Richard
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 5,030
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Tractor
- International 1066 Full sized JCB Loader/Backhoe and a John Deere 430 to mow with
I'm still baffled on this one.
For someone who's not aware, I live in the middle of 250 acre family farm on a dead end road. Three houses here, mine, father in laws and my wifes cousin. Otherwise, on a peninsula of land that is maybe 800/1000 acres in size, there are only 7 houses total. Of course, everyone knows everyone.
My wifes cousin left yesterday morning for a week. We're keeping their dog.
Last night it was dark outside. In the distance, I see someone coming up the gravel driveway. I'm not expecting anyone and because of the lay of the land, I know it's not my father in law.
I might add that all of this is obscured by woods. It was the fact that it was dark that allowed me to see the headlights.
So, I walk out on porch and hear/see these lights turn towards my wifes cousins house next door. They go up the hill.
I know they're not home...wondering if this is just someone who's lost and is going to turn around (it happens from time to time)
Sure enough....their reverse lights come on, they back up...then their break lights come on and I hear the engine die. They threw it into park.
I might add that the house is pitch black with zero lights on.
A little intrigued, I get my shoes/coat on...grab a flashlight AND my cell phone. I came within a fraction of an inch to predial 911 just in case I needed a quick dial to them.
I walk over and as I'm about half way there (vehicle on hill still obscured by the dark AND the trees) I hear the door slam and the engine restart. I get closer and the headlights are now coming down the driveway.
This is when I turned my bright flashlight on. They stopped as immedately as they could, given they were coming down a hill on gravel.
I was still 30/40 feet away, shined the light on the driver... given shadows and distance, I could not make out who it was. I began to think it was a neighbor who lives down the road but I was only 60% sure of this.
I walk around the vehicle, their window was lowered and I'm now 4 feet from them, not wanting to put the light in their eyes to blind them...however, now I'm 99% sure that it's the neighbor.
Relieved, I ask what's up... he asked simultaneously, "I guess they left? I knew they were leaving but didn't think they were leaving until tomorrow"
I said nope, they left this morning.
"(laughing nervously) didn't you recognize my car?" he asked
"nope... all I saw in the dark were the headlights so I got my shoes on to see who it was"
Now, in deference to this neighbor, I probably did have a bit of an adrenilyn "attitude" on my shoulder because my initial thoughts/fears were that it was someone up to no good. That happens from time to time out here as well.
My neighbors parting words? (as best I can recall given my surprise)
"your being rude like this is going to come back and bite you in the a** one day"
He then pulled away and I stood there thinking what did he just say and what on earth happened to elicit that type of comment....?
That was literally 90% of the entire conversation.
I'm still stupified by it. I know I can be abrupt and even rude if needed.... however, it seems he only viewed this situation through his (innocent) eyes and not from another perspective of how it could have looked to an outsider who didn't know who it was and feared it could be someone up to no good.
Truth be told... I'd do the same 'challange' (for lack of better word) to a stranger I found parked at HIS house if I knew he was out of town.
I would think he'd be appreciative of someone willing to 'confront' someone in a situation where the house is empty and the occupant is gone for a week. Had it been daylight I would have seen quite easily who it was. Not so easy, in the dark.
Perhaps if I'm so rude, I should refrain from challanging anyone I see parked at his home when I know he's out of town...
For someone who's not aware, I live in the middle of 250 acre family farm on a dead end road. Three houses here, mine, father in laws and my wifes cousin. Otherwise, on a peninsula of land that is maybe 800/1000 acres in size, there are only 7 houses total. Of course, everyone knows everyone.
My wifes cousin left yesterday morning for a week. We're keeping their dog.
Last night it was dark outside. In the distance, I see someone coming up the gravel driveway. I'm not expecting anyone and because of the lay of the land, I know it's not my father in law.
I might add that all of this is obscured by woods. It was the fact that it was dark that allowed me to see the headlights.
So, I walk out on porch and hear/see these lights turn towards my wifes cousins house next door. They go up the hill.
I know they're not home...wondering if this is just someone who's lost and is going to turn around (it happens from time to time)
Sure enough....their reverse lights come on, they back up...then their break lights come on and I hear the engine die. They threw it into park.
I might add that the house is pitch black with zero lights on.
A little intrigued, I get my shoes/coat on...grab a flashlight AND my cell phone. I came within a fraction of an inch to predial 911 just in case I needed a quick dial to them.
I walk over and as I'm about half way there (vehicle on hill still obscured by the dark AND the trees) I hear the door slam and the engine restart. I get closer and the headlights are now coming down the driveway.
This is when I turned my bright flashlight on. They stopped as immedately as they could, given they were coming down a hill on gravel.
I was still 30/40 feet away, shined the light on the driver... given shadows and distance, I could not make out who it was. I began to think it was a neighbor who lives down the road but I was only 60% sure of this.
I walk around the vehicle, their window was lowered and I'm now 4 feet from them, not wanting to put the light in their eyes to blind them...however, now I'm 99% sure that it's the neighbor.
Relieved, I ask what's up... he asked simultaneously, "I guess they left? I knew they were leaving but didn't think they were leaving until tomorrow"
I said nope, they left this morning.
"(laughing nervously) didn't you recognize my car?" he asked
"nope... all I saw in the dark were the headlights so I got my shoes on to see who it was"
Now, in deference to this neighbor, I probably did have a bit of an adrenilyn "attitude" on my shoulder because my initial thoughts/fears were that it was someone up to no good. That happens from time to time out here as well.
My neighbors parting words? (as best I can recall given my surprise)
"your being rude like this is going to come back and bite you in the a** one day"
He then pulled away and I stood there thinking what did he just say and what on earth happened to elicit that type of comment....?
That was literally 90% of the entire conversation.
I'm still stupified by it. I know I can be abrupt and even rude if needed.... however, it seems he only viewed this situation through his (innocent) eyes and not from another perspective of how it could have looked to an outsider who didn't know who it was and feared it could be someone up to no good.
Truth be told... I'd do the same 'challange' (for lack of better word) to a stranger I found parked at HIS house if I knew he was out of town.
I would think he'd be appreciative of someone willing to 'confront' someone in a situation where the house is empty and the occupant is gone for a week. Had it been daylight I would have seen quite easily who it was. Not so easy, in the dark.
Perhaps if I'm so rude, I should refrain from challanging anyone I see parked at his home when I know he's out of town...
