Neighbours

So the posts of late have been a little miserable. I will return to my hospital saga later. For now I want to talk about neighbours. For many years I endured what can only be described as horrible neighbours. First there was Gerry. He was a rage filled, dry alcoholic who verbally abused me (I mean disgusting name calling; always including cunt in it somewhere) each time he saw me outside of the house. He constructed a concentration camp like fence between our houses. He was married to Barb, who was a snivelling, passive, enabler who acted like she didn't know what he was saying to me when she was right there. You can't imagine my glee when one day I am outside weeding the garden when Barb comes out and tells me that if I see Gerry on the street I am to call police as there is a restraining order against him to keep away. He is a crackhead and has cleaned out her bank account. I tell her with pleasure will I call the police on him. I have to admit I felt a great deal of schadenfreude over that one. Eventually, they divorced and he forced her to sell.
In moved Tom and Allen, a gay couple who on the surface seemed nice enough, but proved to be racist and partiers. They drank beer steadily from Friday evening to Sunday night. Most of the time in the backyard with a huge fire going in the middle of the lawn, regardless of the temperature outside. Could be 30 c and they would have the fire blazing, beers flowing, Allen, witch like cackling at everything Tom said. At four in the morning it wore thin. If I made the mistake of leaving my bedroom window open, my clothes smelt like I had been smoking sausage in my closet. They ended up selling because Tom didn't like the racial direction the neighbourhood was moving in. He actually said this to me, but in not so polite terms. I found this hugely hypocritical as I endured many conversations from him about how they had been discriminated against for having a pride flag in their window. They wanted acceptance but weren't willing to afford it to anyone else.
Finally came Mike and Lynne and their baby. A lovely, sweet couple originally from the East Coast. Mike cleans up the garbage at the park at the bottom of the street. Lynne is friendly and a very attentive, loving mother. Today, they left me a little potted, flowering plant with a get well soon card on my veranda. I love these neighbours. It is so nice to know that there are still decent, sweet neighbours in the world. Hoorah!