Boundaries
I value my privacy and space. Probably more so than the average person.
Today the duplex neighbour (I'm currently on hiatus from calling them the awesome neighbours) cut down my maple tree which was just over 6 foot tall. He walked over to my side of the yard, plugged in an electric chain saw and cut it down.
I was just returning from a walk with Fergus and I walked up to him and just asked, 'Why?' Probably a few times. He tried to do the aww shucks thing and play it off as a misunderstanding, but it wasn't. He wanted it gone because the old lady neighbour behind our duplex wanted her hedge trimmed and my Maple would have destroyed the line of the hedge. I don't think the old lady asked my tree to be cut I think duplex neighbour made that call on his own.
The whole duplex neighbour family are very friendly, but they overstep my boundaries all the time without consideration. I would never walk on their lawn, or set-up chairs and games on their lawn, or leave my trash on their steps... But they don't ask, they just do.
I know I'm over the top in my boundary issues, and I try to get my inner zen on and power through, but I'm really upset about my Maple Tree. I called my folks (the landlords) and asked if they had talked about the tree. Nope.
I'm going to have to pull my big girl panties up and talk to the duplex neighbours about this, and make sure they know I'm not happy, and to stay out of my gardens. I usually run from confrontation, so this will be hard for me.
Still my imagination is spinning off into tangents of hiring a landscaper to plant a really massive hedge or a 7' privacy fence to keep people out. I can't afford it, but here I am over 12 hours after the incident still fuming and upset by the incident and dreaming up revenge and solutions. I may even go price another Maple Tree tomorrow and get it planted.
My dad did explain I was over reacting and it calmed me down for an hour... But my anger is back. Must achieve inner peace.