July 15, 2014
An open letter to the Neighbourhood Thief,
Over the years, I have had MANY ornaments and decorations stolen from my garden. From inexpensive trinkets to wedding gifts to solar lights to one-of-a-kind expensive Kitrass art glass, I’ve had it all, and had it all taken (or smashed on the street in front of my house).
But this summer, my three-year-old daughter wanted a solar light for “her” garden. So, I crossed my fingers, hoped for some goodwill, and put her little toadstool with the ladybug in our garden.
Unfortunately, you have broken my faith in the kindness of those who walk by my house each day – or perhaps night. The ornament was hardly visible during the day, but it changed colours during the night time. I can only guess that you crept onto our property and stole it under the cover of darkness. You didn’t even bother to take the stake out of the ground to go with it – did you want that too?
It’s not the cost of this ornament that is the issue. It was five dollars at Home Hardware. To be honest, if you like it that much, come on over to my place (I know you know where I live) and I’ll take you there and buy you one of your own.
What broke my heart was having to console my sobbing little girl who just couldn’t understand where her ladybug went.
What may have been a harmless prank or dare to you has broken my daughter’s heart. Shame on you. For trespassing. For stealing. For caring so little about your neighbourhood that you would somehow think this kind of behaviour is not only okay but somehow your right.
I’d be surprised if you read this letter. But perhaps someone who knows you will. Maybe someone will confront you and remind you of what it means to be part of a community. It means letting little girls have their garden lights.
You know where I live. I’d be happy to have my little girl’s light back. And I wasn’t kidding – bring it back, knock on my door, apologize to my daughter – IN PERSON – and I’ll buy you one of your very own. If you don’t have the nerve to do that, then maybe you aren’t so very daring after all.
Sarah Rowan
Fergus, Ontario
Sarah Rowan