Ringing my bell
I'm kind of freaked out about school starting anyway, without having strangers ringing my doorbell. Twice. In the same afternoon.
The first: "Ma'am do ya' want me to do something with your tree?"
OK. You have to know that when you ring the doorbell at my house, I try to secretly peek out the window--somewhere--and see who you are. When I see that you are someone I do not know, I quickly look to see if there is somewhere I can hide out so you won't think I'm home, then I take a deep breath, and then I finally answer the door.
When you ask me if I want you to do something with my tree, I just don't know what to say. First, there is no tree in my front yard. So then I'm wondering: Have you been sneaking around in my back yard somewhere? Then: Is there something WRONG with one of my trees that would cause you to want to DO SOMETHING to it? Because I really didn't know ANYTHING was wrong with any of them. I leave them alone, they leave me alone, and we have a really nice relationship that way.
The second ring (followed by the peeking, wanting to hide, and then answering):
"Ma'am would you like to buy some steaks?"
OK. First, who are you? Once we've established that you are a "personal meat vendor," please explain to me, very slowly, why I should buy discounted meat from you, meat that is currently on ice in a big freezer in the back of your PICKUP TRUCK?
I don't care that I can buy big juicy steaks for $2.00 a pound FROM THE BACK OF YOUR PICKUP TRUCK, and that these steaks will be perfect for entertaining my guests or feeding my family for the next few weeks/months/years. Even though my 7-year old son is shaking his head wildly up and down and pulling on my arm and yelling that he "loves, loves steak!", I am really not going to buy meat--on my street--from the back of a truck--from a total stranger.
Please don't ring my doorbell unless you are someone I know, from Publisher's Clearing House and carrying a dozen roses, balloons, and a big check, or are here to volunteer to clean my house.
Currently peeking out the window to see who is out there,
Jana
posted by Jana @ 10:59 AM
3 comments
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3 Comments:
It takes a bit of nerve to steel yourself to this point, but there is no obligation whatsoever to answer a knock at the door - even if they know you are at home! This is a private residence - it is not a place of business. If I want to buy goods and services, I will call vendors or go to stores. If I want to contribute to the Girl Scouts I will seek out someone I know. If I don't know you you are out of luck at my house.
Bah! Humbug!
Creepy! I give you permission not to answer the door unless you know the person ringing your bell...
We get those, "Maam, would you like us to ...(trim your trees, mow your lawn, paint your house, etc.)and I usually feel embarrassment that things are so bad that the neighbors are calling for drive-bys. And quite honestly, the painter guy did a really nice job for a low, low price! I think he probably isn't a legal citizen, but that's really not my business after all. He painted, we paid him and we never saw him again. I do expect that if our car is ever stolen or something shows up missing from the garage, questions about our wisdom will be raised. The concrete guy? Bad decision. We should have checked his work, but once again--it was cheap! We think we'll be very happy with the palm trees. They're still alive after 3 or 4 months!
Steak? No way, Jose.
Ben says, "Except for Swann's. They have good steak."
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