I'll Be Watching You

Do you ever wonder if your neighbors are watching you? Well, if you are one of my neighbors you can rest easy...because I am watching! It's not that I sit at my front window and peak out the blinds (although I do spend more time looking out that window now that I'm nursing all the time). I just notice things. I can usually tell if my neighbors are home, who is there to visit, and other simple observations. I like to think I am doing them a favor because I watch for things that are unusual.

I'm not on a first name basis with dispatch at the Sheriff's office, but I have called three times in the last six years to report suspicious activity (suspected drug paraphernalia, a possible drug sale, and a weird guy walking the streets). And there are others...

Once when I was leaving home there was an old truck parked in my neighbor's driveway. My neighbors were clearly not home. I waited a few moments for the man to leave, wrote down the license plate number, and then drove closer and rolled down my window to make contact so he was clear that I was watching and would be able to give details to a sketch artist should one of my neighbors report a burglary later that day. When I asked him if he needed something he replied, "I'm just waiting for my grandson to get home from school so I can pick him up." Grandpa reported my diligent neighboring to his daughter and we had a good laugh.

Another time I was suspicious of a white van that pulled into my next door neighbor's driveway, so I called to make sure they were home. It turned out to be the ever dangerous window-repair guy.

So tonight it happened again. I was out after dark trying to track down some signatures for Scouting applications and I drove by the home of the Assistant Scoutmaster. They had been absent for church and there were no lights on so I assumed they were not home. After I got the other John Doe's I needed I drove by again, just to check. There were lights on now, but since it was after 8 I wanted to call first before knocking on the door. The phone rang and rang and then I saw movement through the curtains. When no one answered the phone I decided to call once more. Again there was no answer, but definite activity inside.

As I was driving away I started to get concerned that they weren't home, but someone else was in their house. (Yeah, you are probably thinking what kind of stupid burglars turn all the lights on a run past windows? Clearly my paranoia is not logical.) So, I tried to call their neighbors to see if this family was really out of town.

Finally I reached my friend Michelle who agreed to call their house and check on them. They answered after a few rings. She then proceeded to explain that I was sitting outside their house, needed a signature, and was glad they were not getting robbed.

Many apologizes for stalking were given as the required signature was drawn.