August 29, 2014
Dear Everyone:
When I first moved here, five years ago, there were not a lot of
children around. In fact,
when Halloween rolled around, I asked my neighbor if I should expect any
Trick-or-Treaters. She said
no.
At the time we assumed that parents were taking their kids to the
shopping mall, as it was perceived as being safer than wandering around
streets in the dark. But a
few years later I happened to be at the same mall on October 31st
and saw only a few costumed children in evidence.
More recently, as I joined my community’s
Homeowner Association Board,
our property manager commented that we were in what she called “the
third phase” of ownership.
The first phase consisted of apartment renters who were able to scratch
together the down payment to buy their
condominiums.
The second phase consisted of people like me who were looking to
buy when the developers were still selling the recently refurbished
condos.
This third phase is largely young couples on their first venture into
home ownership. Once they
get the home, they get started on the family.
Or the condos were bought by “investors” who now rent them out to
young couples who are not yet ready to buy.
But they are ready to have kids.
Bottom line: We got kids.
Lots and lots of kids.
Kids on bikes; kids on scooters; kids on skateboards; kids on foot.
All running around, shouting and laughing, splashing in the
pools; enjoying the last few precious days before school starts again.
A few weeks ago, as I was walking home from the daily trek to the
mailbox, I noticed someone standing shoulders above the fence that goes
around part of the clubhouse.
At first, I assumed it was one of “Mannie’s” workmen.
(“Mannie” is the contractor who handles routine maintenance
around here.) But as I got
closer, I realized that “Mannie”, as a general rule, doesn’t hire
ten-year-olds to do his work.
I’m sure his insurance doesn’t cover that.
Turns out, some kids were “playing fort” and one of them had discovered
the perfect defense position:
Behind the fence, standing on top of some electrical equipment,
firing down on his opponents in the parking lot.
I’m the “mean old lady” who made him climb down and take his plastic
assault rifle elsewhere. I
also sent an email out to the property manager and Association Board,
and cc’d “Mannie”, that I thought a padlock on the gate to this area
would be a good idea. The
next day I discovered that the gate was standing wide open, just waiting
for another intrepid “soldier”.
I placed a “temporary” padlock, one from my suitcase, on the gate and
emailed “Mannie” the combination.
I found out later that this area is actually the province of the
power company, which is why “Mannie” hadn’t locked it already.
He will work with the power company and get my little lock back
to me when they get it all taken care of.
In the meantime, I’m preparing for a bumper crop of Trick-or-Treaters
this Halloween.
Love, as always,
Pete
| Previous | Next |