Watering Flowers + Dodging Solicitors
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I guess you can only dodge solicitors for so long if they’re really pesky and persistent. Such was my experience recently.
I can typically dodge them, tiptoeing to the door when someone knocks and peering through the peephole. One guy came several times recently, and then appeared again the next day.
I was outside on the porch, watering flowers, when I heard: “I’ve been trying to catch you.”
Needless to say, I turned around quickly, hose in hand, and there was the solicitor. He said he owned a security company.
He said you have a Ring doorbell, but the battery needs replacing.
Darn. I always seem to forget these types of things.
Being Forgetful:
In fact, the other day, I was headed to the dentist, dermatologist, or someone with a Dr. before their name.
When I got to my car, I thought my purse felt lighter than usual. I looked down, and my wallet wasn’t in my purse.
I’m about to unlock the door when I realize that I have my wallet in my other hand. Don’t ask me how I didn’t figure that out sooner. So down the steps I went again, wallet in my purse, and not my other hand.
When they say one hand doesn’t know what the other was doing, they must have visualized someone like me.
Anyway, so I have a conversation with the solicitor. Young, I’ll say twenties or thirties. Nice enough. But irritatingly persistent.
But I digress. The solicitor guy is right there.
So I figure the best way out at that point is to tell him to leave me his business card. I tell him this.
And he says he doesn’t use business cards. He likes to do business face-to-face.
Okay…
I always wondered what they meant when they say a dog’s hackles are raised.
But people don’t have hackles. That’s animals. With people, it’s typically goose bumps. It is the contraction of muscles at the base of the hair follicles.
So I guess I got goose bumps.
I stupidly said I couldn’t afford security, which, of course, told him all he needed to know. And for which Kendra would chew on me about later.
“I can make it affordable,” the solicitor said.
Something seemed wrong with this scenario.
Who Doesn’t Have a Business Card?
Who doesn’t have a business card in this day and age? You know, if they’re legit business people? For someone attempting to sell security, he didn’t make me feel in the least bit secure.
I’m not saying this man was dangerous. He might very well have a legitimate security company and was truly trying to sell me on his business.
I don’t recall how the conversation ended, as I was a bit nonplussed by then. But I didn’t think about it much for the remainder of the day.
By evening, it occurred to me again. And I decided I probably should let someone know about the event. You know. Just in case.
So I text Kendra and say, just FYI, but this and this happened. And I gave a description of him.
I thought she was home from San Francisco, but I was sorely mistaken. And she flared up like a mama hen. Let me know that I handled the entire episode the wrong way.
What did I expect her to do from thousands of miles away, she wanted to know? And why couldn’t she just go on vacation without encountering problems back home? Yada-yada.
I didn’t want her to do anything. There was nothing for her to do.
Feeling Defensive:
I tried to explain to her via text that I was just trying to be responsible about the encounter. And I didn’t know she was still gone. But everything was fine. Because she knows that I don’t spook easily.
Later, the situation slowly began to coalesce in my mind. I recalled that she had written on Facebook about purchasing tickets to a Giants game that Marley wanted to attend.
She had spent $700 per ticket, but got the day wrong. Or was it $700 total? I don’t recall. What I know about sports you could fit into a thimble.
Apparently, they’d shown up for the game, but they learned it had been the previous day. Tickets in hand, and no game. Empty stands, and no one selling hot dogs.
Mistakes are a wicked part of life. None of us escapes them.
An Illuminating Conversation with Rhonda:
Then I happened to talk to Rhonda, who is quite busy because her mother left the hospital and is now her full-time charge.
I told her that Kendra was upset about the solicitor and that she thought I’d handled it all wrong. I’m not known for thinking fast on my feet, after all.
She said she thought she was likely upset about wasting the money on the ballgame and getting the dates wrong.
Well, of course.
Rhonda is always the voice of reason. I’m usually left wondering which neural pathways her brain follows, while mine tends to hit a dead end.
I imagine she’s one of those people who could start a fire out in the woods without a match.
Rhonda, that bastion of common sense and endless wisdom, told me about the security device she uses. It doesn’t charge a monthly fee. And so I wrote it all down, and the topic of home security has already been decided and acted upon.
It’s called Eufy. Check it out if you need home security and don’t want to pay a monthly fee. They have an online store, but you can also shop for their wares on Amazon, Walmart, etc.
Well, I’d never heard of it.
But Rhonda’s son is one of those techy people who inherited her wise genes and informed her about this company. And she’s made sure, as sure as you can be, that her home is safe and secure.
A Home Invasion that Left Its Mark:
You see, years ago, Rhonda was the victim of a home invasion that has traumatized her to this day. She always knows if someone is walking toward her door.
Rhonda protects herself. She always knows who is around her and how far away they are. Has those “goose bumps” that raise up when and if any possible danger is in her vicinity.
Her back is never facing the door. That girl is ready for combat. And of course, this is a valuable asset when you’re a woman living alone.
So the Eufy product will arrive, and solicitors will be noted and dealt with more safely.
Mr. Rogers Signing Off:
And so it is…
This was the famous sign-off phrase used by Mr. Rogers at the end of every episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He would say it to conclude his message to viewers before singing his closing song.
My children devotedly sat in front of the square box that was the TV and hung on his every word.
