Lovable Curmudgeon

Think of me as the Andy Rooney of Mansfield. Of course, I’m not actually a man, I’m not as old as Andy, I don’t have the same fabulously wild eyebrows, and I don’t have nearly as many adoring fans.  But like Andy, whose weekly 60 Minutes commentary I will truly miss, I can’t help pointing out certain things that just simply bug the heck out of me.  Here are a few examples. And no, I’m not perfect—but at least I try to be a good and considerate neighbor.

1. I can’t stand it when people leave their old worn out sofas, chairs, and mattresses out on the street for weeks or maybe even months on end because they can’t be bothered to make the short trip to town hall and purchase the appropriate $10.00 sticker for pick-up, These people, and you know who you are, are LAZY and inconsiderate.
2. I can’t stand it when teenagers go speeding by my house throwing fast-food containers, beer cans, and in some cases used condoms out their car windows on to my lawn. These young people, and you know who you are, are quite simply, young and stupid.
3. I can’t stand it when people can’t be bothered to teach their small, impressionable children that it’s NOT ok to throw that Dunkin doughnut wrapper out the backseat window. Where do these parents, and you know who you are, suppose their child picked up this bad behavior?
4. I can’t stand it when I have to repair or replace for the 10^th time, my poor defenseless mailbox after one of those teenagers comes flying by my house in the middle of the night alongside his drunk buddy who’s hanging out the passenger window with a baseball bat, whacking at anything he can hit.  Hey you, you know who you are…cut it out, you nasty little moron!
5. I can’t stand it when I think about how quickly I’ve become a curmudgeonly old man inside the body of a really rather nice and friendly middle-aged woman.

Complaining about the people of Mansfield might not win me many fans but I’m not here for that. And frankly, I’m certain there are many out there who agree with me—and you know who you are. Be honest, wouldn’t Mansfield be a nicer place to live if everyone would be just a little more thoughtful and considerate of their neighbors?