Pages

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

My neighbor is a *BLEEP*

 Those of you who really know me, know that I am a very understanding open minded chill kind of person. I give EVERYBODY the benefit of the doubt and I am rarely bothered by what other people do. That's why I am struggling so much with this... I don't know how to put it nicely because well its just not nice. It bothers me not to be nice but.... well ok, Ill just say it.... I think my neighbor is a *BLEEP*.

Last year our neighbor hit hard times and had to sell some of their property. The people who bought the property got it at a steal. To give you an estimated idea of what they stole the property for... it was just three thousand dollars more than what I had in my savings account when I graduated from high school. Now it seems kind of petty to not like someone because they got a bargain. But you have to understand its not because they got a bargain. I don't like them because they profited off of my other neighbors misfortune. I have been in the situation before where people were circling around me all the while just to profit off of my misfortune. I tell you,  that is a horrible feeling.  So you see, this was the beginning of my disdain for our "new neighbor".

Now lets talk about the property in which the new neighbor stole bought. It was a really nice 1.45 acre lot with a large beautiful red barn situated in the center. The barn was old but very well cared for. There were many times that myself and my family would sit and watch the antics of the barn pigeons while they would fly in and out their beloved barn home. I cant explain it to you... It was like the big red barn wasn't just a building but it felt alive with a unique since of character and history. The barn pigeons made it just that much more special.

Sure enough the new "neighbors" "needed" to tear down the barn. To add a little salt to the wound, they sold the barn lumber for almost exactly what they paid for the property. Wow, I bet they were feeling really good about how lucky they were (at my old neighbors misfortune). I really wish my old neighbor would have thought about doing that himself. I would have understood if he would have done that.

Anyways, I would see the men over there working on ripping apart the beautiful barn and I would just have to shake my head. Yep I resented it. It annoyed me.

 One evening I heard a large crash and I knew that what was left of the structure had finally fell down. It was such a sad site to see. Aye but I bet the new neighbor was just thrilled.

It was a hot summer morning. I was down at the garden. The crickets and Katydids were in mid song. The sun was beating down on  my back as I was hunched over a row of beans. The scent of  billowing smoke tickled my nose as I sat up. I could see the sky darkening as the thick large black billows of smoke covered the blue sky. I stopped what I was doing and walked back towards the house. I stood in the front yard and watched them burn the big red barns remains. It was a sad sight to see... but what was to follow was just plain heartbreaking...

The pigeons frantically circled the the barn. They would fly in out and around the large black clouds of smoke.  They were panicking. I could hear them crying out. I knew that they must of had young in the barn This went on and on... finally I just had to walk away. It was painful to watch and there was nothing I could do. The next morning all that was left was charred remains of the old tin roof. The pigeons were still at it. They continued to fly around the pile of burnt ruble occasionally landing on the hot tin roof, and then flying back into the air.This went on for days and days while the fire smoldered. I could feel their suffering.

After all the rubble was removed, I would still see the pigeons flying around the site. It was as if they were lost or looking for something.  I knew that they were lost and they were looking for something.

The weeks to follow the pair of pigeons searched out new homes but still occasionally returning to the burn site. They would fly down to the abandon property that adjoins ours, which has an old abandon barn similar to their old one. Occasionally they would come down to my barn and check it out. I had really hoped that they would decide to say but our barn just wasn't the same. I understood that. They eventually moved on.

Once the new neighbors had their property for very little investment and removed the barn and its inhabitants, they started constructing their own home. In the place of the beautiful majestic red barn the new "neighbors", built one of the ugliest houses that I have ever seen. It is a plain ugly rectangle house. There isn't one thing charming about it. Seriously. When anyone is talking about it, its known as "the ugly house". The conversation goes something like this... "O yeah, the road is two houses down from the ugly house"... and then whoever your talking to gets this look on their face like a light just came on and goes, "O okay I know where you are talking about". See, I'm not the only one who thinks its ugly! You would think with all that "blood money", they would have built something spectacular! Ya know, to make it all worth it.

Well the story doesn't end there... O no it doesn't! In less than a year they have successfully gain from my old neighbors misfortune, tore down a historical structure that added charm to the neighborhood, killed baby pigeons and built an ugly house in the big red barns place, AND NOW they have listed the property for sale!!!!!!!!!!!

 I cant decide if I am glad to be rid of them or pissed that they came only long enough to take take take....

 

10 comments:

  1. Many years ago, when I was still fairly new here myself, I knew a couple in the real estate business. I went with them to look at a piece of property with an old barn on the place. It was an old homestead with a hand dug well, and the barn was beautiful. Old weathered barn wood streaked with colors of red, brown, and yellow. I took some pictures of the place which I think were used in an ad to sell the property. Later a prospective buyer came to look at the place. His first remark was, “If I buy it, the first thing I will do is tear down that old barn”. At the time, old barn wood was in demand for rustic picture frames, and I doubt if that old barn still stands.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bob a lot of people have this weird mentality about old structures, "Let ripe it down, and place new... new is better". I blows my mind because so much of the time the older stuff was built to last.... not to mention, do people not understand how expensive barns are to build!?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post. We were astounded earlier this year to discover an absolutely fabulous old home, 1825, majestic in every way, was being torn down by her "new owners" who'd bought the property only for its location on the river. Not only was the fabulous old home coming down, but, when we went to see what we could salvage from the structure prior to demolition we discovered tape around many of the most mature and beautiful trees... they too would be "demolished," the new owners assured us... the new structure would be so much nicer and, she told us, she is a master gardener, so she will make the property very beautiful.... We just could not believe our eyes and ears... no way were they going to be able to improve on what they had purchased....

