Don't Judge Me

Spoiler alert: Everyone survives. Including my imagination.

I could just as easily have called this story - I have got to get a life. You’ll see why…

Yesterday was a gloomy, rainy day so we were stuck inside all day. What else is there to do but look outside at all the comings and goings in the back parking lot. Just so you know that’s not the part that made me think I need to get a life. Oh no, it gets much better than that.

Lately, Barry noticed that when this guy, who Barry likes to call, Mr. Flip Flop, because, you know, he wears flip flops all the time - goes out, his wife is not with him which is unusual. And when he comes home, he has to use the main door to the building because his wife has not left the patio door open for him, which is also unusual.

Where is she?

Here are some of our observations over the past year. We think he’s been sick. Cancer. They also appear to be snowbirds. Full disclosure - we’ve never even spoken to them but people have patterns and you don’t even have to be a nosy-parker to see the patterns.

Although today, I feel like Mrs. Kravitz - the nosy busybody on Bewitched. Except that I don’t screech. I don’t normally stand there at the window either. With binoculars (oops did I just say binoculars out loud - can you just forget I said that part). But in fairness, we do live on the 8th floor so seeing down into the parking lot is a bit tough without them.

I think I should write mystery novels because my imagination is wild. Plus I seem to get it wrong most of the time. But it never stops me from conjecturing, that’s for sure. At least if I wrote them myself I would have the answers.

So, based on the fact that Mrs. Flip Flop (yup she wears them too) has not been seen in awhile and they seem to be home early from their snowbirding - we had many scenarios. Or rather I had many scenarios going on in my little brain.

So what caught my eye today? Well, to begin with I want to blame Barry because he noticed first. Mr. Flip Flop has 2 people moving stuff from his apt. An older man and woman. We don’t think the woman is his wife—she looks older. I can see that clearly through my trusty window-watching specs. But she’s got a tan so maybe it is Mrs. Flip Flop. Neither are wearing flip flops on a day like today so it’s tough to tell. And I never spent much time looking at them so I can’t really say what they look like. Though, Mr. Flip Flop is distinctive - bald, bigger guy, drives a big Ram type vehicle - wears flip flops!

So, these two older people are filling up their small moving trailer with bags and bins that he is leaving out on the patio.

Now comes the suppositions - I said to Barry, with conviction. These people are Mrs. Flip Flop’s parents. They are taking her stuff out because she has passed away. How sad. My eyes are filling up while I watch them.

I think life is ironic because he’s the sick one and yet she’s the one who passed away. I’m convinced.

Scenario #2 comes into play because they are taking out way too much. Now I believe that she must be moving out. They are separating. Oh no, now I’m sad again. Certainly not nearly as sad as her passing but still sad.

But guess what - there is now a third scenario that’s coming into focus - when what to my wondering eyes should appear - Mrs. Flip Flop! She’s bringing out yet more stuff for them to pack up.

What!? She’s alive?

Ok, so I have no choice but to change my mind—again. I now believe they’re both moving out. Since she’s alive and they’re still hauling out bags—bags and more bags. Too much stuff for just one person. No furniture yet—that’ll come Monday when the movers arrive.

The movers will be here bright and early tomorrow! I believe in my convictions. Always subject to change, though.

So, it’s not even an interesting story and yet it kept me occupied for over an hour. I kept giving Barry updates on the goings on while he was trying to watch the ball game. He’d lost interest long ago.

All that’s happening is they are moving!! Thankfully no one is dead. No one is separating. Both those options made me sad. But them moving leaves me with no emotion. Who cares.

Well that was pointless and an hour I’ll never get back.

Just like the 5 minutes you’ll never back from reading this pointless story.