I took myself for a walk today since I’d gotten caught up with all the “business” I needed to conduct on my day off. It was a nice enough day and I needed to drop a bill off at the post office. So, I guess there was more “business”, but at least it was on my terms.
Our neighborhood is a nice one, with quiet streets and well-kept houses. I took a different way home than I usually do after one of these walks and went past a house that had a sign right at the street that said, “No turn around. No Trespassing.”
Which seemed a little harsh. Sometimes turning around in a driveway is the best approach when someone is lost and it seemed odd to be upset about something like that. The No Trespassing seemed a little extra harsh too.
Maybe it was the font.
As I walked past the driveway I saw a sign further up the drive attached to a tree. I stopped to look closer and saw that it said “You are now a trespasser” – to further hammer home their feelings, I guess – and it included a graphic.
Of the view through a gun sight.
I shook my head and continued my walk.
So much anger and fear in that simple sign. Something must have happened and now they are pushing everyone away. And that isolationist and threatening approach means that no one will try to get close to them again – even with the kindest or most neutral intentions.
It seemed dangerous and sad all at once.
And an anomoly in our nice neighborhood.