    People really do not seem to value older structures...

    ReplyDelete
  4. leigh-makes me sad to read about the demise of any old barn- I love old barns but they are being torn down at an alarming rate. Since im an animal lover also, the pigeon fate trips my trigger also. -Actually the property would have probably been worth much more with the barn on it. As you said, some are only in it for the bucks- to bad it had to be sold. Hopefully your new neighbors will be better. Jim

    ReplyDelete
  5. Some people are just careless idiots who only think of money and profit. Hate to say it, but we've got a few of those around here to. And believe me, here in Montana it is really frowned upon to change the landscaping. People who live here value beauty and privacy more than money and profit. Sorry your view has been changed. Maybe you could put up a little red bird house in the path of where the barn used to be. I'm sorry about the pigeons. That's sad and cruel that they didn't let the little ones grow up first and then remove them. Again, idiots.

    ReplyDelete
  6. First of all, in reference to your above comment, it bothers me that no one remembers what it's like be around things that were built to last. Sadly, not much is anymore. Every few years, I have to get a new iPod or computer or something else I spent good money on.

    What they did to the property adjacent to you is disturbing in its ignorance. We think we're so far advanced from every other living thing, and entitled to do whatever we want to our surroundings. We nearly made extinct the concept of harmony and reverence when we wiped out the Native Americans and other indigenous cultures. There are so few left.

    My father used to race pigeons. Years before he did, he used to bring home chicken wire, wood, and other items for the pigeon coop he said he was going to build. We doubted he ever would and the idea of him having a coop and racing pigeons was a running joke. He took it in good stride and never deviated from his intention. I think my mother was the one who fostered our belief that my dad would never follow through with it, but that is another story. My dad eventually saw his plan manifested and for years he took pleasure in racing pigeons. I used to enjoy seeing him outside sitting on a lawn chair waiting for his birds to arrive so he could clock them in. He found a lot of pleasure in the activity, but it was a lot of work also. He eventually gave it up and a few years later, a couple of months back, actually, my mother insisted the coop be torn down. She felt it was an eyesore, a useless structure.

    It was a sad thing seeing the empty space where the coop was. I had tried talking my other out of having it taken down. It just didn't feel right; it was as if she taking a part of my father out of the world.

    Anyway, when I read the part of your post about the pigeons, I'm not ashamed to admit my eyes welled up. And not just because of the association with my father. It was mostly due to the total disregard for another life form.

    Good riddance to these people, I say! And cheers to you for being one of the good ones.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Judy,
    Not seeing the value in older structures is mind boggling to me. Glad to hear you were able to salvage some stuff from the old house.

    Jim,
    Yeah I was pretty bummed about the barn but it was watching the pigeons that really got to me. I hope we end up getting some nice new neighbors but I think that its going to be tough sale... Its a really hideous house.... If it weren't so ugly I would be sending you the Listing sheet... Still wanna move to TN!?!?!? ;-)

    Karen,
    I could see how altering the landscape in Montana is really frowned upon...Its beautiful! You gave me an idea though... I think I am going to plant a row of thick pine trees. Thanks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kevin,
    I agree with ya about built to last. If I spend over a hundred bucks on something... by god my grandkids better get to use it too! Computers and cameras really annoy me. Speaking of which, I am sending you good vibes on your computer... I understand your pain at the moment. It wasn't that long ago that I was in your shoes.

    When I was reading your comment about your fathers racing pigeons I was on the edge of my seat. Inside I was rooting for him. I really hoped that he would get them... if you told me he hadn't I might have had to come MA with my hammer nails and a cage of pigeons! I understand completely about your sad feeling with the empty space. Personally I think I am going to do as Karen suggested and put something meaningful in its place... ya might want to do the same.

    As far as the pigeons being the tear jerker... I'm really quite surprised that more people haven't mentioned that. Watching the scene unfold was a horrible feeling. Not only did I feel helpless but I also felt infuriated (as you stated) by their total disregard for nature. They waltzed in took what they wanted... Did they even acknowledge what they did to those poor birds? Good riddance to them indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such a shame. I was crying right along thinking of those pigeons whose home had just been destroyed with such little concern or care. Tragic, indeed!

    I think you're better off without them. Perhaps someone who will be really appreciative of the property and the area will move in there instead.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unfortunately your tale reflects (in my opinion)the majority of the human races attitude to this beautiful sphere that we call home, that is to take and then take some more. As a species we have become parasites on instead of custodians of this place we all call home. if only more could be like yourself Leigh with your warmth and compassion that perhaps we'd turn a corner.
    Regards,
    John

    ReplyDelete