A Tale of Trampolines, Troubles, and Triumphs

Yesterday was finally another hot but not humid day, perfect for gardening. I had a few tasks to tackle, but the highlight was receiving the first of two trampoline boxes. As Thursdays are cleaning days for the early Friday trash pickup, I spent the day gathering both indoor and outdoor trash.

Today was even more exciting because the second trampoline box arrived! All gardening and bush trimming tasks were paused as my oldest son eagerly assembled the trampoline. My daughter helped when she could, though she was a bit cranky and glued to her phone. However, after eating and bouncing on the trampoline, she transformed into the happiest kid ever, jumping and listening to music until almost 11 PM. She didn't want to go home, but with a swim class the next day, she reluctantly went to bed. I gathered all the electronics and brought them inside, marveling at the backyard lights that beautifully illuminated the trampoline.

However, the tranquility was disrupted when our exquisite neighbors called the police about the lights shining into their bedroom. I had just let the dogs out and was about to send an email to a detective about multiple vandalism incidents when an officer rang the bell. The officer explained the neighbors' complaints about the lights in my backyard. I had to explain that I have limited vision and need proper lighting to navigate safely, especially given my disability and the incidents of people walking by my backyard. The officer seemed to understand the neighbors' frustration but didn't grasp my need for safety.

The situation highlighted the daily challenges I face, from dealing with intense pain and cramps to managing the side effects of numerous medications. My needs as a disabled person often go unacknowledged, and explaining them to the police felt futile. The officer suggested I switch off the lights at 10 PM, which means I can't go outside after that time, depriving me of the distraction from pain and the enjoyment of my garden.

I appreciated the officer's attempt to mediate, but it felt like a compromise at my expense. I set my security cameras to motion detection light, which, while bright, only illuminates parts of my yard when needed. The neighbors' insistence on reverting to the previous lighting setup, which has been in place for over two years, felt more like a way to cause trouble than a genuine issue.

Despite the negativity and stress, I will need to call the police to report the erosion and the neighbor's edger damaging my property. It's been a year, and despite knowing about it, they haven't fixed it. The neglected edgers are only held up by my reinforcement, adding to the frustration. Yet, I continue to find solace in my garden, even amid these challenges.