Weeds

These gorgeous calla lilies in the yard across the narrow street from my sister’s house were barely noticeable from the road. She spotted them hiding behind a garden of weeds. The elderly home owner moved recently to a care home and the home has not yet sold.

My sister and I are very different from each other. She insisted that we go take a closer look at the lilies — if I was alone there would be no way I would step into a stranger’s yard! “If we weed the garden then the house might sell quickly”. First of all — that is not our business! Secondly, who gave us permission to invade their space?

If someone asked me for help I would be right there. I like to help others. But who gives us the right to criticize, find fault with their gardening, or think that we know best. I finally convinced my sister that if the gentleman’s family asked her to weed his garden that that was when she could start.

I wish I could just tell her how I feel about her lack of boundaries without hurting her feelings. Her husband and I have been able to convince her that just walking into my house unannounced, without knocking, was inappropriate. I knew there would be struggles when I bought a home close to theirs, and I am trying hard to look at the positives every day.

There will be a huge celebration in my mind the first time she comes here and says nothing about what I want, doesn’t move things around in my house to make it look better and doesn’t point out or pull out weeds as she leaves.