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On a disgruntled neighbor and the post office

Item No. 1–On Monday (Feb. 8) I received a letter, dated Feb. 5, 2021. It was sent to “Resident” at our address. It addressed me as “neighbor.” It was signed “One Of Your Irritated Neighbors.” This person doesn’t know my name and didn’t sign hers/his. We have lived here for 20 years.

Anway, here are the relevant items:

“I was not amused by being woken up at 5:30 this a.m….Just because you get up early doesn’t give you the right to choose what time I get up.”

“You must not be familiar with the Noise Ordinance of Alpena” (a highlighted three-page copy of the Ordinance was included). The letter continues, “For the life of me, I can’t figure out why you were clearing the snow from a house that no one is staying at right now at 5:30 a.m….It was very selfish of you to assume we all wanted to be up at 5:30 a.m….Please…read it (the ordinance) so this doesn’t happen again.”

My response: “It wasn’t me.” I don’t know who it was. It’s dark at 5:30 a.m. and way too early for me to get up, unless I have to pee. You have my address. Can we discuss this incident cordially? The snow-blowing didn’t seem selfish to me. Perhaps the good Samaritan had no other time available.

Item No. 2: Finally, this letter reached from writer to me in three days via Grand Rapids. Efficient for a 500 mile round trip. But a Christmas card from our next-door neighbor was postmarked in Traverse City (275 miles) and took many days to reach us. Couldn’t Alpena-to-Alpena mail be postmarked here? No wonder the Post Office loses money.

SAM EILER,

Alpena

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