fences
Thursday, September 16 
One of the first blog posts I ever wrote was about how my dog Angus ran inside my neighbor’s house, and I got to meet my neighbor for the first time — him naked, me clothed— at close range while trying to apprehend 18 pounds of crazy. (If you missed it, you can read about it here.)
I’ve never spoken to that neighbor since, although sometimes I think about how to possibly mend that fence:
“Hi, sorry about that time my dog ran inside your house and did a happy dance on your bed while you were sound asleep.”
Or:
“Sorry I saw you naked that one time. I hope you’re not embarrassed. Seriously, you looked just fine for a 30-something-year-old guy. I’m not trying to pick you up. I’m just saying I’m sure you and your wife are very happy. Honestly though, even if I try, I can’t picture your junk anymore. It’s gone. Can we be friends now?”
Unfortunately, if I wanted to mend this fence, there are now TWO fences to climb over. This past summer (despite the fact that Angus hasn’t been on their property since his dawn patrol adventure) the neighbors had a ginormous fence built on their deck. So now there’s a chain-link fence, a swath of grass, and a skyscraper of a wall blocking the view from their deck to my garden and chickens, and vice versa.
Seems unfriendly, and left me muttering to Shawn while it was being built: “If it was me, I’d talk to the neighbors before putting something like that up. I’d want to make sure they understood we just wanted more privacy and weren’t being unfriendly.” Or: “Why would they rather look at that wall than my garden?” And, “It feels like they don’t like us.”
Shawn told me I needed to settle down, that the neighbors did not need to talk to us before putting up the fence, and that I shouldn’t make it all about us.
Well, phooey. Where’s the fun in that?
He’s always trying to get me to straighten up and fly right.
Anyway, this past post about my parent’s dog Jessie (thanks for all the nice comments!) reminded me of another story about fences and neighbors.
Jessie never liked to be alone, it made her anxious. So when my parents moved into their current home in a Salt Lake City suburb years ago, she chewed the fence between their yard and their new neighbors whenever they were gone.
Both my parents and the neighbors replaced fence posts and did spot repairs, until my parent’s neighbors decided the chew-and-repair pattern just wasn’t working.
So they did an amazing thing.
They installed a dog door for Jessie, making it so that she could come and visit at will, showing up for spontaneous play dates with their two Dobermans. They welcomed her into their family, and when Jessie died, it was their loss too.
Anyway, I don’t expect our neighbors to install a doggie door for Angus anytime soon, but it’s certainly an inspiring example. When a wall goes up, is there something I can do to create a friendly passageway?
Jessie hanging out at my parents' neighbor's house with Bella, one of her Doberman pals.
END NOTE: I’m glad I proofread before posting. Somehow I often miss the “g” when writing Angus’ name. If at some point you see me writing about Anus, you know who I’m talking about.
Anus, my dog.
Reader Comments (14)
such a innocent looking angus . I think I prefer your other name for him tho , lol Look at it this way, now you have more privacy and dont have to worry about angus getting out again.
I think the neighbor put up the fence so he can sunbathe nekkid. Hope your bees don't find him.
And Anus is a much more fitting name for that dog.
Fave Auntie you go , lol great pos.t. You nailed it
Hehehehehe!!! I can't stop giggling!!!! Start to finish, great post! So Shawn might not like the approach of yelling out to the neighbors sometime, "So, is this a hint that you're still mad about the dog thing?" Might be a bit forward. At least Angus didn't chew on your neighbors 'junk'! That might have been just a tad awkward. Definitely no recovering from that one. Wonder if the neighbors leave out the "g"? He's awfully cute though! (the dog, i mean) Good boy! Hope we get to meet him sometime... oh and his owners, too!
=)
Ah well, other people's aesthetic decisions have always baffled me. Maybe the neighbors just like having a ginormous wall feet from their home, makes them feel all cozy and protected. They have probably been planning to build that fence for years before you moved in.
Such a darling picture of Anus the dog. I can't believe how hard I laughed at that! You have great comic timing, which is hard to do in print. ( I remember you telling me about the Jessie door in the fence, that is a very sweet story.)
How can anybody follow FaveAuntie's comment? Wonderful!
Megan, you wonder about creating a friendly passageway. You could invite the lady over to see your worm farm, or, oh, I know, you guys could collect slugs together (worked for me!), or you could ask if she needs any chicken poop for her houseplants. I'm pretty sure those are all really good ways to ingratiate yourself to your neighbor.
In the meantime, looking at the fence photo: is that a nice gap between upper and lower? That screams invitation to peek, I'm thinking. Or is that where the glass shards and concertina wire will be?
SDA: You're always good at looking at the bright side!
FaveAuntie: Well, I learned they're putting in a hot tub, so you're probably right...I fear I've given my dog a new name :)
Laurie: Maybe if the neighbors heard us leave out the "g" we could earn a truce...Although, they really haven't indicated they see the funny in all this. Too bad.
Pooknelle: Yeah, I guess if you're going to go making assumptions, one should assume the best intentions of others, no?
NLWD: Oooh, good thing you aren't my neighbor. The way you think, we'd be trouble together.
That fence is insane and that dog is adorable. Your neighbors are crazy.
Megan,
I found your blog through FaveAuntie's blog. I am your Dad's cousin, Linda. It's been decades since we last saw each other in San Diego.
I just spent a couple of hours here and I am in awe of your talent, insightfulness, and incredible humor. Your parents, I'm sure, are very proud.
Tell you Dad I said hello. Our family is now in the Phoenix area.
Thank you!
Linda
Linda,
It's nice to hear from you and that you are following Meg's blog. If you email Meg (see the top of the blog) with your contact info I'll get in touch.
Becky: Ha! Thanks :)
Dad's Cousin: Hi Linda! Thanks so much for reading and for your kind note — it made my day (and dad's). Would be great to meet you in person again sometime.
Hey cuz! Welcome to the fun here at Megan's confessional. We need to catch up with each other!
SDA and NLwD: Glad you two liked my comment.
NLwD - I agree with Megan. I like the way you think. We might need to rendezvous next time we come to Montana. Could be trouble.
Trouble. Ahhh....
I could say something like, "At least they just put up the fence and didn't force you to do so," but it's not like that would help. I've heard about The Fence from a few people now, and I wish you well. I'm trying to find that friendly passageway myself without getting sucked into the idea that I need to do all the work in the relationship while they hire lawyers and shout profanities. Nothing like a short course in spiritual development!
Love to see you sometime!