we live in a six-unit building.
some neighbors are cool. some aren't.
one of those who is not has a small child (as well as others not so small... see earlier entry about motorcyles). tonight, that small child, in the basement, as her guardian (the uncool neighbor) took care of laundry, amused herself by flipping our circuit breakers. just those for our apartment, mind you.
first time, "oh. i thought we tripped the circuit breaker. please don't do that. you're turning off our power."
second time, "please stop. that's pretty inconsiderate."
the response: "don't tell me what to do. you don't understand what it's like. wait till you have kids."
i get it. i know that being a condescending neighbor (that's me, here) doesn't really add to the good side of the world's balance. and, she's right, i don't understand what it's like to have a little kid to keep an eye on as i add fabric softener.
but my god, what the hell? aren't you supposed to apologize for that sort of nonsense? even if we both know that it's not that big a deal? even a clearly faked "sorry 'bout that" would have been nice. i got nothing but "get over it."
maybe it's just the curmudgeon in me, and i might take this post down in the morning, but needed someplace to blow some steam.
Posted by dave at October 23, 2003 9:45 PM | TrackBackGo flip *their* circuit breakers. Then say "You don't know what it's like to write a dissertation."
Posted by: George at October 23, 2003 9:54 PM | Permalink to CommentYou could do what George suggested, or you could wait a few months until our wee ones can wrap their fingers around circuit breakers, invite us over for alaundry party, and when (S)he comes to complain, we can say, "You don't know what it's like to have twins AND crotchety friends. Sheesh."
Or do all of the above. 'cause goldurn, that was rude.
Posted by: Ryan at October 23, 2003 10:28 PM | Permalink to CommentI'm sure our little 'un would love to flip some circuit breakers too. It could be a party.
I'm just glad you weren't in the middle of an awesome dissertating spree ... right when the power went out.
I think that conversation would have taken a decidedly different tone.
Posted by: Jason at October 24, 2003 6:50 AM | Permalink to CommentI'm sure that part of the reason we were so angry about it had to do with flashbacks to the blackout. Going 5 days without power after a hurricane is one thing, but having a deliberately unsupervised child turning your power off *on purpose* while her mom/grandmother is standing there is just stupid. The second time the power went off, I was on the phone with a woman from church. As the lights went out and the cordless phone went dead, I yelled "I'm gonna kick that little girl's ass!" Not really a shining example of living God's love, am I?
Posted by: natalie at October 24, 2003 11:19 AM | Permalink to CommentThat depends. Are we talking about the Old Testament God or the New Testament God?
Posted by: George at October 24, 2003 3:41 PM | Permalink to CommentMethinks this child might should come live with my kids. Or you could invite the child/guardian to see what the circuit breakers feel like when you turn them on with her sticking something metal into the outlet Or something evil. Specks, I love that you yelled about ass kicking!
Posted by: melisa at October 24, 2003 10:06 PM | Permalink to Comment