Hey Kids it’s dad and for today’s TommyLog I want to tell you the rest of the story. A few days ago I posted “the note” video and there’s more to be said on the subject. So to catch people up here’s a link to my previous video.
http://tommylog.com/tommylog-the-note/
So after I posted the video I really felt that I need to go introduce myself to the guy and just tell him what I had received. So I did just that. Got myself dressed and put on my “big boy shorts” and I went over and I knocked on the door. My good next-door neighbor friend Oscar answered the door and we talked for a few minutes. Oscar had just had cataract surgery so the discussion was very easy. After a few minutes of us chewing the fat, I asked if this person was there. He said yes and I asked if I could speak to him. I waited outside with “the note.”
I was a little bit nervous and said a prayer in my heart to make sure that this situation would end in a positive manner. After what seemed like a long time but was probably 30 or 40 seconds, the gentleman emerge and came outside. I introduced myself and shook his hand. I showed him the note and read to them what was said. I asked about how things are going and if he had a job. He indeed did and it was a good one. We talked at length about his job and what he did there. It was a nice exchange.
I told him about the two precious things that live next-door and how important they were in my life. I told him don’t make me choose between being neighborly and my kids. Because he will come out on the bad end of the deal every time. I had no malice in my tone nor was I upset. But I was firm and he knew it. I told him I respect him for serving his time and he deserved a second chance to turn his life around. it seemed as if he was doing just that.
We ended the conversation cordially and I went home. I felt satisfied. There are plenty of ways that this could’ve turned out and I know everyone would’ve handled it differently. This is how I chose to handle it.
What would you have done? Would you have even gone over to introduce yourself? The comments on this has been amazing and I appreciate so much the dialogue.