Odessa

I have two neighbors that abut my property. I've always known that the one was an arrogant wienie, but thought the other one was OK. She, an elderly lady, and I have been social. I've had her over for dinner, we've went out to dinner and movies, etc. She whines a bit and tries to say there are "rules" of which I have no proof, such as no clothes lines in Village and not blocking anyone's view. These things I just passed off as silly old lady stuff. Well tonight was different . . .

I was sitting watching TV after coming home from work to mow my lawn. Phone rings. It's my neighbor. Can I come over, she wants to tell me something. So I put on my shoes and schlep over to the neighbor's house. She invites me in. She smokes, I don't, but I always over look this because she is a nice old lady. She proceeds to tell me that my shed is too close to the property line and that it is killing her trees. She called the Town and it needs to be 20 feet from the property line. She even had someone (she said appraiser - I think probably code enforcement) come over and look at it. Then she tells me that I need to move my shed 20 feet in from the property line.

OK, fine, perhaps she isn't such a nice old lady. I can accept that. I made a hasty exit because I wasn't going to sit there and smell stale cigarette smoke and be social with someone who just dumped a big problem in my lap. Then as I left, it was almost like she expected be to hug her, like I always do when I leave. Or at the very least smile. OK, kick me in the teeth and then I'm going to say: "Thank you ma'am, can I have another?" Hardly!