And so it is…
I’ll end this little tale with what I discovered yesterday. It’s about the cucumber plant that sprang up in the middle of my flower pot.
I don’t know if you can see the babies, but I will have cucumbers soon. I find it so interesting that a cucumber is attached to that yellow flower.
It seems almost magical, doesn’t it?
But then we all know what a talented magician Mother Nature is. She’s a personification of the earth, and a powerful, life-giving maternal force.
Pushy sales people can be really annoying! And if he made you feel uncomfortable in any way, that’s definitely a red flag. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. I have a no soliciting son in my yard, and still had someone come up to the house. I thought what part of no soliciting don’t you understand?!! So annoying!
Sign not son
I knew what you meant. Don’t know if a sign would deter them.
Well, you know we were raised to be polite, even to salesmen. Not so sure we can do that anymore in this time we live in…esp. if alone or elderly like Hubby and me. I USED to have a dog I could count on. (That smart thing knew if anyone was messing about that we could not hear…she always woke up Hubby…never me. Even tho she loved me to bits. She knew he was who should go outside to investigate. I am sure the trouble makers were shocked Hubby always knew and was out the door in a flash, along with the dog.) But you know, it might not be a bad idea to get a REALLY big dog bowl and leave by the front door…and a sign that says trespassers will be eaten or some such. NEVER feel bad to tell salesmen to leave. And that you NEVER EVER buy in person anymore nor will you. (I have told more than one phone caller that I never buy over the phone like that and it is a complete waste of their time to call.) And tell them that your family is not nice to deal with, if messed with…so it would be SAFER for them to trot right on down the road!! There is a reason I leave a couple of cast iron skillets out in my kitchen. I would not hesitate to use them if I felt threatened inside my apt. (We also keep wasp and hornet spray beside our door, inside…that stuff is nasty if sprayed on someone…tho, we have only used it on wasps, etc…still, not against the law to use anything to defend oneself…you cannot be too careful. Look what happened to Nancy Guthrie!!) Having all brothers taught me that in there is no such thing as a fair fight…all is fair in love and war!! Don’t tempt me to use what I know. Next time you see a stranger approach, go into the house and lock the door!!
I agree.
Your town/city probably has strict solicitor guidelines. Even our little, po-dunk town does! Solicitors have to be licensed AND register with the village first before going door-to-door. If they don’t, they will be fined. I have a sticker from the village on my door stating all this. I haven’t been bothered since.
We have a Ring doorbell on our front door and then Arlo cameras above the garage and on one side of the house. The only problem with the Arlo cameras is that they have to be taken down and re-charged. My husband gets up on a ladder and has to take them down and put them back up.
If you could afford to have a security system handle things for you, that might be your best bet. In the meantime, check with your town/city about their solicitor’s rules.
Didn’t know that about the regulations.
I have a Eufy security camera and I am happy with it. Put up a “No Solicitors” sign. There are some really cute and funny ones out there.
I think Kendra ordered one.
When I lived in the city I had to put a note on the door. No fail they’d come when I finally got my daughter sleeping then they’d knock and the dogs would bark. Then they’d say they’re not selling, or soliciting; it was unnerving to say the least. It was a constant battle and they have an in for everything you say. You don’t want to be rude, but sometimes you have to be. I think I’d have just said not interested and just repeated it with a blank look, ad nauseum until he left. No means no. It’s aggravating. I don’t live in the city thankfully because that would irk me to no end, although we did end up putting up a gate and fenced in our 5 acres. They’d honk! But now, everything and every place is an ad, has an ad. I am up to here with advertisements. I’m just sick of being innundated with ads! I am “ad-ed out”. Yeah… I have no patience with it anymore.
I know. I wish this space didn’t have to have ads. But I have to feed the kitties (inside and outside) and me.
Did you know there’s now a dedicated Mr. Rogers YouTube channel?
No! Wonderful!
Your stories are absolutely delightful!
The minute they show up in my inbox I stop what I am doing and sir for a minute to read them.
Thanks for brightening my day!
It isn’t mother nature,it is God the Maker of the universe.
Not in my book. My spirituality is nature.
I agree completely!
My reply was actually meant for Jillian.
so true Jillian
Please respect other people’s beliefs. Not everyone believes the same and that is OK. No need to be rude or in-your-face with your opinion.
I used to get bombarded by Kirby vacuum salespeople who would offer you a ‘fabulous’ free gift (usually a can of air freshener) so they could get in your house for a demonstration and then pressure you into buying. I had a German Shepherd at the time that looked like she would tear you apart but would more than likely lick you to death. She was a pretty good deterrent to solicitors. Now I have a cat when someone knocks on the door she hides under the bed and says better you than me….
Yeah, that’s what my cats do too.
If you have a ring doorbell, like I have with a battery, you use the tool that came with it to pop it off the bracket, then charge it with the cord that it came with. If you download the Ring app on your phone, you can see who’s at your door on your phone. It will also tell you when your ring doorbell battery needs charged up otherwise I don’t know why you even have one if you’re not using it.
Me either. I guess I thought it would make potential robbers think twice. I didn’t know how to set it up. And at the time I didn’t have all the concerns of privacy and surveillance. I want to have something that doesn’t go up in the cloud. Not that I’m very smart about these technological things.