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I used to relish watching a good horror movie. I could sit on the couch, armed with a big bowl of popcorn and a comfy throw pillow, half covering my eyes, but not enough to keep from sneaking a peak of all of that gory action. I had no problems sleeping at night because there was no doubt in my mind that every single minute of that extra –cheesy, horror goodness was completely made up, and of course it helped that I snuggled up to my honey at the time.
Sadly, divorce and the hi-tech world of movie special effects put a kibosh on my scary movie viewing. Not only did I lose my nightmare-releasing snuggle buddy, it became harder to compartmentalize the scary from the reality-and living by myself with my young children made it even more difficult.
All of a sudden I was hyper-sensitive to every creek in the house, to the entire lot of bristling tree branches outside. I saw looming shadows where it should be impossible to see. No amount of popcorn and throw pillows could soothe me, so I retired the horror movies and substituted them with kid-friendly sitcoms and movies. I said goodbye to Freddie, Jason and Michael Meyer and hello to Nickelodeon, Disney and PBS Kids.
Even after my teary farewell, I still found myself on edge. Chalk it up to single parenting and being a protective mother, or maybe I was a closet scaredy-cat the whole time and I failed to admit it, but I became constantly aware of my surroundings. In dark places I learned to study people, and my ears were in tune with the familiar noises with almost a bat-like quality. I know what cars belong in my hood and I recognize most of the people that leisurely walk down my street, even if I don’t know their names. The two dogs I share my space with give me a boost of confidence, because their barks, no matter how loud and annoying, do a magnificent job of alerting me to the noise or person extraordinaire-at least I want to believe that.
The other night I was jolted out of my deep, c-pap induced sleep to a litany of dogs barking and my youngest son begging them to hush up. Realizing they had left their usual post-which is in my bed-and were vocalizing their warning in front of the big, living room window, I ran to the living room. Everything looked alright in there-it was almost a party, since my daughter was now awake too.
I dared to peak outside my window and to see the source of the ruckus. There was a truck, backed up to the front door of the house across the street. Lots of guys coming in and out of the house-people I didn’t recognize, all wearing hooded coats. The truck was unfamiliar. I didn’t see the woman that has lived in the house for at least two years.
Did I mention that it was around midnight?
My mind was spinning and my gut churning. The situation feels bad, looks bad and my daughter begs me to call the police. I did, because I would want someone to care if they saw this at my house.
Needless to say, I called the police on our new neighbors, which I didn’t even know I had. The woman had moved and I didn’t even know and now it totally makes me question just how observant I really am.
I had to give those same new neighbors a huge, sheepish apology the next day when they happened to be outside when I drove up from work. What a way to meet your new neighbors-“Welcome to the neighborhood, I am so sorry I called the police last night, please don’t think I am too crazy.”
She accepted my apology, the man she was with didn’t look at me, and the two kids that she was corralling into the car looked no worse for the wear. I glumly walked to my house with internal promises to make them cookies and offer up genuine, neighborly deeds to soften the blow.
In the meantime, I will not be relinquishing the self-imposed horror movie ban. No help is required from director-driven, suspenseful theatrics in my household, I have enough Susan created drama in my life to sustain me for the next forty-some odd years.
I don't think you did anything wrong. The neighbors now know that you pay attention to what's going on. Well, kinda. Since you didn't know the previous neighbor had moved out. ;) You also let them know that you are not afraid to call the police when you see something out of the ordinary.
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