Tales from an Average Jane

I've never considered myself extraordinary. I'm averaged height and I have the most common hair and eyes, brown. I am the type of person if you aren't specifically looking for me I blend into the background. I live in the Midwest where most country roads are flat with a corn or wheat field on either side. For most people that might be something to hate but for me I like being able to fade into the background. It's my comfort knowing that I can go by unnoticed and unbothered. Because honestly I hate small talk and talking to strangers. The very thought has always made my skin crawl.

So for me I like being average. Average is good, average is safe. And maybe it seems like I a dull Jane, something no doubt my family thinks. But I keep myself busy and content. I can't help what others think but I can control my own happiness and time. And that's exactly what I do. I work from home, always have it's the perk of my job. Writing allows me to be anyone I want and since I use a different name I don't have to do public appearances. My publishers uses a "face" and leaves me to my writing.

I don't make huge bookoo money but I'm comfortable. Enough so that I was able to buy a house just on the edge of my town with a yard. And that's how I like it. I don't want to worry about having to do the public appearances. I've never got how some writers do it- make huge money and have to spend half their time traveling about talking to people. And I get that for some the fame is a huge perk but I'd rather eat sand.

So I live my best life doing what makes me happy- living a quiet life, writing in my bright sunroom. I love waking up to the sounds of nature and starting my day with a hot cup of tea. It's peaceful, soothing almost, like nothing can ever go wrong. It's my favorite time of day and when I get my most productive writing done. Just thinking about it puts my mind at ease usually. Until last week...

I fully admit that I am a creature of habit, I tend to do the same things everyday. Tea and writing in the morning, gardening in the mid morning, dishes after lunch, reading in the afternoon, a light dinner watching the news, crocheting while watching true crime, then going to bed before it gets too late. It's a simple schedule, with nothing over the top as I said. But all that has started to end since someone bought the empty lot next to me.

I should have known that first day when I saw the sold sign that this probably wouldn't end well for me. But I didn't. My only naive thought was that the person must be a quiet person like me and that it might be nice change to have another person like me around. Silent company that can silently coexist in the same area. Instead I've been living with the noises of equipment and machinery.

I've been spending the majority of the past week dusting transplanting what's left of my plants. My new neighbor has apparently never heard of property lines or respect. And I am at a lost of how any person can be so flippant. I haven't seen this neighbor yet, but if the building foreman is an indication I am afraid that this is not going to be an easy journey back to the life I love.