Neighbors:The good, the bad and the humiliating

Good Morning, Chamber of Commerce, how may I help you?

Amanda? Amanda, this is Marie, Marie your neighbor.

Hi Marie. How are you?

Oh, I am fine Amanda. I just wanted to make sure everything was ok.

Yes, I think everything is fine. What can I do for you?

Well, I just needed to make sure everything was ok.I don't mean to be a nosy neighbor you know. It's just that my windows look out on your driveway, so when I look out I just see your house. I have been worried because Sean's car has been running for two hours.

Oh. Oh my god.

I looked through the window, not being nosy, but you know, the smoke and I thought it was strange to have a car running for two hours.

Oh, Marie, I haven't been getting much sleep. I can't believe I did that. We had to jockey the cars around. Ugh.

Dave is home with a headache, so he is sleeping on the couch. I had him run and knock and no one answered.

Ya, I was in such a hurry to get to the other car I must have just left it. How stupid. Geez.

Well, I felt like I should say something. And of course the car kept running. Now I really am not trying to be nosy, it's just the view through my window, you know? And it went on for two hours.

Oh, no no, of course. I am so grateful.

I had Dave turn it off. It was just so strange. Do you mind? I just thought you couldn't have meant to leave it running for 2 hours.

No, not at all. Thank you.

Well, I told Dave I couldn't imagine why you'd leave the car running. And for two hours it's been running.

Thank you. So you have the keys?

No, they're in the car.

Oh.

Do you want me to get them?

Yes, if you could.

Sure, I just didn't want to be nosy, but with the car running for two hours...

I can't tell you how grateful I am, thanks Marie.

No problem Amanda, when I saw that car running I just knew it was strange and I really didn't want to be nosy, but I kept seeing it out the window. Two hours.

Thank you again Marie.

Clearly I am feeling the combined effects of ramping up my exercise routine and scaling back my sleeping time. I am mortified that I left the car running. I mean serisously, how daft do you have to be? Thank god it wasn't in drive. And you know I have to go tonight to get the keys and it's going to be more about the 2 hours and not being nosy. God bless my neighbors, who's names have been changed to protect my existence, they are as precious as they are maddening. Next summer I'll be out weeding and Dave will call over from his stoop, can of beer in a cozy, feet up on the railing, with the usual suspects beside him, "Remember that time you left the car running for 2 hours...?"