Love thy neighbor, right? Not always.
It’s tough when you have a great relationship with your neighbor and they shock you with the news that they’ll be moving away. After the devastation hits you immediately start fearing what kind of trash is going to move in next door. That’s always how it is. You don’t think you’ll get a better neighbor. You’re going to compare the newbie against your departed friend. Is it fair? No, but whatever.
So, when Collin heard that his longtime neighbor – with an amazing backyard pool – was preparing to leave state for a new job, he knew that good times were no longer guaranteed. (Mostly because the backyard had cameras so there was definitely no way of sneaking in and still using the pool.)
The friend moved out on a Saturday with the new folks moving in the next day. Staying out of sight but watching the action next door, Collin noticed it was a young couple – no apparent kids or pets. They had a bunch of friends or family stopping by to help unload items and it continued throughout the week until they seemed largely settled.
The first weekend in their new home, the couple had a housewarming party that saw dozens of guests fill the yard and famed pool. As the summer sun set, the patio lights illuminated the yard as music started playing from a stereo. Eventually, guests – and presumably the homeowners – began singing along to the tunes before shutting off the pre-recorded stuff and playing guitars live in the backyard.
It was a full sing-along as classic rock songs could be heard from the other side of the tall wooden fence. Feeling lonely and a bit curious, Collin decided he could gain entry to the party and mingle with the crowd and go largely unnoticed. But how could he make his approach?
After the guitar jam session, the stereo once again cranked the tunes, this time karaoke songs with people belting out their faves. That’s when Collin grabbed a bottle of wine and a podcasting microphone so he could show up to the karaoke party with his own prop – and refreshments, of course.
Unlike being a wedding crasher which is more of a formal – and expensive – gathering to crash, Collin felt that he couldn’t get busted per se, but pass it off as a friendly neighbor overhearing the fun and coming to introduce himself.
As he sheepishly made his way to the back gate, Collin peered through the wooden fence to see a yard full of people – at least 30. With most standing and facing away from him, Collin thought it was the perfect opportunity to unlatch the gate and slowly enter the property. As people swayed back and forth, some singing along, Collin smiled and nodded in agreement that he was enjoying the show. He was another face in the crowd and for the first few minutes, Collin had successfully crashed the party.
After listening to some of the conversations, Collin realized that not everyone was familiar with each other, meaning the shindig brought together different groups of people who, until that moment, had never met. The big question remained: how long until Collin came face to face with the homeowners? More importantly: who were the homeowners?
Moments later, one of the new neighbors got everyone’s attention and made an informal speech thanking them for the party. After some remarks, the singing continued, this time on an actual karaoke machine that was brought out from the house.
With the homeowner being the first official performer on the formal music system, Collin knew it was time to pounce. During Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On a Prayer, Collin made his way to the patio on which the singer was standing and held up his bottle of wine and pulled out his microphone to harmonize with his new neighbor. Seeming surprised but going with the moment, the neighbor reached out and accepted the gifted booze and put his arm around Collin as they shared the real microphone to harmonize on the famous chorus of the rock song.
After cheers and applause, the neighbor – still with arm around his new bandmate – said into the microphone with a laugh, “Who the fuck are you, man?” Holding the mic to Collin’s mouth, Collin replied, “Richie Sambora. You don’t remember me?” Everyone howled with laughter, applauded at the quick retort as the neighbor hugged Collin and said, “That was awesome,” as Collin quietly said to him, “I’m your neighbor.”
And with that, a new neighbor was welcomed into the community and Collin was never invited over to the house after that. You know the drama in rock bands.