I’m really upset, so I’m doing what I do best when upset: blog.
On Thursday I got home from a trip to the library to find a yellow placard on our door. It was a warning from the police—we were in violation of the city code because our lawn was too long. (That’s our house in the photo, minutes after I got home to find the warning.) The police officer wrote that we should call him. I gave Ryan his name and number, and Ryan left a message on his voice mail.
We assumed that someone had called the police on another neighbor, one who had let their entire lawn die, and the officer had just checked the whole neighborhood while he was there—until the police officer returned my husband’s call. The officer confirmed that one of our neighbors had, in fact, called the police. On us and at least three other houses on the street (at least two of which are rental properties that have gotten new renters in the last couple weeks). And (in the interest of ensuring domestic tranquility, obviously) this person had written the mayor and the city council to report us and other neighbors. And they said that we had neglected our lawn for the last three years.
We don’t actually know which neighbor it was that did this, but we can only assume it’s not someone we know well. Also note: last month (that’s July, in case you’re reading this tomorrow), we did let our lawn go for a while, while we had 26 people at a family reunion based at our house. But obviously, that’s not the case now.
I am furious.
I’m pretty sure we can find out who did this—but should we? Should we do anything to defend our good name in our community? Should we say anything to these neighbors?
11 replies on “Grrr!”
No. Definitely do NOT find out who. It won’t help. It will give you a place to focus your anger, making it harder to get over it. Just give it a few days.
Go get ’em, Jordan!!
(Actually, your dad’s advice sounds sound. We have called animal control on our neighbor’s dog — after months of it really affection our quality of life, and I still feel very tense around them. Being on either side of this sort of thing and whether justified (in my case) or crazy (in yours), is not fun. Good luck!)
Really? Really? Who calls the police on their neighbors for having long grass?!? That’s ridiculous. Calling the HOA maybe, but the cops? Lame. If that were the case I could call the police on my entire street (8 cars on my across the street neighbor’s property at the moment, and no they do not have an 8 car garage). What a waste of our public resources. I am outraged for you. I’m sure whoever it is that is causing the ruckus is some old lady gossip who has nothing better to do than tally up the neighbors who might not have hours to devote to lawn care each day. Take a deep breath, send the hubby out to mow the lawn, and call it a day. You are a good person and you have a cute house. Done and done.
I suggest that you not go searching out who called. If it’s someone you don’t know well (which you’ve pretty much decided it was), then you never know what they were thinking when they called…possibly they have dimensia and just didn’t realize the effects of their actions. (However unlikely that may be, you never know if it’s true!)
I remember a time when I was living in Sandy, UT where each apt. had one parking spot assigned to them. We had 2 cars, and one of my neighbors told me that I could park in her spot. Well, she moved out and I continued to park there because everytime I saw someone else moving in I would ask if it was their spot. Every time they told me no, so I continued to park there thinking that if I really was in someone’s place, they’d leave a note telling me to move. It’s not like I wouldn’t get the note because I was always in the same spot and I left everyday…so someone could easily have taken the spot back. Well, one day I went to get in my car and it was GONE. They had my car towed! I had been diligent in asking if I was in someone’s way, I called the management and asked what happened. He said that the guy was being an absolute jerk and wouldn’t accept the idea of leaving a note to tell me to move it and demanded the car be towed. He gave me the number of the impound lot where I could get my car back.
I understand that I was in the wrong in one aspect, but I wasn’t trying to be rude or intrusive. I was fully willing to move the car if someone wanted me to. I just figured that if no one else was going to use the spot, then I would. Needless to say I was upset for quite a while. I knew who it was because of the number on the parking spot, but I had never met the person. I thought about bringing over a plate of cookies or something to apologize, but then I realized that it might give off a “holier than thou” attitude, and that would, in fact, be the purpose of the apology. I wanted to show that I was the bigger person by not harboring bad feelings. In reality, I realized that if I actually HAD gone over there, it would’ve been worse than if I just left it alone. It’s not like he knew whose car it was. Eventually, I stopped caring that I had to spend over $100 to get my car back. It wasn’t worth fostering bad feelings.
I think that if you actually figure out who called on you, you will never be able to truly build a Christ-like love for that person, and it will prejudice you against them forever. As long as you take care of your lawn according to city codes, which really aren’t that bad, then you will know that you have nothing to worry about. Neighbors will be neightbors, good or bad! 🙂
I would get Ryan out there to mow the grass, but the lawn mower’s broken (what part do we need again, Dad?).
However, the police officer was friends with one of our neighbors, and this neighbor (who definitely did NOT call the police) came over right after I got home to ask if they could mow my lawn for me. So on the day of the warning, I felt like we had a lot of good come out of it, since we’ve never really talked to those neighbors and they were so nice to us.
(Now I’m just mad because I know someone called the cops! I’m also mad that they classed us in with the people on the block who have completely killed their lawns and whose landlords have let their buildings fall into severe disrepair. And keep cars on their lawn—so I hear ya, Shannon. Though I bet your neighbors are breaking the law 😉 .)
@Kat—That’s exactly how I’ve felt—I’ve thought about doing the same kill-’em-with-kindness-to-wrack-them-with-guilt kind of thing.
Okay, I think we’ll not try to find out who did it. But do we need to talk to the police or the city council or the mayor to try to repair our reputation?
Looks like it’s time for a fence!
Gracious! I hope your hidey hole neighbor was also reported! Good thing they can’t see your backyard! Hee Hee! Have you thought about astroturf?
So, does your city have some insane law for grass less than 2 inches long?? It doesn’t look long to me at all in the picture!
I don’t know what the ramifications are of being reported to the city council, but it can’t hurt to inquire. Maybe they just “file” complaints like that in trash. Maybe they keep them on record in case there’s multiple complaints in the future. If that’s the case, it’d probably be worthwhile to have a response/explanation from you right beside it.
Neighbors! Sheesh. Whoever complained should live in my old neighborhood where you’re out of place if you don’t park 8 cars on your lawn, in the driveway, and in front of yours and your neighbors’ houses, your backyard looks like the city dump, and your front yard is full of upturned plastic chairs, beer bottles, and old car bench seats. It’s sad what some people will complain about, especially with little to no thought of how it will affect someone else.
See, Lindsey, that’s what gets me—that’s EXACTLY how some of our neighbors keep their lawns. And we’re being classed in with them because we missed a couple waterings?
BTW, now that it’s cut, it actually looks a lot less green. Hope they’re happy 😀 .
I can’t believe the police have time to post notices re: long grass….that’s what I find amazing!
The city counsel I worked for would have just forwarded the letter to zoning enforcement (who would have been the one to write the ticket). No record was kept of them because often it was just a cranky neighbor. When there was a real problem they heard about it from zoning enforcement themselves.
Also, in our town, grass isn’t a nuisance until it’s 18 inches long. I can’t believe your grass qualifies!