After the large snow banks melted away, I noticed my neighbor had parked an extra large storage container next to his driveway. It crossed my mind that it was most likely on my land but no trees had been disturbed, so I let it go. It was when the two ton pile of crushed rock got dumped out on the driveway that I got nervous.
I quickly put into motion all the ineffective ways of dealing with this issue. I talked to friends, I looked at a very old and vague plot map, I called a land surveyor who did the house two doors down, inspected some google earth maps, and even contemplated having my ex-husband come over, so basically I did nothing to solve or confront this issue. I even sat and watched him as he began to spread out the crushed rock. My keys in one hand, cup of coffee in the other, with a dumb ass look on my face, I pondered, "I wonder what he is doing? I think that is my land?" What better response then for me to get in the car and go to the gym. (this is what Steve Pressfield referees to as "resistance", next post)
So what kick starts someone into action? Well for me it was when I came home and saw his Jeep parked on his new rock slab and my pine tree knocked down and left to die on my grass. It's 12 feet of willowy beauty wilting in the sun. She was still partially attached at the base. Now I would have to get out the saw and make the final cuts. I formulated the perfect opening line in my head, "just wanted to let you know I was going to be over to cut the bottom off the tree you knocked down", before I knocked on his door. Have I mentioned that Joe is a very large man and he is a cop in one of the least desirable places to live outside of Boston? I find him a bit intimidating, for some reason.
"Hey, I was just going to come and talk to you," he said as he opened the door. Really?
We are "ALL GOOD" according to Joe. So I walked away and came back armed and ready with my tape measure, a piece chalk, and my seven year old son for back up.
125 feet is what belongs to Joe, not 145 feet. I was right, he was wrong. It took a long, twisty path but I faced some unidentified and unreasonable fears and came out feeling empowered and inspired.
I was now motivated to set up the boundaries and lines for the sculpture garden. The modified plan was to work with what was already in the yard. I am still going to do this but in a more deliberate way. Intention is an important part of creativity. I spent two days relocating plants, trimming trees, taking down the wood stands in the woods and moving rail road ties. It timed out perfectly with the rain.
Thanks for the inspiration Joe and I like the shed, properly located at the end of your driveway.
No comments:
Post a Comment