(Essay)

We moved into our neighborhood four years ago. In our first year, we met many of our neighbors during our evening walks. Most of them were walking their dogs. In subsequent months, we were invited to visit their homes, and we, in turn, invited them to our home for a get-together. In summer, children ride their bicycles or play games outside. We like it here. But sometimes, something happens that makes one wonder what gets some people to behave the way they do.

A few days ago, it was windy outside. It was a day for us to keep recyclables out for pick up the next morning. I had a large carton half full of newspapers, discarded letter envelopes, and some small cardboard pieces. I also had a large cardboard container from Macy’s to place outside. I debated whether I should place it with the large container. Because of the wind, I decided to take it out the next day.

About 11 p.m., when we were about to shut the TV and prepare to go to bed Bharati received a message from our next-door neighbor Alice.

“Did you see the message about your garbage in the neighborhood chat group?” Alice had written.

Bharati and I looked at each other. What could it be? What had we done? Bharati requested Alice to forward the message to us as we were not a member of that chat group.

Yes, Alice was right. There was a message posted to the chat site about us. The message identified me by my name and address. There was a copy of the front of an envelope with my name and address. The message said my garbage was flying all over and had gone as far as two blocks away to a cul-de-sac. The message did not stop there. The writer told me to walk around the neighborhood and collect it.

“Is he out of his mind?” I said, turning to Bharati.

We were already in our nightgowns, besides it was freezing cold and windy outside. I was not going to do it. Bharati put on a winter coat and stepped out. She noticed our garbage container had turned over on its side, but there was no sign of anything on the street. She brought the container inside.

We wondered what prompted the person to write a nasty note on a public chat group. It was not like what he described as “garbage” could have destroyed our neighborhood properties. It was just paper and cardboard. I remembered the times when stuff had flown into our driveway, and I had placed it in my container. Perhaps the complainer took it upon himself to be a neighborhood vigilante to makesure all residents followed his perceived rules of behavior. Could he not have waited until the wind had stopped and then told us to pick up? Did he not realize that the people he was asking to dare to go out could be physically challenged? Nowadays everyone has a Ring camera installed on their front door. If they had noticed a person walking around their property late at night they would have called the police to catch the trespasser.  

The next morning everything was quiet. I placed the container and the Macy’s box outside by the curb. The collectors came around eleven and picked up everything.

It was not a big issue. But, I wonder why some people take it upon themselves to enforce the “laws” they created in their minds. Maybe they had seen the movie “A Man Called Otto” too many times. The movie tells the story of Otto who is a grumpy widower whose only joy comes from criticizing and judging his exasperated neighbors.