sweet and generous of you to give of your time and heart by introducing yourself and welcoming your neighbors.
And by the way, great story, great riddle. Love it, can't wait to hear the end
Posted: April 21, 2009 1:24PM EDT
justine11 says:
No, this would certainly get my attention. I thought I heard it all. Love to get the answer to this "riddle" so to speak
Posted: April 21, 2009 1:01PM EDT
janetcfish says:
Wow, what cool people to have move into the neighborhood! I love stuff like that. Those must be big houses.
My living room is an art studio. I gave up "well appointed" years ago. Never have been good at well-appointed, so we just go with the flow around here.
I'll be looking forward to hearing how they got the cars in
Posted: April 18, 2009 1:14AM EDT
saguaro48 says:
Nosy- no way-one just needs to know who's moving into the neighborhood and what they're like. They must've put in the cars thru the roof before fixing it. She mentioned the roof was leaking-for how long-no one knows-must've been bad because the tile in the grand room was badly damaged
Posted: April 15, 2009 11:56PM EDT
stockente says:
nosy ? not at all..curious yes, we need more neighbors like you in this "angst "driven world. As to the car in dining room perplexity, did they raise the roof? Do tell...
Posted: April 12, 2009 8:20PM EDT
joyfuljai62 says:
What an interesting story! And I have no clue how he got the cars in the living room short of razing and rebuilding the rear of the house. Looking forward to your revealing the mystery
Posted: April 11, 2009 2:41PM EDT
justbetsy says:
Hey, congrats, this is a "featured" journal! So are you EVER going to tell us HOW the neighbor got the two cars in his dining room?
Posted: April 7, 2009 3:46PM EDT
rwahrens says:
I don't think she's nosey at all. That is the kind of stuff people notice about each other, and the new neighbor seemed proud of his accomplishment! Not that our narrator didn't seem to condemn the showroom, she was just surprised!
I would be too, and would definitely angle to get invited over for a glass of beer (or wine) to play the part of admiring "customer" to his showroom. Being neighborly includes being tolerant (and sometimes admiring) of others' peccadilloes.
After all, I have a few of my own!
Posted: April 6, 2009 7:26PM EDT
espie333 says:
Reading your story reminds me of my mom's neighbor (who is a blessing!). Neighborhoods are much safer due to people who are aware of what is happening in them. Besides... how else would the world know of such cute stories as a couple buying a home to display they unusual treasures? ~waiting for the answer
Posted: March 29, 2009 1:50PM EDT
GoldenGal1949 says:
I have no idea...truly.
TexasFun....you don't sound as if you have a sense of humor, lol. It is HARD not to notice things in a close neighborhood and this would certainly be noticable to the gal writing this. Some people are neighborly and going over and introducing oneself is norm in some areas of the country. Now where I live, out on a huge ranch divided into smaller homesteads and ranches, people nod or wave at you if you pass them driving or walking, but they want to be unneighborly and left alone. I live in Texas also.
In any case, you are right, it IS the neighbors business but doesn't sound like he's hiding anything and is proud of his cars. To each his own
Posted: March 28, 2009 12:47PM EDT
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journal Details
Added: Mar 18, 2009
Views: 916
Comments: 12
Bookmarks: 1
Views: 916
Comments: 12
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